Things to do / Travel Guide
You can have hours, if not days of pleasure, exploring the quiet lakes and ponds of Vermont and New Hampshire as well as the short New Hampshire shoreline by boat. There are routes for paddlers of all ages and abilities. The rugged solitude of New Hampshire and Vermont make for some of the most peaceful and relaxing kayaking trips.
Below are a few suggested routes in the New Hampshire and Vermont region, listed from north to south.
Kayaking and Paddling in New Hampshire's Great North Woods
New Hampshire's Androscoggin River can challenge even the most experienced kayakers. The Androscoggin River zigzags its way across the northern part of New Hampshire and it is a great place for inland river kayaking.
Willard Pond is a delightful place to be. Usually calm, this area is home to more than 900 acres of land buffered between the summit of Bald Mountain and the shores of Willard Pond and is known as a popular paddling spot. Also, Willard pond is an Audubon Preserve that is considered rural and remote, as it features only one house near the boat ramp.
Kayaking and Paddling in New Hampshire's Lakes Area
Garland Pond, located in Moultonborough, is almost completely isolated, partly marshy, and mainly open. Animals such as deer, beavers, otters, rare black ducks and a wide array of birds, salamanders, and wood frogs can be seen while paddling along this long pond surrounded by rolling hillsides.
Kayaking and Paddling in Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee
Grafton Pond is most definitely one of the best paddling spots in New Hampshire. The scenery is great and is dotted with islands, rocky shores, varied tree types, wildlife, and huge boulders. Paddling is a tranquil delight in the clean, crystal clear waters of Grafton Pond, which is located in Grafton County near Hanover.
Kayaking and Paddling in New Hampshire's Seacoast Area
Kayaking is available in this coastal area from mid-June through mid-October. There are tour outfits, mainly in and around the town of Portsmouth, which will set you up with all the kayaking gear you need along with an instructor. You may choose a lesson on a solo or tandem (two-person) canoe, touring kayak, sea kayak, or sit-on-top touring/ocean kayak.
Great Bay is a popular kayaking area approximately 13 miles upstream from the Atlantic Ocean. That means that it is highly influenced by the changing ocean tides and kayakers will have a very different experience paddling at high tide versus at low tide. The Winnicut River, Squamscott River, and Lamprey River all flow into Great Bay which makes for an inland tidal ecosystem. There is also paddling beyond Adams Point, but that requires passing through Furber Strait, the narrowest section of the bay.
The currents at Great Bay can be rough, but the wildlife-watching opportunities are well worth the paddling work. Some of the wildlife that can potentially be seen while kayaking in this area are ducks, gulls, geese, and heron. Among the man-made items lining the banks of the rivers, are multiple fortress-style processing mills left over from the 19th century.
Kayaking and Paddling in Northern Vermont
Lake Champlain is known for its rather frigid waters and its stunning depth (rumor has it a Loch Ness monster-type creatures lives down there). It's a popular spot for kayaking and paddling, as kayakers enjoy paddling out over the murky waters to venture out into the lake's numerous backwaters and inlets and secluded coves that cannot be reached by land.
Kayaking and Paddling in Southern Vermont
There really is nothing like drifting along the Batten Kill River, near Bennington, where you'll see wildlife and fish, and be able to enjoy the subtle scents and sounds of an incredibly unspoiled region. This river is internationally famous for having some of the most “technically difficult” fly fishing in the world. In fact, John Atherton, a leading authority on fly fishing and author of the classic “The Fly and the Fish,” claimed the Batten Kill River was probably the most difficult fly fishing experience he'd ever had.
Along the twisting, turning route of the Connecticut River, there is Sumner Falls (sometimes called Hartland Rapid), a great place for those with little or no paddling or kayaking skills. In other words, if you're just trying out kayaking or paddling and you're in Vermont, head to the Connecticut River. However, this is not a place just for beginners. This river becomes more awash with rapids as it meanders through the southern portion of the state; as the level of rapids becomes incrementally more challenging, so does the level of kayaking-paddling difficulty.
In addition to these recommended trips, most resorts near water, such as those around the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain in Vermont and along the Atlantic coastline and Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, offer canoeing or kayaking excursions for their guests. There are also many facilities throughout the region that rent boats and equipment and offer guided tours.
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