Connecticut River Paddlers Enjoy Primitive Canoe Campsites
Gary Moore
July 03, 2025
Those paddling the Connecticut River between Woodsville/Wells River and Claremont/Weathersfield can avail themselves of eight primitive canoe campsites to spend a night or simply rest and eat lunch.
Since 1992, the Upper Valley Land Trust has managed primitive canoe campsites along the Connecticut River. Many of these campsites are made possible by private landowners and are maintained by volunteers for the enjoyment of the public.
The campsites are available to all and reservations are not accepted. Think of them like a shelter along the Appalachian Trail. Try and make room for later arrivals if you can. They are intended for access by canoe and kayak paddlers. Land-based access is prohibited.
They have picnic tables, privies and all, except Burnap’s, have fire rings.
The campsites are: Howard Island North and Howard Island South in Haverhill, Harkdale Farm in Newbury, Vaughn Meadows in Newbury, Birch Meadow in Fairlee, Roaring Brook in Thetford, Burnap’s Island in Plainfield, Burnham Meadow in Windsor and Hubbard Island in Claremont.
The Land Trust also maintains a car top boat access at Knoxland Farm in Newbury and another at Hewes Brook in Lyme (Hewes is owned and maintained by the Town of Lyme-UVLT holds a conservation easement on it).
I can’t emphasize enough that these are available to paddlers because of volunteers willing to keep them maintained and landowners willing to host them. And of course, the Upper Valley Land Trust which made them all possible.
Last week I interviewed UVLT’s VP Stewardship Jason Berard and Ted Unkles who is the caretaker for the two Howard Island sites and the Vaughn Meadows site on WYKR’s The Outdoor Edge.
Jason is a St. Johnsbury native and graduate of St. Johnsbury Academy who now lives in Thetford. Ted lives in Bradford where he was a long time selectboard chair. He is retired from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
Jason pointed out that former UVLT staff member Bill Bridge of Thetford instituted the campsite program which was the beginning of the Connecticut River Paddlers Trail. Although retired, Bridge maintains the Harkdale Farm campsite.
We also got to talk about the UVLT and its operations in the valley.
The Trust’s service area includes 45 towns along the Connecticut River in New Hampshire and Vermont. The northern extent is Ryegate Corner, VT and Bath, NH. The southern extent is Springfield, VT and Charlestown, NH. The area extends West to Randolph and east to Mt. Cardigan in Orange and Grafton Pond in Grafton.
The Trust has 250 miles of trails across the region for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, snowmobiles, and all-persons trails. I have hiked several of them and explored some of the conserved areas and I encourage others to do the same.
One of my favorites to visit is the Smith Pond Shaker Forest Conservation Area in Enfield which is rich in Shaker history and has five miles of trails to explore.
Another is Lyme Pinnacle Conservation Area in Lyme which offers spectacular views of the Connecticut River valley and beyond to the Green Mountains.
For 40 years UVLT has been a trusted partner in land conservation and stewardship to individuals and communities throughout the Upper Valley. They have conserved nearly 60,000 acres of which they own 7,500 acres outright.
Recent projects include the CR Farm in Newbury, Rocky Hill Farm, next to Bedell Bridge in Haverhill, Putnam Farm in Charlestown, Pohl in Hartland and My Walden in Sharon.
I have seen how they assist landowners conserve their land as the property that abuts our land in Bradford was conserved several years ago.
Jason said, “We provide conservation leadership, tools and expertise to permanently protect the working farms, forested ridges, wildlife habitat, water resources, trails and scenic landscapes that makes the Upper Valley a special place to live.”
He added, “We care deeply about the Upper Valley and those unique places that make it special to us all. Our hope is that the lands we conserve and steward will strengthen the health and resilience of people and nature for generations to come.”
Much of what is accomplished each year is the result of work done by volunteers supported by the small staff. Check out the website to see how you can participate.
Some 70 percent of the operating budget comes from individual gifts annually.
