A treasure map for paddling gems

WRITTEN BY AISLINN SARNACKI

Though many paddlers stow their gear at the end of summer, fall is a wonderful time to get out on the water. Maine’s ruthless blackflies and mosquitoes are dying down, and the waterways are no longer crowded with summer folk. Plus, after months of sunshine and heat, the water retains enough warmth, especially in early fall, for swimming. 

What’s most amazing about fall paddling, however, is the perspective it offers for viewing Maine’s incredible fall foliage. While gliding down a stream or along the edge of a lake, you’re treated to an unobstructed view of the trees that line the shore. In swampy areas, bright red maples will steal the show. In drier spots, oaks, sugar maples, and poplars pop with color.

If the water is calm, you’ll enjoy twice the fall foliage as shoreline trees reflect in the water below. It’s truly a magical experience.

But where to go? I like to start planning by looking at the Delorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer. It’s like a treasure map for paddling spots.

The conversation always starts the same: “That looks interesting.” Finger pressed to a page, I wait for my paddling buddy to peer over my shoulder and agree. 

After all, “interesting” could mean just about anything. A meandering stream that looks good for wildlife watching, a lake full of islands to explore, a remote pond with no houses along its shores — the atlas contains it all.

In this book of invaluable maps, the symbol of a boat launch is the simple shape of a motorboat seen from a bird’s eye view — a square stern arcing on the sides to a pointed bow. I simply search for that symbol in an area of the state that I’d like to paddle. 

If the boat symbol is solid, the boat launch is trailerable, meaning you can drive a boat on a trailer straight into the water. If the symbol is hollow, it’s a hand-carry site, suitable for launching small boats like canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards.

Lucky for me — and everyone else who loves paddling — Maine is filled with options, with roughly 2,500 lakes and ponds, 3,500 miles of coastline, and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams. 

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands alone provides public boat launches at almost 400 locations throughout the state. In addition, many towns and outdoor-oriented organizations offer launch sites as well. 

Flip to any topographical map in the Delorme Maine atlas and you’ll find boat launches — aside from page 60, on which an extremely remote northwest part of the state borders Canada and there’s extremely limited road access. (Yes, I flipped through the entire atlas to check.)

Once you’ve found a boat launch that looks “interesting,” do a little research. The Lake Stewards of Maine website is a great resource for learning more about lakes and ponds, including the area they cover and their depth. Google provides helpful satellite views of bodies of water, but keep in mind that water levels change throughout the year and features, such as beaver dams, can pop up overnight.

But I like leaving a little bit of mystery. It adds to the sense of adventure and exploration. 

That being said, I make sure to prepare with the necessary safety gear and navigational tools, plus ensure my boat is suitable for the water conditions (for example a sea kayak for tidal waters or a paddleboard for a small pond). 

In addition, I always travel to a new-to-me boat launch with a plan B, and sometimes a plan C. That way, if I turn up and am confronted with whitecaps or a washed out road, I can easily pivot to another equally exciting adventure without any heartbreak.