Paddling at Quimby Country
At Quimby Country, we love to paddle. Whether you’re passionate about rowboats, canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards, we have them all. Get lost in the moment as you coast through the waters of Forest Lake or Big Averill, where we keep our boats. Or if you prefer something more edgy, try your hand at windsurfing on Big Averill!
If you’re looking for river paddling, drive to Clyde River Recreation in West Charleston, VT, to rent a canoe or kayak and explore part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. (About an hour from Quimby Country.)
If you’re looking for the exhilaration of white water rafting, make a date with ELC Outdoors in Errol, NH. They offer a half-day white water rafting adventure on the Androscoggin River Monday through Thursday. Departures at 9:30 am and 1 pm. In addition to rafting on class II rivers mid-week, they offer a variety of classes (II-IV) of dam-released rivers on the weekends. (About 90 minutes from Quimby Country.) Call 603.215.0002 for more information.
If you brought your own canoe or kayak, you can enter the Connecticut River in Canaan, VT, just below the Canaan-West Stewartstown Bridge. (About 30 minutes from Quimby Country.)
For other access points, consult the Connecticut River Paddlers’ Trail website. For example, there are many access points closer to the Connecticut River’s headwaters between Canaan, VT, and Pittsburg, NH (just another 15 minutes further north on Route 3).
Alternatively, you can drive down to Wenlock, VT, on Route 105 between Island Pond and Bloomfield. (About 45 minutes from Quimby Country.) There you can enter the Nulhegan River, reputedly Vermont’s wildest. The 7-mile stretch from Nulhegen Pond to the railroad tracks at Wenlock Crossing consists of quiet meandering waters with lots of tight turns and an occasional beaver damn to ford.
If your arms get tired of paddling, Quimby Country also has battery-operated trolling motors that can be used on the Forest Lake rowboats. They’re intended for anglers, but if one of the rowboats is free in mid-afternoon, feel free to take a spin around the lake. Just stay clear of the loons and watch out for shallow areas.
