salem lake clyde river itinerary

							                   Northern Forest Canoe Trail’s
           Northeast Kingdom Romantic Paddling Getaway
                                    (Two Days & Two Nights)
Who says that an outdoor recreation getaway requires you to “rough it”? Vermont’s Northeast
Kingdom is known for authentic, off-the-beaten path escapes featuring natural wonders dispersed
amongst small towns and villages where a relaxed away-from-it-all state of mind reigns. Among the
Kingdom’s treasures is the romantic Lake Salem Inn, where you can reconnect with yourself and/or
those close to you while enjoying a great base for paddling. If camping is more conducive to your taste
or budget, Char-Bo Campground provides an equally good paddling base, while the nearby town of
Newport has many options for romantic dining experiences. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail’s Clyde
River, Salem Lake, Little Salem Pond, and Lake Memphremagog all offer lazy, calm water paddling
perfect for a weekend focused on relaxation. The following itinerary combines these Northeast
Kingdom gems into a weekend that’s sure to recharge your spirits.

To adapt the itinerary or create a custom trip, simply visit the Northern Forest Canoe Trail’s online
Trip Planner.

Before You Go:
    Purchase online the Northern Forest Canoe Trail’s Section 6 Map: Lake Memphremagog to
     Connecticut River, which provides a visual guide for your paddling experience, as well as great
     background information on the area’s human and natural history. For additional information
     on the waterways you’ll paddle, consider purchasing online the Clyde River Paddling and Fishing
     Guide by Luke O’Brien of the NorthWoods Stewardship Center.
    Make lodging reservations at the romantic Lake Salem Inn; or camping reservations at Char-Bo
     Campground.
    If you choose, make reservations for a romantic dinner at Lake Salem Inn.
    If you choose, reserve massage or spa treatments reservations at Lake Salem Inn.
    Arrange your paddling tour, rental, or shuttle needs with either Clyde River Recreation, NorthWoods
     Stewardship Center or Siskin Ecological Adventures. (Read on for information about their services.)
    Make necessary gear and safety arrangements in conjunction with your paddling itinerary.
    Plan to be a responsible paddler. Familiarize yourself with the weed Eurasian watermilfoil.
     You will be paddling waterways threatened by overgrowths of watermilfoil, which form dense
     mats that inhibit the healthy functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Milfoil infestations are much
     easier to prevent than eradicate. To act as a responsible paddler and waterway steward, please take
       essential milfoil precautions: inspect your boat and equipment carefully and wash or remove milfoil every
       time you enter and leave waterways!

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Afternoon Arrival & Evening One
Arrive in Derby, Vermont in the afternoon, and check into the romantic Lake Salem Inn. Innkeepers
Mo & Joe Profera offer four elegant guest rooms, each with private bath and a unique style, some with
decks overlooking the lake – check their website for pictures. Common space includes TV, books, and
games; an outdoor boat dock is also available. Your stay includes breakfast, and dinner is available by
reservation. Massages and spa treatments are also available by reservation - consider planning these
luxuries into your weekend! Mo and Joe once owned a restaurant; and are known for outstanding
meals. They are gracious hosts, but ask that you don’t bring small children or pets.

If camping is more conducive to your budget, stay at Char-Bo Campground on the eastern shore of Salem
Lake. To maintain the romantic feel of your getaway, make sure to take advantage of the dining
options listed in the next paragraph, particularly the first two.

Both Lake Salem Inn and Char-Bo Campground offer wireless internet to guests.

If you’ve reserved in advance, enjoy dinner at Lake Salem Inn. Your other, and equally delicious, option,
is one of Newport’s dining establishments. To reach Newport, drive 15 minutes west on Route 78. On
Main St., you’ll encounter the chef-owned Lago Trattoria, featuring authentic Italian entrees and deserts,
along with a full bar. Directly on the waterfront is the Boathouse Grill featuring creatively prepared
seafood, steaks, and pastas. For classic home style American specialities with open-air seating along
Lake Memphremagog, consider the East Side Restaurant.

Plan ahead for your day of paddling by purchasing picnic food in Newport. Newport Natural Foods &
Montgomery Café offers a great selection of natural, local and organic options.

