A question about canoe camping.


crimescene450

crimescene450

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I have never been canoe camping, yet have always been interested in it. My main problem, is that I dont know where to go?

To those of you guys who have canoe camped, or know about it, where might be some good areas to try?

In the summer, I visit my family in northeast ohio for about a month. I have a cousin or 2 that might be interested in canoe camping this coming summer when im back visiting, and we have a canoe. We're willing to drive for a few hours to get to it (may it be in another nearby state).

Any suggested locations?
 
I am not familiar with your area, but there are things to look for. Do you want flat water lake paddling or river moving water paddling? If you do not have a lot of experience, perhaps a lake or series of lakes with portages between them may be more your speed.

Every state has paddling enthusiasts, go seek them out. Good places to start are the outdoor shops that sell good quality canoes or kayaaks, the sales people are generally folks who field test the equipment or who are paddlers themselves.

They are happy to share hot spots. Fisherman also would know nice locations. Don't do all the leg work yourself, ask folks who have already blazed the trails to good locations.

If your going with a buddy then a river trip might be fun. Do the drop off and pick up thing with two cars. One car parks up stream travel down river where second car is parked then drive back up to where you put in.

A quick search of "paddling Ohio" revealed thishttp://www.paddling.net/places/OH/ Appears to be lots of great places

Good luck
 
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a quick glance at google maps shows 3 state parks east of cleveland that look interesting.

as mentioned, your best bet is to ask a local club or local outfitter for where to go.

one word of caution-you need to be comfortable in a canoe before you canoe camp... learn the teamwork required to tandam paddle. learn to do it safely. don't overload just because 'the canoe does all the work'. you should still pack like you're backpacking, especially if there is portaging involved.

i've seen what i can only assume were novices paddling a dangerously overloaded canoe up a windy lake into a very remote area for what was probably a weekend overnighter (given their ages, location, and time of year). i sat in a sheltered cove, exhausted from having fought the TAILWIND for an hour in my solo canoe (due to mis-managed weight placement. had i loaded the rear end more heavily, i would not have had such a fight). these two tried 3x to round a point, and each time were blown 50 yards backwards and sideways... have no idea how they didn't capsize, given the huge mound of coolers and chairs they had. they finally turned around, not even halfway to their probable destination, at the 3 mile mark... any outfitter could have warned them of the wind that is typical on that lake at that time of year, and that the water was too cold for swimming.
 
Thanks for the responses.

Ive been canoeing since I was little and know how to steer and everything. I also have plenty of backpacking experience. Id only plan on bringing my backpack (around 20-30 lbs usually) and whatever needed for the canoe.


That being said I wouldnt want to try any fast moving rivers. Im fine with slower rivers or just lakes.


I didnt know if you were allowed to canoe camp at any of the state parks.
Ill check out some of the links. Thanks for responding.
 
I only know of places in new england but I would forget the backpack and get a dry bag you will not regret it.
 
crimescene450 said:
Id only plan on bringing my backpack (around 20-30 lbs usually) and whatever needed for the canoe.
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But that is the beauty of canoe camping on a river. You can bring all kinds of stuff with you! If you have to portage I'd say pick your items carefully but if you're river camping I'd say bring all the comfort items you usually leave at home due to size and weight.
When we go canoe camping I typically load up like I'm car camping. Everything goes in a tote. When I get to the river the boat goes in and the totes go in the boat.
Make sure you bring at least one EXTRA SET OF DRY CLOTHES in a dry bag. I have discovered the beauty of the XL 2.5 gallon ziplocks for this.
 
Cheapeats said:
I only know of places in new england but I would forget the backpack and get a dry bag you will not regret it.
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If you dont have a dry bag, be sure to line your back pack with a heavy duty garbage bag and twist and tie it. If you tip your gear will stay dry. Two dollar tip I learned when in college.
 
