Kayaking Stillwater Reservoir
I completed another quick overnight Kayak camping trip. This time was to Stillwater Reservoir, a 6,700-acre lake situated in the Western Adirondacks.
After traveling the 7-mile dirt road off NY HWY-26, I put in at the public launch on the western shore. The launch provides a large parking lot, restaurant, and convenient store. Next to the parks registry, there is a simple, user-based notification board to let you know what sites are occupied - a handy tool since the 47 campsites are all on a first-come, first-serve basis. Even though the canoe/kayak launch site is a little rocky, I would still classify it as being fiberglass/composite friendly as long your reasonably careful with your boat.
Despite its public boat launch that allows motorized boat traffic and it being a busy summer weekend (with almost all the campsites already spoken for), the reservoir was able to provide a fairly secluded atmosphere. This was largely due to me taking a campsite on a small island tucked in a cove off an inlet away from the main body of the lake.
The paddle from the launch to my inlet was easy going and picturesque. Stillwater Reservoir does have a few shoals located throughout, which I actually hit while paddling out to my sight. It is not a serious concern and can easily be circumnavigated if you pay attention and are not daydreaming like I was.
The NY DEC puts out a good map of the lake that can be downloaded here.
