There are Bears in Those Hills!

Paddling Echo Lake
So here's the final installment in our three-part series on Franconia Notch. I want to share our experience paddling Echo Lake, not to be confused with the lake of the same name in North Conway. Echo Lake in Franconia sits right off Route 93, at the base of Cannon Mountain, so you can expect quite a bit of road noise.

With Cannon Mountain's ski trails and aerial tramway nearby and a small beach at one end, this isn't a secluded paddle. There were also a few people out in small fishing boats the day we were there.

The lake is only about 28 acres, according to the NH Fish and Game. The plusses are some great views of Mount Lafayette, and of course, Cannon Mountain. The main attraction the day we were there was a black bear roaming around near the top of the ski slope. We could watch from the lake with our binoculars, so that was cool! One of the fishermen from the area told us it was common to find a bear rummaging around the back of his pickup truck. Apparently bear sightings are common any time of day.

With Echo Lake being so small, we only paddled for about an hour; In fact, a good portion of the time we weren't paddling at all, we were sitting and watching the bear.

I wouldn't consider Echo Lake a destination by itself, but rather an appetizer on the smorgasbord that is Franconia Notch State Park. There's lots to do here, including hiking, biking, camping, and swimming. Visit Franconia Notch State Park for more details.

Kayaking Streeter Pond in Franconia

We spent last weekend in Sugar Hill, NH for the lupine festival -- it was very low-key but fun! I've decided to post three short write-ups, starting with this one about Streeter Pond. Can you say "beautiful reflections?" That's my lasting impression of this small pond.

Not sure if Streeter Pond is in Franconia or Sugar Hill, but it was only about four miles from where we stayed at Sunset Hill in Sugar Hill, just off Route 116. One source says the pond is about 65 acres.

We arrived mid-morning and spent a little over an hour paddling around. So it's not the type of place that will occupy your day, but in my view, it's well worth it if you're in the area. And there are lots of reasons to visit Franconia Notch -- more on that in a later post.

While there's only one house on the pond, you can hear some road noise from nearby route 116. But for me, the mountain views and reflections cancel out the road noise. I don't think my photos do it justice.

We saw lots of birds, including red-winged blackbirds, orioles, and gold finches. And while Streeter is small, it still invites exploration. There are little islands and bends to explore. I'm working on a short slideshow of the natural beauty we found near Franconia, but I'm techno-challenged. For now, I say load your canoe or kayak on to your vehicle, and head to Sugar Hill!

Directions (from http://www.franconianotch.org/): It's easy to find once you're in the area. Take a left off route 116, heading north on Streeter Pond Road. Boat launch is a left after you pass the pond. The put-in is not as gradual as many we've been to, but it's do-able.