Highland Lake, New Perspective

I have posted Highland Lake before, last August, I think.  When I Was there last summer I enjoyed it, but didn't get to explore as much of the lake as I wanted to and while I was on the water I found some of the boat traffic to be... well...less than welcoming to kayakers.  However, I had a chance to spend a good chunk of time on this lake Sunday, more than four hours, and my perspective has changed.  I am going to share the directions again (along with the pictures I posted last time for directions) but there are new pictures and new notes below.  Enjoy!

Body of Water: Highland Lake, Falmouth/Windham, ME [Maine Gazetteer Map 5, D3 ]

Directions (from Portland, ME): Take 302 west from Portland towards Windham.  After crossing Riverside Street stay on 302 for just over a mile.  Rt. 302 widens to two lanes  just after the traffic light at Brook/Pride St.  There is a right turning arrow in the right lane, follow this arrow and turn right onto Elmwood Avenue, which turns into Duck Pond Road.  (I am not sure at what point it changes as there is no road sign or marker.)  COntinue following  Elmwood/uck Pond Rd. for about 2.2 miles then take Mast Rd. which will be on your right.   Stay on Mast Road for about 0.6 miles and on the left you will see a sign for the public access point as well as a sign for Lowell Farm Rd.  The access point is down Lowell Farm Rd.  Follow the signs for the access point.  You will turn left off Lowell Farm Rd to the parking area.

(Coordinates: 43.751982,-70.353998)

This is 302 West after the light at the intersection of 302 & Pride St.  (Taken from the Subway Sandwich shop across the street.)  Turn Right, follow the arrow! 

The Public Access sign on the corner of Mast Rd. and Lowell Farm Rd. Turn Left here! 

This sign is on Lowell Farm Rd. Turn left to access the launch site.  

You will then drive down a driveway to get to the parking/launch site. 

Boat Launch:  The boat launch is sand and gravel.  Where you put in is quite shallow.  Easy to put in.  As you can see from the picture there are rocks that prevent boat trailers from using this access point.

Parking: There was parking spaces for 6-8 vehicles in parking spots and the road was wide enough for other vehicles to park along it if needed.  (There was one truck parked along the road when I was there because it had hauled a trailer with multiple canoes.)  There is no fee for parking here.

*There are no bathroom facilities at this launch point.  

Wildlife: Herons, eagles,  loons, kingfishers, other birds, turtles, and fish.  

Notes: Highland Lake is very close to Portland. While I was on the water this time I saw at least a dozen other kayaks, a row boat, a coupe of canoes, and a few power boats.  I was pleased to see the numerous kayaks, many of whom had launched from the public launch site.  The part of the lake that I had not explored before was paddling to the left when leaving the boat launch.  The last time I was there I made a mistake I tell others to avoid, I paddled a bit in that direction and it seemed to end at someone's home, so I did not paddle too close.  However, this time I paddled down there and it kept going, for a while, all the way to the Highland Lake dam.  (Always use caution near a dam)  This part of the lake was beautiful.  I found some of my favorite paddling friends, turtles, basking in the sun.  The water was calm and the reflections were beautiful.  (See pictures below.)  At the opposite end of the lake I explored an area that had a lot of weeds and were fortunate to see a bald eagle attempt to catch something in the water. Whatever it was trying to catch made a large splash and got away.  The sound of the eagle coming down from the tree into the water is always an amazing thing.  A great blue heron also graced us with its presence and eventually perched in a tree.  During this paddle I found Highland Lake to be beautiful and peaceful.  Even though it was a holiday weekend the motor boat traffic was minimal.  The people who were out on their docks/decks as I passed were quick to say hello and say how peaceful and relaxed I looked.  I truly enjoyed paddling Highland Lake and am more likely to return to this spot after having experienced it this weekend. 

The only parts of this trip that was less than satisfying was that I planned poorly.  It was overcast when I first got on the water and did not apply sunscreen and took only one bottle of water.  As the haze lifted and the sun shone brightly, it was very humid.  I got a decent sunburn and would have loved a second bottle of water while out there.  Oh, and there were red leafs...in the water...and some of the trees were turning yellow, signaling a change of season that I am not ready for!  I will continue paddling this fall and sharing my adventures. 

When returning to the main part of the lake from the stream area the water was so calm and it reminded me of kayaking in some of the salt water marshes/tidal rivers I have been on.  It was beautiful. 

If you look closely at this picture you can see the paddle blade of another kayaker paddling through the stream. 

Here is the link to my previous post: 

Highland Lake 2013

Crooked River , Casco Maine

Body of Water: Crooked River, Casco Maine  [Maine Gazetteer, Map 5 B1]

Directions: From Portland take Rt. 302 into Windham.  Stay on 302 through Raymond and watch for the sign for Sebago State Park.   Turn left onto the State Park Road, pass the State Park entrance and go over a bridge (which is the Crooked River) Turn left at Watkins Road and the picnic area will be on the left.  There are not signs for the picnic area.  If you cross a second bridge, you missed the picnic area, but if you turn around the picnic area will be obvious hen you turn around. 

