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Kayaking Beaver Creek, August 2011

Where is a quiet place to kayak near Cedar Ridge and the Brookfield Horse Camp? Have you ever thought about kayaking the Beaver Creek, from Horse Trail 60 north until the end of the navigable waters?

 Cedar River-Limekiln Lake Road

You take Fairgrounds Road north from Brookfield NY, until a first parking area on the left of the road. This is Horse Trail 60. It’s a short portage (1/8 mile) until you reach the bridge crossing the Beaver Creek.

Horse Trail 60 Bridge

Put in the on the side of this bridge. I did from the east side, through the marshy ground, but you could portage over the horse bridge, then put on the west side, and avoid the marshy ground.

Heading Under Horse Trail 60 Bridge

Beaver Creek State Forest Sign

The Very Flat Water Beaver Creek

Wider But Shallow Section of Beaver Creek

Hudson River looks nice and brown

More Open Section of Beaver Creek

Heading Back

Timothy Grasses Along Shore

Another Narrow Section

Trees Along River Bank

Wind Generated Current

Claustrophobic?

Flowers

Having a good set of wheels means you won’t have to carry your kayak, but make sure not to drag it on the gravel to avoid wearing holes in your kayak, as I learned earlier this summer.

Kayak on Wheels

This is a delightful little trip. Do drive the Charles Baker Auto tour, or hike some of the many trails in the area…

 Green Lakes Elevation Psuedo Color

Pavilion

Grout Pond

Original Dunn Bridge

From the east, probably the best way to get to Grout Pond is via Kelley Stand Road, a twisty one lane dirt road that heads east out of East Arlington in Vermont. Pay careful attention to this map, it’s easy to get lost in East Arlington or East Kansas. I know I ended up at Covered Bridge in Chiselville the first time I got there.

June 24, 2015 at 9 PM. Enjoy long evenings while they last

Grout pond isn’t the biggest in the world. If you want lots of open water, check out the Somerset Reservoir. This area, however offers either backpack-in camping along the east shore, or 25 drive-in campsites, in a primitive campground nearby. There is no charge to use this National Recreation Area. Other roadside campsites along Kelly Strand Road, FR 71, and FR 70. Forest Road 70’s campsites are particularly nice, and it’s a 1/4 mile portage down to Branch Pond (bring wheels).

New York State and New England Media Markets

Paddling Across Grout Pond

Stratton Mountain

Marshy End of Grout Pond

The lake is very shallow and marshy in one. Supposedly good fishing if you have a Vermont State Fishing License.

Tree Along Pond