Packrafting the Adirondacks: Cedar River Hudson River Loop

[Ike Jutkowitz]

Country United States
State New York
Area Adirondack Mountains
Trip Month (10) – October

Report / Notes
This was a roughly 100 mile loop through the Adirondacks in New York, the centerpiece of which was the class III whitewater of the Hudson River Gorge. It also included the Cedar River, a worthwhile destination by itself, and a variety of established and unmaintained trails.

This is a 19 minute feature length video, so it may not be for everyone, but it does a pretty good job of showing what one of my typical trips looks like these days in all of its glory and idiocy. Because this is a new medium for me, I’d appreciate any constructive comments.

Best,
Ike

https://ikesodyssey.com/2024/11/09/packrafting-the-adirondacks-the-cedar-river-hudson-river-loop/

The Route
Parking at the hiker lot just north of the Indian Lake Boat Ramp and Lewey Lake Campground on Route 30.

Segment 1
Hike Sucker Brook Trail to Height of Ground. Continue along Colvin Brook to Carry Lean To (8.5 miles).

Segment 2
Paddle the Cedar River from the Carry Lean To, through the Cedar River Flow, and all the way to its confluence with the Hudson River (32 miles)

Segment 3
Paddle the Hudson River through the gorge to the town of North Creek (19 miles)

Segment 4
Hike the Raymond Brook Ski Trail, Botheration Pond Trail, East Branch Sacandaga Trail, Puffer Pond Brook Trail, Round Pond Trail, and Wakely Brook Trail. These trails have been incorporated into the growing North Country Trail system in New York. Follow the Kunjamuk Long Pond Trail to Long Pond. Take the John Mack Pond Trail to Johnny Mack Landing on Indian Lake (26 miles)

Segment 5
Paddle Indian Lake back to car (3.5 miles)

[George Chovanes]

Excellent video and trip, Ike.  Thanks for sharing.  Good steady shots. I haven’t done pack rafting – looks like you did white water well with it.

[dirtbag]

This was awesome!!  Very well done and I enjoy seeing areas that are fairly close to me that I could have a shot at hitting up.  Packrafting looks like a great time!

[Ike Jutkowitz]

Thanks! For some reason I had thought you were a packrafter. Do you kayak?

[dirtbag]

Whitewater kayaking.. class 2 and 3.  This year I did not get any trips in due to shoulder injury which will require surgery sooner then later.

[David Hartley]

This was fantastic! First time I have seen video of the Hudson River gorge. I can’t tell if you are smiling or grimacing while paddling your pack-raft.

I have detoured off of the NPT to the Colvin-Brook lean-to, but never farther east on the Colvin-Brook trail (I always thought the whole trail was the Sucker Brook trail all the way to the NPT). You have satisfied my curiosity on the beaver swamp.

[Ike Jutkowitz]

It does look like most maps call it the Sucker Brook straight through. My mistake. Very few if any show the location of the bog and its channels, like this one does though. The channels have deepened and widened significantly over the years. This year I wasn’t able to get through and had to bushwhack through the evergreen forest to the east.

[Terran Terran]

Smiling and Dropkicking it. Nice video.

[Luke Coop]

Nineteen minutes well spent, Ike. Thank you for sharing!

[Kevin Babione]

Loved your video – Thank you!  It was a good length and a really nice mix of first and third person views.  Some of the packrafting segments seemed like they would have been more comfortable with a partner – just in case, but your confidence and joy showed through.  Keep them coming!

[Lycopodium]

I loved this video! Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

I have been thinking of trying packrafting and your video has definitely increased my interest. Which type of Alpacka packraft are you using?

[AK Granola]

Enjoyed the video! such nice fall colors.

[Author]

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