2025 Connecticut Lakes Region - The Hidden Gems Edition
Silence. Of all the sensations of this trip, silence was the most powerful. In remote bogs with nary another human around, Glen and I got to soak in the rare experience of silence. Well...silence plus the buzz and zip of dragonflies, the squawks of great blue herons, the gentle dips of our paddles into smooth water, the rustle of light wind in cattails.
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After having such a blast with my friend Alex paddling in the Connecticut Lakes Region of New Hampshire in July, I just knew I had to return with Glen to explore even more of the area.
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On this trip - the hidden gems edition - Glen and I sought out smaller and more remote ponds and bogs, along with paddling some of the larger bodies of water that Alex and I had paddled a month earlier.
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One stark difference between the two trips was the precipitous drop in water levels in just one month. With New Hampshire edging toward a drought, some areas that we paddled in July were no longer accessible in August. In spite of low waters, we were able to explore many gorgeous places, including the aptly named Boundary Pond, Coon Pond, and Scott Bog, to name a few.
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We stayed for five nights at Lake Francis State Park, plugging our EV in at an RV site. And as was the case when we stayed there in July, the park was remarkably laid back and mellow, not the party atmosphere that can frequently be found at a lot of state parks.
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All in all this was a most enjoyable, restorative trip!