I line the previously mentioned totes with those black contractor garbage bags. Fill them up and tie them off. Mine have latches that keep the lid on. Haven't had to test the effectiveness of them underwater yet. Pretty sure they'll keep everything dry for at least a few seconds.
 
Ah. SaintNick reminds me that I need to back-caveat what i said about packing like you're backpacking... i'm a flatwater, pond-hopping, portaging canoe camper... mostly creeks and bayous here in LA, or the St Regis area ponds in the Adirondacks... no rivers. so yes, if you won't be doing ANY portaging, you can load up a bit more... i still tend toward the lighter side, as there's less to keep track of, but i wasn't thinking about rivers when i posted. thanks for making me think.
 
That's the beauty of using a canoe. You can use any water you have permission to use. Lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, no limits accept private property. I canoe camp as much as aI can and I find it fun trying out new places. Then you'll know your favorites for a "Go-to" spot.
 
A really good dry bag is the sea line bag. There are a ton of them in different sizes on eBay. I used two of them portaging up in Quetico last June, and nothing got wet ever. These bags were issued with ILBE bags as a waterproof liner, I'm going to use the 65l version with my Kifaru MMR hauler as the pack. I used the smaller one (don't remember the size) to keep electronics dry. (I'm a type I diabetic, don't want to get THAT stuff wet especially on a 6 day trip) The tops roll down and are secured with a buckle, and there's a valve to purge air after it's sealed, pretty slick...

Here's the 65l version for $25 on eBay, search for "ILBE sack" or "Seal Line."

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USMC-ILBE-SACK-SEAL-LINE-WATERPROOF-DRY-BAG-65L-NEW-/330656055448?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfca30098


They also make a 56 liter version and the small is 9 liters, and higher end fancier ones too. I think I picked up my 65l and 9 liter for ~$40 after shipping, they're pretty tough too.
 
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i've used those... keep a couple at my parents' home in NY for use when i go canoeing up there, and a couple here. stored some snivel gear out on my deer lease in my ladder stand in one for a couple months, and it did fine.
 
Try Sylvania Wilderness Area in Michigan's UP. It's 18,000 acres. [url]http://www.canoeing.com/destinations/sylvania/[/URL]
Or The Boundary Waters and Quetico in Minnesota and Canada. Thats about 2 million acres. [url]http://www.canoecountry.com/about/index.html[/URL]
Sylvania will be much closer to you. both are beautiful and worth the effort to get there. the fishing is awesome at both. You will need permits for both. My wife and I have been to both. We are going to The Boundary Waters again this year.
 
If you are in NE Ohio, try looking at the Kinzua Dam area in Western PA. The reservoir splits NY and PA. The land on the PA side is part of the Allegheny National Forest and rustic camping is allowed pretty much anywhere as long as you are 200 feet (or maybe 500 feet) away from the water, totally free. There are also a couple of camps along the reservoir that are run by the National Forest Service. Those camps have sites with a picnic table and fire ring, plus a vault toilet. There is a small fee (I think $10 per night) to stay at those camps. You could also do a canoe trip down the Allegheny river starting at the dam and heading south. There are islands in the river that are actually part of the National Forest so primitive camping is allowed.
 
CHECK OUT YOUR LIBRARY... THERE ARE LOTS OF BOOKS OUT THERE ON CANOE TRIPS AND ALMOST ANY STATE WILL HAVE A BOOK ON DAY AND EXTENDED TRIPS PLUS INFO. ON CAMPGROUNDS , ROUTES, PUT INS AND OUTS AND WATER AND RAPIDS YOU MAY INCURE.. ALSO CHECK FOR LOCAL CLASSES OFFERED THROUGH COLLEGES OR CLUBS, ITS A GREAT WAY TO MEET LIKE MINDED FOLKS WHO CAN GIVE YOU FIRST HAND INFO.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. Ill look into getting some type of dry bag. Im not going until summer, so I have plenty of time.