You can learn more about UVLT, the canoe campsites, hiking trails, events open to the public, it’s many projects and how to get involved at https://uvlt.org/.
Bits and Pieces
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking the public for help in monitoring the condition of Vermont’s wild turkey population. Since 2007, the department has run an annual online survey in August for reporting turkey broods, but beginning in 2021, the survey was expanded to include July.
If you see a flock of turkeys in Vermont during July and August, the department asks you to go to the turkey brood survey at https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/ and report your observations, including where and when you observed the turkeys with the number of adult and young turkeys you observed. The value of the data collected improves when more people participate.
The biologists use the data to monitor long-term trends in the productivity of the turkey flock and assess the impacts of spring weather on the survival of poults and adult turkeys to better manage the population.
***
Five locals were among the lucky 33 who received a permit to hunt moose in new Hampshire.
James B Stinson from North Stratford, Luke Shannon from Groveton, Elie R Roy from Pike, Calvin L Roy from Bath and Spencer A Barass from Littleton beat the odds.
There were 5,968 applicants, making the odds of being drawn this year 1 in 110 for residents and 1 in 500 for nonresidents. Each year I enter knowing I stand little chance of being drawn but at least the money goes to a cause I believe in.
***
New Hampshire’s State Wildlife Action Plan, a roadmap for conserving wildlife in the state, is being updated to set priorities for the next 10 years, through 2035. The plan is a guide for state agencies, conservation organizations, towns, landowners, and others in their efforts to help conserve New Hampshire’s wildlife. The plan includes an updated list of species of greatest conservation need, a list of priority habitats, an assessment of the challenges these species and habitats are facing, and the actions needed to conserve wildlife in New Hampshire over the next decade.
The draft revision of the plan can be reviewed by visiting http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/wap.html.
Those who would like to submit written comments may email their input to wildlifeactionplan@wildlife.nh.gov (include “SWAP” in the subject line), or by mail to: Wildlife Division, NH Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301. All input must be received by July 16, 2025.
Parting Shots
Just a couple of weeks after the historic Canadian company Hudson Bay shut down, Vermont’s own Orvis appears to be in trouble. We can only hope it will survive.
Orvis is laying off four percent of its workforce by the end of the year as part of a reorganization of the famed outdoor company founded in 1856 in Manchester, VT. The cuts are in addition to more than 110 jobs the company made last year while closing some retail locations and discontinuing its catalogue sales service.
Orvis President Simon Perkins said, “Tariffs disrupted our business model in ways we haven’t faced before and have exposed a clear path to solidifying our long-term future. Moving forward, Orvis will be returning to our roots and shifting our entire focus to the core strengths of our business, the fly fishing and wingshooting pursuits that have guided our company for nearly 170 years and inspire our customers in unique and powerful ways.”
***
The mosquitoes and black flies have been voracious the past few weeks, probably because of so much standing water from all the rain we have had.
My first line of defense is Natrapel whose natural, plant based ingredients are less harsh than those that contain DEET. However, in times when I will be away from home such as last week’s hike to Zealand Falls Hut, I also carry Ben’s 30 and Ben’s 100 when needed for the most protection.
I also have tubes of After Bite in my pack, in the glove compartments of all my vehicles and on the counter at home to sooth the itch from the bites I do get.
All the products I named come from Adventure Ready Brands, https://adventurereadybrands.com/, which is headquartered in Littleton.
I first used After Bite in the early 80’s when Ken Grout gave me some to try as we were preparing for his Moore Reservoir After Bite Fishing Tournament.
Ken founded Tender Corporation which manufactured After Bite and Natrapel and later purchased Ben’s. The company grew and expanded until it is now part of Adventure Ready Brands.
***
Friday morning I spent some time kayaking on Moore Reservoir with Jack Varin of North County Kayak. It was wonderful being on the water. More about North County Kayak next week.
Friday afternoon Linda and I drove south to Claremont to view the replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial called The Wall That Heals. I have been to the original in Washington DC and found the names of people I served with which is always a moving experience.