Day One: Paddle the Clyde River, Little Salem Pond, and Salem Lake
Getting Started
Breakfast at Lake Salem Inn will include specialties such as
puffed eggs with homemade semolina bread and fresh fruit;
cinnamon raisin-walnut french toast; spiced buttermilk
pancakes topped with apples; croissant topped with
scrambled eggs and secret sauce. All entree's are served
with fresh juice, freshly ground coffee and a variety of teas.

If you’re camping at Char-Bo Campground and it’s a Saturday
or Sunday morning, consider making the 20 minute trip
into Newport for breakfast at the East Side Restaurant.
                                                                                              Credit: Clyde Smith


Next you’ll head out for a half to full day (4-8 hours) of exploring Salem Lake, and Little Salem Pond,
as well as a short stretch of the Clyde River, all of which provide calm water for a relaxing paddling
experience. You will put in on the Clyde River about 3.5 miles upstream of Lake Salem Inn.

If you need to rent a boat; or if you have your own boat and need a shuttle, consider hiring Clyde River
Recreation. If you prefer paddling and/or fishing with a guide who can explain the natural history of the
River, make arrangements with Siskin Ecological Adventures or NorthWoods Stewardship Center.

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If you haven’t done so already, purchase picnic food in Newport. Newport Natural Foods & Montgomery
Café offers a great selection of natural, local and organic options.

On the Water
You’ll begin your paddle at the Dane Hill Road access to the River off of Route 105. This quiet float
on the Clyde will carry you past farm fields, floodplain forests and backwaters. Drift quietly and you
may be rewarded by wildlife sightings. After about a mile and half, you will reach Little Salem Pond.

You will next paddle out onto Salem Lake. Seasonal camps and homes ring the lake, but natural areas
are still present around the entire perimeter. Enjoy a lazy float – sunbathe, nap, or read a book – before
returning to Lake Salem Inn or Char-Bo Campground.

Make sure you don’t continue on the Clyde River where it exits the western corner of Salem Lake
unless you are truly prepared for the Class III whitewater rapids between there and Lake
Memphremagog. Although scenically dramatic, this section of River requires advanced technical
paddling skills and should not be attempted by novices. The River here becomes deeper and the
current faster. Boulders, cobbles, and gravel compose the substrate and frequent eddies and quickwater
sections characterize this stretch.

Plan ahead; consider a post-paddle massage or spa treatment at Lake Salem Inn.

Evening Two
For the evening, spend a second night at either Lake Salem Inn or Char-Bo Campground. Your dinner
options once again include Lake Salem Inn (if you’ve reserved in advance), or one of the fine
establishments in Newport – refer to the paragraph above under afternoon arrival and evening one.

Day Two: Paddling South Bay of Lake Memphremagog
Your breakfast options again include Lake Salem Inn or the East Side Restaurant in Newport.

For your second day of paddling, you’ll spend a half to full day (4-8 hours) exploring the South Bay of
Lake Memphremagog, accessible from the town of Newport. You’ll once again want to select the boat
rental or guiding service that meets your needs. See paddling service options listed under Day One.

Before you put on the water in Newport, purchase picnic food at Newport Natural Foods & Montgomery
Café.

                                                           On South Bay
                                                           You’ll put in at one of several access points along
                                                           South Bay. At the north end, there are small put
                                                           ins/take outs at the Clyde Street Bridge or
                                                           Western Avenue Bridge; the more formal put ins
                                                           at Gardner Park and the Newport Gateway
                                                           Center. Along the eastern side, you’ll find a boat
                                                           launch along Glen Road. At the top northwestern
                                                           corner of the Bay, you’ll find a boat launch along
                                                           Coventry Street.

  Credit: Darrin Kimbler          Credit: Darrin Kimbler
                                                           The meandering Black and Barton Rivers are
                                                           tributaries to South Bay, creating diverse wetland
                                                           habitats that support a variety of plankton, bird,
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mammal, and fish species. As such, the southern portion of South Bay, including a zone on each shore
of the Black and Barton Rivers, is designated by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife as the
1,600 acre South Bay State Wildlife Management Area.

Enjoy the wildlife on this spectacular section of Lake Memphremagog, making sure to travel up the
twisting reaches of the Black and Barton Rivers. Picnic as you float, or along a quiet stretch of
shoreline.

Plan ahead; consider a post-paddle massage or spa treatment at Lake Salem Inn.

Completing Your Getaway
Before heading home, pick up snacks for your drive at Newport Natural Foods & Montgomery Café.

