Middle Saranac Lake has a reputation with paddlers from the Adirondacks and the Northeast — and not always a good one. This beautiful body of water, part of the Saranac Chain of Lakes and located on Section 2 of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, offers stunning views of Ampersand, McKenzie and Whiteface mountains (and plenty more), but often comes at a price: wind. Lots and lots of wind. But if you hit it right and paddle here on a calm day, you’re in for a treat.
In the spring of 2024, NFCT Trustee Brandon Devito and I led a community paddle with about a dozen folks — some local to the area, some visitors who found the trip advertised on social media — from the South Creek access off State Route 3 to Weller Pond and back. With temps in the 70s and nearly no wind, this particular paddle on Middle Saranac was a rare treat — with the usual caveat that the blackflies were relentless. Perfection is fleeting, I suppose.
This is another great day trip for paddlers of all abilities. The South Creek launch has both a sandy beach and a wooden dock for putting in, and the water here is shallow. Once our group was ready, we set off and followed South Creek to Middle Saranac.
The creek itself is a highlight, as it winds through reeds and wetlands for about half a mile. When it opens up onto the lake, the views are spectacular, with Ampersand Mountain to the south and McKenzie Mountain and the Sentinel Range to the east. While Lower Saranac Lake is a super popular destination for motorboats, Middle Saranac tends to see significantly less motorized traffic, especially in the spring. The few motorboats we did encounter were friendly and respectful, which tends to be my experience in the Saranac Chain — folks here are great at sharing the water.
Middle Saranac is a fun lake to explore, as it features several stretches of sandy beach, some that are only accessible from the water. There’s also a few islands with beautiful campsites, but they do require reservations.
For this trip, we paddled north across the lake to the small channel that connects to Weller Pond. The channel is beautiful, and if you’re planning on giving this paddle a try, it’s worth veering right just a couple hundred yards before entering Weller Pond to take a spin around Little Weller. Both ponds are quiet and serene, featuring plenty of wildlife.
Weller Pond is home to more campsites that can be reserved in advance. Our group was lucky to find an empty one that we used for a quick lunch. While eating, we were regaled with some outdoor jokes courtesy of Brandon — an essential part of any paddle with him.
Once we finished fueling up, we hit the water and retraced our strokes. About halfway across Middle Saranac, we were treated to a parade of float planes — presumably a flying club — who all dipped their wings in greeting as they passed.
This outing is about 5.5 miles roundtrip — closer to 7 if you include a lap around Little Weller. Our trip took about three hours total, which included a stop for lunch and the side trip to Little Weller, plus extra time to float in the middle of the lake and appreciate the calm waters. If you’re looking for additional expertise, gear, rentals or more, try one of our local partners: Adirondack Lakes & Trails Outfitters or St. Regis Canoe Outfitters.
If you have questions about this trip, let me know: chris@northernforestcanoetrail.org.