Yankee Cymro said:
If you are in NE Ohio, try looking at the Kinzua Dam area in Western PA. The reservoir splits NY and PA. The land on the PA side is part of the Allegheny National Forest and rustic camping is allowed pretty much anywhere as long as you are 200 feet (or maybe 500 feet) away from the water, totally free. There are also a couple of camps along the reservoir that are run by the National Forest Service. Those camps have sites with a picnic table and fire ring, plus a vault toilet. There is a small fee (I think $10 per night) to stay at those camps. You could also do a canoe trip down the Allegheny river starting at the dam and heading south. There are islands in the river that are actually part of the National Forest so primitive camping is allowed.
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Sides said:
Try Sylvania Wilderness Area in Michigan's UP. It's 18,000 acres. [url]http://www.canoeing.com/destinations/sylvania/[/URL]
Or The Boundary Waters and Quetico in Minnesota and Canada. Thats about 2 million acres. [url]http://www.canoecountry.com/about/index.html[/URL]
Sylvania will be much closer to you. both are beautiful and worth the effort to get there. the fishing is awesome at both. You will need permits for both. My wife and I have been to both. We are going to The Boundary Waters again this year.
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I might look into these places more. They sound like the kind of areas id be into.
 
If you've got the time i suggest going to the churchill river system in Saskatchewan. It is beautiful and everybody up there is really really nice. When I went up there i left from missinnipi (i don't remember if that's how its spelled) and there's a great outfitter shop there in town with a guy that really knows his stuff about canoe camping. His name was rick, i couldn't tell you the name of his shop though. the lakes are all really nice and there's a TON of pike and walleye to be had. If you don't want to go all the way up there i've been looking at going to minnesota for a while now. I hope this helped!
 
I a would suggest the Allegheny River between Warren Pa.and Tionesta Pa.It is not remote wilderness but is a beautiful river with several islands big enough for multiple camping groups to enjoy.It should be under 2 hours drive from the Cleveland area.I live south of Cleveland on I-80 and it takes me less than 2 hours.If you want more remote check into the Clarion river a little further away but another beautiful area.Google canoe trips in each area and check commercial outfitters to see approx.time /mileage and,put in take out spots.I have paddled both rivers many times day trips and overnighters are a good time on both rivers.
 
Or you could try our own Mohican Park (Ohio) You can rent canoes there,You can find more info locally on canoe and kayaks at the Backpacker Shop on Colorado Ave. (Also known as Rt.611,between Abbe Rd. & Root Rd) Hope this helps,If the drive up camping you did in another thread was at Wahoo it's right up the street.
 
Get a good road map of your area and look for smaller streams in a national forest. Some of them should give you an excellent place to make a few close trips. It doesn't have to be a popular stream, just one with a permanent flow where you can float and find a good spot to set up camp.
 
The border of MN / Ontario has two canoe areas adjoining each other. Boundary Waters Canoe Area on the US side and Quetico on the Canadian side. Close to 3 million acres of roadless area that is only accessible by canoe or foot.

Ontario also has some great canoe parks as well. Woodland Caribou and Wabikimi are a couple that are truly remote and are accessible by float plane and to some extent by vechicle.
 
BWCAW in northern Minnesota has my vote. It's got lakes that are open to motors, on the edge of the area. Lots of campsites. large and small lakes, challenging and beginner friendly routes, lakes, and portages. You can go in the winter, too. But paddling is much harder.
 