 Summary of Services & Activities

 Restaurants:
    In Newport:
     Lago Trattoria – chef-owned Italian restaurant (dinner)
     Boathouse Grill – seafood, steaks, pasta on the boardwalk of Lake Memphremagog (dinner)
     East Side Restaurant – home style American food on open-air deck along Lake
       Memphremagog (dinner)
    On Salem Lake:
     Lake Salem Inn – Italian multi-course dinner available with prior reservation

 Market/Delis:
    Newport Natural Foods & Montgomery Café – natural, local, and organic foods (lunch,
       snacks)

 Lodging/Camping:
     Lake Salem Inn– romantic accommodations on the shore of Salem Lake
     Char-Bo Campground – on the shore of Salem Lake

 Activities:
     Paddle the Clyde River, Little Salem Pond, and Salem Lake on your own, or using the
         services of either Clyde River Recreation, Siskin Ecological Adventures, or Northwoods Stewardship
         Center (half to full day)
     Paddle South Bay of Lake Memphremagog on your own, or using the services of either
         Clyde River Recreation, Siskin Ecological Adventures, or Northwoods Stewardship Center (half to
         full day)
     Enjoy a massage of spa treatment by advance reservation at Lake Salem Inn.



Driving Times to Newport, Vermont from Major Cities
Boston                          3.5 hours
Burlington, Vermont             2 hours
Montréal, Quebec                2 hours
Manchester, New Hampshire       3 hours
New York City                   6 hours
Portland, Maine                 3.5 hours
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RECOMMENDED READING

Maps and Guides:
   AMC River Guide: New Hampshire/Vermont, Appalachian Mt. Club, 2002.
   Island Pond Regional Recreation Map, Brighton Community Forum Recreation Committee, 2002.
   Vermont Atlas and Gazetteer, DeLorme, 2003.
   USGS Topographical Maps: Mount Mansfield (VT), Groveton (NH-VT-ME), www.usgs.gov
   Canadian National Topographic System Map: Lac Memphremagog, www.worldofmaps.com
   Clyde River Paddling and Fishing Guide by Luke O’Brien of the NorthWoods Stewardship Center

Fact and Fiction:
    The Original Vermonters: Native Inhabitants, Past and Present, William A. Haviland and Marjory
       W. Power, University Press of New England, 1994.
    Around Lake Memphremagog, Bea Aldrich Nelsonand Barbara Kaiser Malloy, Arcadia Publishing,
       2003.
    Holy Old Mackinaw, Stuart Holbrook, Comstock Editions, Inc., 1987.
    North Woods: An Inside Look at the Nature of Forests in the Northeast, Peter J. Marchand,
       Appalachian
       Mountain Club Books, 1994.
    South of the Northeast Kingdom, David Mamet, National Geographic Society, 2002.
    Disappearances, Howard Frank Mosher, David R. Godine Publisher, 1984.


About the Northern Forest Canoe Trail: The Northern Forest Canoe Trail links the watersheds of northern
New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire and Maine, and is a unique thread tying together the Northern Forest
Region. The 740-mile water trail traces historic Native American travel routes through the rivers of this region, and is a
living reminder our history, where rivers are both highways and routes of communication. Flowing with the stories of
Native Americans, European settlers, and the development of mill towns and the timber industry, the Trail's rich heritage
serves as a basis for widely accessible, environmentally friendly tourism in many of the small communities along the route.
If you enjoyed this adventure, consider exploring other portions of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
Map 1 – Fulton Chain of Lakes to Long Lake
Map 2 – Long Lake to Saranac River
Map 3 – Saranac River to Lake Champlain
Map 4 – Lake Champlain to Missisquoi River
Map 5- Missisquoi River to Lake Memphremagog
Map 6 – Lake Memphremagog to Connecticut River
Map 7 – Connecticut River to Umbagog Lake
Map 8 – Umbagog Lake to Rangeley Lake
Map 9 – Rangeley Lake to Spencer Stream
Map 10 – Spencer Stream to Moosehead Lake
Map 11 – Moosehead Lake to Umbazooksus Stream
Map 12 – Umbazooksus Stream to Umsaskis Lake
Map 13 – Umsaskis Lake to St. John River

This publication is the result of tax-supported funding from USDA, Rural Development, and as such is
not copyrightable. It may be reprinted with the customary crediting of the source.



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