RICKA Flatwater, BVPC and Wilderness Postings

RICKA Flatwater, BVPC and Wilderness Postings
[ RICKA Flatwater, BVPC and Wilderness Postings ]

Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall

Posted by Erik on 5/17/2021, 7:14 am

I paddled on Saturday with a club that is almost as old as RICKA – Hackensack River Canoe & Kayak Club (HCKC). RICKA was founded in 1977. HCKC was founded in 1985, but I digress...

Anyway, we paddled the quickwater section of the Housatonic River from Corwall to Kent in western CT. The Housatonic is a beautiful river, but it is a three-hour drive for me, so it is a lot of driving for a day trip. There are also a couple of nice flatwater sections that I never done because of the drive:

Sheffield, MA to Ashley Falls, CT - trip I in this paddle guide
https://hvatoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PaddleGuideBershire2014.pdf

Ashley Falls, CT to Falls Village, CT - trip J in this paddle guide.
https://hvatoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PaddleGuideCT.pdf

Rather than driving out, I was thinking about finding a place to camp – probably Friday and Saturday night. We could drive out Friday, paddle one section Saturday, and the other on Sunday, and then drive home. Folks who wanted to do a day trip either day could drive out. Fall would probably be the best time to do this – I‘m thinking mid-September to mid-October. Housatonic Meadow State Park would be a nice place to camp if we can get in.
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Housatonic-Meadows-State-Park

Anyone interested in the weekend on the Housatonic this fall.

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall

Posted by Erik on 5/17/2021, 7:24 am, in reply to "Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall"

Now that I think about it - later in the fall is probably better - imagine this with fall foliage.

.

It would be amazing.

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall

Posted by Sharon on 5/17/2021, 8:03 am, in reply to "Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall"

Hi Erik. Very much interested - if those sections you listed are flatwater sections. Sign me up, thanks!

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall

Posted by JeanMarie Jungman-Josephson on 5/17/2021, 8:12 am, in reply to "Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall"

If the sections are flat, or somewhat quick, I’d love to go.

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall

Posted by Lysa and Scott on 5/17/2021, 6:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall"

I agree with Sharon. If the paddles are flat water, count us in!

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall

Posted by Orlando Rodriguez on 5/17/2021, 9:27 am, in reply to "Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall"

My wife and I are interested. We would stay in a motel/hotel instead of camping. Every time I go camping it rains.

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall

Posted by Cheryl on 5/17/2021, 9:38 am, in reply to "Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall"

Hi Erik Tom and I would love to attend!

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall

Posted by Erik on 5/17/2021, 9:39 am, in reply to "Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall"

Both Sheffield to Ashley Falls and Ashley Falls to Falls Village are flatwater sections.

I'm thinking the first or second weekend in October. I'll take a look at campground availability. We'll probably have to book early - especially if we go during foliage season.

Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th

Posted by Erik on 5/18/2021, 7:45 am, in reply to "Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall"

It looks like there is a Potter Hill trip on October 3rd, and a Blackstone Gorge trip on October 16th, so I am gong to go with Columbus Day Weekend.

Saturday, October 9th
Housatonic River – Sheffield, MA to Ashley Falls, MA

Sunday, October 10th
Housatonic River – Ashley Falls, MA to Falls Village, CT

You can do one or both as day trips, but it is 3-hour drive each way.

For those camping

Taconic State Park
253 NY-344
Copake Falls, NY 12517

Website
https://parks.ny.gov/parks/taconiccopake/details.aspx

Campsite Map
https://parks.ny.gov/documents/parks/TaconicCopakeFallsAreaCampingMapRatesPolicies.pdf

Book site on Reserve America
https://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/taconic(copakefalls)/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NY&parkId=410

Taconic State Park does allow single night reservations, so you should reserve at least Saturday night. I booked Friday and Saturday.

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th

Posted by Erik on 5/18/2021, 7:52 am, in reply to "Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th"

Sorry - the Reserve America link was broken - here it is:

Link: https://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/taconic(copakefalls)/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NY&parkId=410

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th

Posted by Cheryl on 5/18/2021, 9:17 am, in reply to "Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th"

Thank you Erik! It is now up on the calendar as well. I found a link to photos of the campsites if anyone wants to check them out before reserving.
https://www.campadk.com/campsitephotos/campgrounds/Taconic+Copake+Falls/choosesite

Link: https://www.campadk.com/campsitephotos/campgrounds/Taconic+Copake+Falls/choosesite

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th

Posted by Roberta Engel on 5/18/2021, 9:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th"

Erik, I would like to join the Housatonic camp/paddle journey! Roberta Engel

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th

Posted by JeanMarie on 5/26/2021, 6:21 am, in reply to "Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th"

I took your advice and have booked a cabin.

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th

Posted by Orlando Rodriguez on 5/18/2021, 1:25 pm, in reply to "Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend - October 9th and 10th"

My wife and I would like to go on this trip. We will stay at the Locust Tree Bed and Breakfast in Canaan, CT.

Re: Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall

Posted by Erik on 5/19/2021, 5:44 am, in reply to "Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend this Fall"

If you believe the CTDEP we should have just about peak foliage on Columbus Day Weekend - great for paddling, and also great for an evening hike to a nearby waterfall or mountain top, or just relaxing around the fire. This is the foliage map for Columbus day weekend.

.

At this point we are pretty far out, but I would suggest that you go ahead and make campground reservations. I can't imagine that the campground will fill up, but it is a holiday weekend in peak foliage season - you never know. I booked Friday and Saturday on site 87. As we get closer we will figure out logistics.

http://ricka.org/housatonicwkend.html

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