Here in Iowa we can camp under the high water mark on disignated meandered rivers regardless of property ownership. I live a stones throw from the West Des Moines River and it's great fun in late summer when the water's down to canoe, fish, and camp on the sandbars at night. I pack light but splurge on a few comforts such as a folding chair and cooler.
 
hughhaff said:
Here in Iowa we can camp under the high water mark on disignated meandered rivers regardless of property ownership. I live a stones throw from the West Des Moines River and it's great fun in late summer when the water's down to canoe, fish, and camp on the sandbars at night. I pack light but splurge on a few comforts such as a folding chair and cooler.
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I do the same thing in AR & LA, but the laws are crazy and you take your chances when doing so.
 
swamprat said:
I do the same thing in AR & LA, but the laws are crazy and you take your chances when doing so.
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The good thing about Iowa is that the DNR (Dept. of Natural Resources) have a map on their website that shows the meandering rivers in the state. I agree some of the laws are difficult to understand because we have one about rivers that are navigable for atleast 6 months of the year... :confused: But it's a great way to get out and camp, we just don't camp close to hard surface roads or bridges. Too many people who don't know as much as they think!
 
Don't know how it is done in other states. Here in Indiana,
we are allowed to camp pretty much anywhere on a river.

Local land owners may argue with you on that though.

The only place I have seen where you can get in trouble here
legally is on property maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Lake monroe for example, we paddle into the head waters of this lake
on the middle fork of Salt Creek. Where we camp is either Deam
Wilderness area or Hoosier national forest property.

If you are caught on Corps of Engineer property, they can confiscate
your gear and fine you. Don't hear of it often, but they can.

I spent my youth and most of my adult hood canoeing and camping
on local rivers with my dad. Mom would drop us off at a bridge, and
pick us up from one to 5 days later at another bridge.

We just found a nice sand bar below a riffle in the river and set
up camp. It was usually in areas surrounded by farmland.
Never had a problem with land owners.

(Indiana actually has a law on the books that says that "up to the high water mark" it is public property on navigable rivers)

The memories of those trips are some of the greatest gifts I ever
received from dear ole dad. God rest his soul.

I echo others remarks about seeking a local paddling group or
website in your state.

Here is one I found for Ohio,
http://www.paddling.net/places/OH/

Best wishes to you, have a great time.

Hey, what has two thumbs and loves canoeing?



This guy :dblthumb:
 
Brushy_BIll said:
Don't know how it is done in other states. Here in Indiana,
we are allowed to camp pretty much anywhere on a river.

Local land owners may argue with you on that though.

The only place I have seen where you can get in trouble here
legally is on property maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Lake monroe for example, we paddle into the head waters of this lake
on the middle fork of Salt Creek. Where we camp is either Deam
Wilderness area or Hoosier national forest property.

If you are caught on Corps of Engineer property, they can confiscate
your gear and fine you. Don't hear of it often, but they can.

I spent my youth and most of my adult hood canoeing and camping
on local rivers with my dad. Mom would drop us off at a bridge, and
pick us up from one to 5 days later at another bridge.

We just found a nice sand bar below a riffle in the river and set
up camp. It was usually in areas surrounded by farmland.
Never had a problem with land owners.

(Indiana actually has a law on the books that says that "up to the high water mark" it is public property on navigable rivers)

The memories of those trips are some of the greatest gifts I ever
received from dear ole dad. God rest his soul.

I echo others remarks about seeking a local paddling group or
website in your state.

Here is one I found for Ohio,
http://www.paddling.net/places/OH/

Best wishes to you, have a great time.

Hey, what has two thumbs and loves canoeing?



This guy :dblthumb:
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My son and I canoed and camped the small rivers of Northern Indiana the same way (Pigeon and Fawn). Almost always set up on some sand bar or right next to the river . We usually let the Small mouth decide where we camped . If wed find a nice deep pool just at the bottom of a rapids that was usually the place .
 
BEARS BUDDY said:
Wally world sells a nice Ozark Trail dry bag. My two have six years and are like new despite several tests of their water resistance.
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I know that a lot the members here are somewhat prejudiced against Wally World for various reasons, and I share that to a certain extent. That being said, I have a couple of those Ozark Trail dry bags that I've used for at least 15 years, and they are still as good as new. I've also had excellent results with the smaller clear ones. And I am talking about whitewater usage.
 
We also have a "navigable rivers and streams" statute here in Arkansas. But you need to find out which ones are recognized as such.
 
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