Saranac Lake Island Camping

Year one. July 17-20, 2015.

Camped at site 01 on Eagle Island, the largest Island on the Lake. A beautiful place. Rented a canoe from Adirondack Lake and Trail Outfitters- great place, great staff. Transported the canoe to the NY State DEC boat launch and it picked it back up. Sites are rustic- picnic table, fire ring, and outhouse.

Below is the view of Lower Saranac Lake and Ampersand Mountain from site 01.

What you will need minimum:
Shelter- tent, camp pillow, sleeping pad, and 3 season sleeping bag (35-40 degree men's and/or a 20-35 degree women's), as it can get cold at night.

Clothing- rain jacket, insulating layer (puffy, sweater or fleece), pants, shorts, shirts, wool or warm socks for sleeping, bathing suit- you might want to bring a small cloths line for drying clothing. Good sandals (Keens, Teva's, etc) or water shoes are a must. Flip flops are fine around camp or in the boat but worthless on a lot of the islands; sites are elevated, descending in flip flops will cut up your feet. A hat, sunscreen and bug spray are a must.

Hygiene- toiletries, toilet paper (there might be paper in the outhouse but I wouldn't count on there being any or enough), camp soap, and camp towel.

Camp kitchen- a cooler, a grill with folding legs that can sit on the fire ring (some sites have fire rings with grills, others don't), or in front of it. Also bring cutlery, plates, bowls, mugs, and glasses. A camp cook set- you'll need at least a pot for heating water for dish washing. Garbage bags; campsites are pack in pack out.

Other must haves:
Lighting- a headlamp with extra batteries (the islands have no electricity, are very wooded, and so are very dark at night). I also brought a small Black Diamond hanging lantern for my tent.

Water protection- A tarp (I brought an Eno fast fly), I tied it above the picnic table where I had all my gear. It poured the second night I was there so I just lowered the tarp right on top of the gear and table and everything was dry in the morning. Ziploc bags, you'll want your phone and camera in one or two at all times on the water. Dry bags, I used Outdoor Research dry bags for transporting clothing, sleeping bag, food, and other must stay dry items. You might want to lash gear in the canoe so 50-100 feet of para cord is a good idea.

Fire- lighters, waterproof matches, and fire starter (I fill a small container with cotton balls dipped in Petroleum Jelly).

Water- water bottles. I brought a water filter, but by the second day I was going into town and buying water and transporting it to the site.

Food- can grill dinner (meat, potatoes, corn, etc), and you might want to bring a camp kettle for breakfast (coffee singles, tea, oatmeal, etc.). With a camp cook set, food possibilities are endless. Bring salt, pepper, sugar, spices, etc, and a couple tubes of Nuun electrolytes; they will keep you properly hydrated, and improve the taste of the large amounts of water you will drink. Didn't see any animals on the Island except for birds, and an Otter on rock wall below my site, but I'd still hung my dry food (see photo below), and had the rest in a duct taped cooler.

Electronics- dry bags as mentioned above and a portable charger.

I hiked up Baker Mountain just outside of downtown Saranac Lake. An easy hike; just have good footwear (hiking shoes or boots), insect repellent, and carry water. I also always hike with trekking poles which make descents easier and take pressure off the knees. Below is the view from atop Baker mountain of lower Saranac and some of the Islands you can camp on.

What I will do different when I go back this July- I will bring a small camp stove for hot drinks in the morning without having to build a fire and I will bring lightweight camp chairs. I also plan on bringing a couple dehydrated meals that I can heat up for dinner if it is raining.

It is a beautiful place, and a great place to camp. Cannot recommend it enough.

I stayed in Saranac Lake (the Best Western) the day I got off the Island. It was nice to clean up, dry the gear and see a little more of Saranac Lake before heading back to New York the next day. Below are photos of Lake Flower at sunrise and McKenzie Mountain mid-day, both taken within 100 yards of my hotel room.

Year two. August 29-Sept 1, 2016.

Camped three nights at site 16 on Halfway Island. Halfway is a good deal smaller than Eagle Island, and the sites are not as far apart. You might occasionally hear someone else on the Island, but you will not see them unless you(or they) hike the trails around the Island. It is much closer to the DEC Boat Launch and check in both on Second Pond.