(Coordinates of this location: 43.932395, -70.577519       I have begun using google maps on my phone to 'star' places I kayak and it has been very helpful.  If you enter the coordinates into google maps or enter Songo Locks Maine, you will be able to see the area quite well from the satellite images. Please let me know if the coordinates are helpful.  I will try to use them more if people like them.)

Boat Launch:  There is no official ramp here, but there is a gradual slope down to the water from the picnic area and launching is relatively easy.  You will need to carry your kayak (canoe, paddleboard, etc.)  a short distance to get to the place where it is easiest to put in.)  

 This is the picnic area looking at the dam at the Locks. I forgot to take pictures of this part on this trip, so these are pictures from a trip I did last fall with a friend and my step sister to help give you an idea of the area.  (So nice, even if you don't paddle, a picnic lunch would be perfect here!) 

 This stone wall goes along the part you would walk down to get to the water.

This is where you can launch from. 

 

Parking: Free. Dirt parking lot, with a decent amount of parking spaces. I expect this area to be busier on summer weekends than other times. (I did not think to take pictures of the parking area, I will do so next time and post!) 

This is looking at the dam from the water.  The parking area is behind the dam on the right.

Wildlife: Heron, ducks, kingfishers, and other birds, turtles, and fish

Notes: From this launch site, Crooked River goes to the left, the Songo River would be straight ahead, and to get to Brandy Pond you would go to the right (thought the locks) There are no fees  to park or launch here, but if you wanted to spend more time on the water and go through the Songo Locks up to Brandy Pond, there is a fee.  The sign said $6.00 per boat, but when I have gone before they have given kayakers a deal, but that may not be the case now.  It is a cool experience to go through the locks.  I have posted about that before on my Songo River/Brandy Pond trip.  From here you can also paddle down the Songo River and out to Sebago Lake. I was reminded that bringing a garbage bag with me is a good idea.  There was one area of the river where some floating bottles had collected as well as a couple of children's toys.  I definitely see this river as clean, but I think that there is a lot of boat traffic in the Songo River area and people are careless.  Please make sure you take out any trash/bottles you bring in.  Because the river is narrow and well protected it is a great place to go when it is too windy to go other places. I cannot wait to return here this fall as the foliage begins to change!

Crooked River is appropriately named.  It winds back and forth as it takes you away from the Songo Locks and up to Rt. 302.  (Some people launch from 'Old Rt. 302' where there is an old bridge, but I felt that the hill there was too steep and launching from the picnic area at Songo Locks was safer. If you want to check out the other launch site the coordinates are: 43.958997, -70.565660.  I have not launched from there, but I know people who have.)  You can spend a lot of time paddling up this river.  I did not make it all the way to 302, but it looks like you could not only make it to 302, but go beyond it, making for a great paddle.  It would also be a great place to start early in the morning paddle up the Crooked River, return to the picnic area for lunch and then spend the afternoon paddling down the Songo to Sebago Lake (great sand bar for swimming) or take time to go up through the locks and into Brandy Pond.  This could be a place to go if you want to spend the whole day on the water. On the other hand, this could be a place where you put in, paddle for a little while and return for a quicker paddle.  

This place is quiet and much less busy than the Songo River, especially during tourist season.  It is quiet and there are places along this river where a calmness comes over you and there is an automatic connection to nature.  There are a few homes/camps along the river, but it is very peaceful.   There are a couple of places that a kayak can enter that boats cannot and in those places I was lucky to see some wildlife. 

These are pictures taken this weekend.   Early on I spotted this guy.  I love the feathers!

This is the bridge you cross when coming down the State Park Road right before the picnic area parking area.

The river is pretty narrow.  We did paddle out towards Sebago Lake and there were huge waves out there, looked like the ocean.  As you can see the water on the river was nice and calm. 

I am pretty sure this was a young beaver, but am not 100% sure.  It could be a muskrat, but seemed a little big to me to be a muskrat. 

I am not sure what this bird is, but I enjoy watching them.  They are dainty and purposeful in their movements.

Another Heron!

This is heading down the Songo River, after we had paddled the Crooked River, but thought I would include the pictures. 

This Heron was actually in one of the ponds only accessible by kayak (or canoe) off the Songo River.  He flew over our heads, I swear only about three feet above my friend and into this pond area.  He seemed to want us to follow him.  Once in the pond area we stayed fairly still and he kept walking towards us and by us, very unphased by our presence.  Usually these birds are more private, but this one seemed to want our company.  It was an incredible heron encounter.

This was cute!  Just like cats and dogs do, this heron was scratching itself (its ear maybe?!). 

It posed for many pictures and I took full advantage. 

Here is a video of the heron as it walked by my friend in her kayak: 

Click this link Heron in Songo River

The Crooked River is a great place to paddle.  For families with young kids, it would be a safe adventure.  For people who want to spend the day on the water, this is the perfect spot.  It is also a place where paddling out to Sebago Lake would offer a great swimming opportunity.  

As always, take plenty of water for you and your paddling friends, wear sunscreen, and take out any/all trash you bring with you.  (And take trash others have left if you can!)