Help planning a trip

[skidude72]

HI,

This summer me and a few of my friends would like to do some backpacking around new england ( NH, VT, ME, MA ). however i do not know to many trails in the area even though i live here. I was wondering if anybody could provide me with some suggestions, we are looking for 3-4 day backpacking trips, preferably along small rivers ( we would like to trout fish for food ) and also preferably at some sort of elevation (less important than the river). any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Tyler

[Mike P.]

Oddly, I rarely see people fishing in the summer on my way to the trailheads. I've probably passed a couple but outside of the several ponds & streams in Baxter State Park, no other trail location has me thinking fish.

Therefore, Baxter State Park would be my first choice. You need to get reservations & the camping is usually more of a car set up but you proabbly could arrange to switch a couple of locations. Typically, now it is too late to get reservations but mid-week & away from the bustle of the campsites near Katahdin, you may do okay.

The long trail in VT doesn't lend itself to catching fish everyday but north of Camel's Hump you cross one of VT's larger rivers, (Wisnooski? maybe?)

About the only place I regularly see people fish in the Whites are the ponds near Cannon (Profile lake & ?)

Without elevation gain, check out NH's Bear Camp River. I'm a peak junkie so I'm not up on it but for some reason I'm thinking this may be a good choice.

Probably a better option would be kayak camping, bring equipment in kayaks & plan a multi-day trip. IMO the ADK's in NY is better suited for this.

If we add NY, the Catskills have some very good fishing streams. Not sure the streams are intertwined with the hiking trails though.

[MichaelJ]

In VT you could hike the Long Trail in the region of the Big Branch Wilderness Area. Plenty of brooks, the Big Branch itself, and some ponds along the way like Little Rock Pond which is stocked with brook trout.

In NH/ME many people do fishing trips along the Androscoggin River; however, these tend to be on canoe or kayak, not on foot. In the Whites your best bet would be the Pemi Wilderness area, though be aware of the wilderness regs before going in there. I know Lincoln Brook has trout (a friend has pics of them jumping) and Franconia Brook likely does as well, but no promises. The Wild River, up in the new Wild River Wilderness Area, is another option. Neither of these will really give you 4 days, however. 2 or 3 at best, I would think.

Baxter has lakes and ponds all over the place. An excellent suggestion!

[dropKickMurphy]

Originally Posted by Mike P.

Oddly, I rarely see people fishing in the summer on my way to the trailheads. I've probably passed a couple but outside of the several ponds & streams in Baxter State Park, no other trail location has me thinking fish.

Therefore, Baxter State Park would be my first choice. You need to get reservations & the camping is usually more of a car set up but you proabbly could arrange to switch a couple of locations. Typically, now it is too late to get reservations but mid-week & away from the bustle of the campsites near Katahdin, you may do okay.

3 suggestions for BSP:

1) Freezeout Trail in the northern end of the park. Nice 3 or 4 day loop, mainly along lakeshore, streams, and small ponds. Very few people; you have a good chance at being able to reserve tent or lean-to sites, especially Sun - Thurs nights.

2) The 5 Ponds Loop, also in the north end of the park. Easy hiking, very picturesque ponds with tent sites. Also the possibility of some easy and moderate climbs. Again, an uncrowded area of the park, which should make it easier to reserve sites. When doing the 5 Ponds Loop, I would recommend a day or 2 at South Branch Ponds; where the Traveller Loop would make an ambitious, but very rewarding dayhike (largely above treeline).

3) The Russell Pond area. There are often available sites at RP campground, especially during the week. The trail from Roaring Brook to Russell is largely along beautiful streams. If you can, try to reserve a lean-to at Wassataquoik Stream, which is on the way from Roaring Brook to Russell. Also, a side trip from Russell to spectacular Wassataquoik Lake is well worth it. If possible, try to reserve the Wassataquoik Island site (used to be a small cabin; I believe it was recently replaced with a lean-to) for a night. Take a canoe up to the short trail that leads to Greene Falls. Also, if you take the trail towards Little Wassataquoik, there will be a side trail on the left that climbs up to one of the best view points in the park.