Here We Go Into a Vaccinated Summer
Paddling life is opening up again.

By Tamsin Venn

We have booked two trips so far this summer, with plans to paddle in Stonington, Maine; Martha's Vineyard; the Adirondacks; and Squam Lake, N.H. But meanwhile we are lucky our stay-at-home options allow us to launch into open sea or expansive marsh.

Please write and tell us what plans you have for the summer.

Here are some of our favorite spots to camp and updates.

Camping 01

Clockwise from top left: Deer at the dumpster, Seawall Campground. A secluded cove. Islet of rocks and sand — a perfect lunch stop. Rocky shore near Seawall. Millie enjoys some new smells. MDI has a number of emblematic Maine eating places when you get off the water, like this lobster house in Bernard.

Acadia National Park

After being closed last summer to camping, Acadia National Park will again open its campgrounds, at Blackwoods https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232508, Seawall https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234674; plus Schoodic Woods https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251833 and Duck Harbor on Isle au Haut https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/264293.

Capacity will be reduced for health and safety protocols and also due to staff reduction.

Right now, you can book two months out. Reservations have to made ahead of time, no drive-ups. All group campsites are closed. The free Explorer Bus will be back, and reservations will be required for the entrance to the Cadillac Mountain summit road. A reservation system for Sand Beach is on hold.

It's uncertain what in in store for the cruise industry, which disgorges many, many tourists into the streets of Bar Harbor.

Two Septembers ago, we camped at Seawall, on the quiet side of the island, and it was delightful. This puts you in good spots for paddles out of Seal Cove, Bartlett Narrows, Bass Harbor, and Southwest Harbor.

Clockwise from top left: Heading out, fully loaded, from Pipers Cove, SLA Headquarters. Tammy pulls out onto Bowman Is. A perfect, cozy pocket beach, just the right size for our Hornbeck canoes. Bowman campsite #1. Watching the sunset on Sunset Rock, Bowman Is. Millie watches the cheese. The sunset over Squam. A shoreside gazebo on a private island.

Squam Lake

One of our favorite lakes is Squam Lake in New Hampshire. In September 2020, we had Bowman Island to ourselves except for Bill Thomas, manufacturer of Willow Kayaks, from Maine, also on a COVID getaway. We compared notes on his double Klepper — very seaworthy and stable lake and ocean boat — and our Hornbeck canoes — less seaworthy when fully loaded and the water is rough. Join the Squam Lakes Assn. to make a reservation. Some midweek sites are still available. Sites open up again in September. To reserve: https://www.squamlakes.org/programs/natural-areas-trails-and-recreation.

SLA offers access and camping on Bowman Island, 23 acres, and Moon Island, 30 acres; plus a mainland shoreline site at Chamberlain Forest, all open only to non-motorized boats. SLA refers to these properties as nature preserves, in keeping with SLA's mission, which started back in 1905 when a group of concerned landowners incorporated SLA to help the lake recover from logging operations on surroundings hillsides.

Camping 01

Top: Old Quarry in better days. Middle: Paddling around Stonington. Bottom: Greenlaw's Campground.

Stonington, Maine

Old Quarry closed down Aug. 1 last summer when Bill Baker completed the sale to a private landowner. Baker retired after 22 years of operations. This was a great loss as most deepwater frontage is in private hands or has limited parking in the Stonington area. Read the full story here. https://islandadvantages.com/news/2020/aug/20/old-quarry-closes-sending-boaters-and-kayakers-adr/#.YHIpOC2z1-U.

You might try Greenlaw's Campground off Airport Road. Please report back if you do. http://www.greenlawscampground.com.

Camping 01

Top: Paddling in the Adirondacks. Middle: Views of Lake Eaton Campground.

New York

New York State Park campsites, cabins, cottages, and yurts are currently opening as scheduled for the 2021 season. Effective May 15, 2021 — Columbus Day, same-day reservations will be permitted until 3:00 p.m. on day of arrival. Reservations can be made online or through the call center. Walk-ins will not be permitted.

Due to NYS Department of Health regulations to limit the spread of COVID-19, overnight youth camping groups (such as Scout groups) are not permitted to camp in the parks at this time.

Review camping guidelines before your visit.

In the Adirondacks, we like Lake Eaton. https://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/articles/camping/covid-19-updates.