Moosehead recommendations?

[jeffcasey]

Heading to Moosehead for family vacation...

...anybody have any favorite paddling spots to recommend?

Looking for short quick kid-compatible stuff around south end, as well as some long full-day stretch-the-muscles trips to get away.

((and what are all these silly buttons all over message board entry???

.....can I turn all this stuff off??))

[bazzert]

Lower and Upper Wilson ponds would be perfect with kids. Much calmer waters than Moosehead. The norther shore of lower wilson is mostly undeveloped and you can paddle through to upper wilson which is completely undeveloped.

[donperry]

When are you planning to go? Are you looking for campsites or lodging? Availability of places to stay is way better after Labor Day. Peak leaves are typically just before Columbus Day. The Lily Bay State Park may still be open for camping but I've only launched there. I stayed in a private CG mid-lake at the end of Loon Lane off of Rt6. Availability there would not be good before Labor Day. There's a good breakfast, sandwich, general store next to the river a little north of there close to Northern Road. I would stay there again rather than deal with the busy south end.

Regardless, the paddle around to the east side of Mount Kineo is absolutely spectacular. It would take a week of day trips to cover the whole lake.

[jonsprag1]

Heading to Moosehead for family vacation...

...anybody have any favorite paddling spots to recommend?

Looking for short quick kid-compatible stuff around south end, as well as some long full-day stretch-the-muscles trips to get away.

((and what are all these silly buttons all over message board entry???

.....can I turn all this stuff off??))

Both east and west coves in Greenville on the south end of the lake are usually calm and protected--- there is a maine forest service campground(free) on the south east side of moose island at the entrance to west cove about 3 miles from the public landing in greenville ---also as mentioned elsewhere Lily bay state park or if you don't want to pay, put in at lily bay and stay at one of the campsites (free with outhouses, picnic tables, firerings) on the east side of sugar island--in most wind directions this offers a sheltered lee---also you can do day paddles up to spencer bay and over to kineo from there if you are really looking to stretch your legs--if you want to put in at rockwood directly across from kineo you can stay at farm island campsites or the campground at the north end of kineo(both free)--- Also you can put in at rockwood and paddle south along the west shore around sandbar point and stay at mastermans island camp site(free) finally if you got the the north bay of the lake, try any of the campgrounds at big duck cove or if you are really up for a hump paddle up to seboomook point and stay there(wouldn't bring the kids on this one unless they are better paddlers than you---all of the campsites accept lily bay state park are free but there are no reservations, first come first served--if either visited (duck cove and moose island) the campsites or stayed at them(all the rest) for the night---they are all good---good luck and have fun

[ExGMan]

If you belong to AMC, they've got a place on one of the ponds at which you could stay. See the URL here: http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodges/medawisla/index.cfm