It is similar for the replica wall which we saw several years ago at the North Haverhill Fairgrounds. This time Linda found the name of a friend she grew up with in Passumpsic.
Saturday I spent in Strafford attending the Vermont Woodland’s Association’s 110th anniversary. It was a good time with a lot of educational events to take part in.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2025 Gary W. Moore
Since 1992, the Upper Valley Land Trust has managed primitive canoe campsites along the Connecticut River. Many of these campsites are made possible by private landowners and are maintained by volunteers for the enjoyment of the public.
The campsites are available to all and reservations are not accepted. Think of them like a shelter along the Appalachian Trail. Try and make room for later arrivals if you can. They are intended for access by canoe and kayak paddlers. Land-based access is prohibited.
They have picnic tables, privies and all, except Burnap’s, have fire rings.
The campsites are: Howard Island North and Howard Island South in Haverhill, Harkdale Farm in Newbury, Vaughn Meadows in Newbury, Birch Meadow in Fairlee, Roaring Brook in Thetford, Burnap’s Island in Plainfield, Burnham Meadow in Windsor and Hubbard Island in Claremont.
The Land Trust also maintains a car top boat access at Knoxland Farm in Newbury and another at Hewes Brook in Lyme (Hewes is owned and maintained by the Town of Lyme-UVLT holds a conservation easement on it).
I can’t emphasize enough that these are available to paddlers because of volunteers willing to keep them maintained and landowners willing to host them. And of course, the Upper Valley Land Trust which made them all possible.
Last week I interviewed UVLT’s VP Stewardship Jason Berard and Ted Unkles who is the caretaker for the two Howard Island sites and the Vaughn Meadows site on WYKR’s The Outdoor Edge.
Jason is a St. Johnsbury native and graduate of St. Johnsbury Academy who now lives in Thetford. Ted lives in Bradford where he was a long time selectboard chair. He is retired from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
Jason pointed out that former UVLT staff member Bill Bridge of Thetford instituted the campsite program which was the beginning of the Connecticut River Paddlers Trail. Although retired, Bridge maintains the Harkdale Farm campsite.
We also got to talk about the UVLT and its operations in the valley.
The Trust’s service area includes 45 towns along the Connecticut River in New Hampshire and Vermont. The northern extent is Ryegate Corner, VT and Bath, NH. The southern extent is Springfield, VT and Charlestown, NH. The area extends West to Randolph and east to Mt. Cardigan in Orange and Grafton Pond in Grafton.
The Trust has 250 miles of trails across the region for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, snowmobiles, and all-persons trails. I have hiked several of them and explored some of the conserved areas and I encourage others to do the same.
One of my favorites to visit is the Smith Pond Shaker Forest Conservation Area in Enfield which is rich in Shaker history and has five miles of trails to explore.
Another is Lyme Pinnacle Conservation Area in Lyme which offers spectacular views of the Connecticut River valley and beyond to the Green Mountains.
For 40 years UVLT has been a trusted partner in land conservation and stewardship to individuals and communities throughout the Upper Valley. They have conserved nearly 60,000 acres of which they own 7,500 acres outright.
Recent projects include the CR Farm in Newbury, Rocky Hill Farm, next to Bedell Bridge in Haverhill, Putnam Farm in Charlestown, Pohl in Hartland and My Walden in Sharon.
I have seen how they assist landowners conserve their land as the property that abuts our land in Bradford was conserved several years ago.
Jason said, “We provide conservation leadership, tools and expertise to permanently protect the working farms, forested ridges, wildlife habitat, water resources, trails and scenic landscapes that makes the Upper Valley a special place to live.”
He added, “We care deeply about the Upper Valley and those unique places that make it special to us all. Our hope is that the lands we conserve and steward will strengthen the health and resilience of people and nature for generations to come.”
Much of what is accomplished each year is the result of work done by volunteers supported by the small staff. Check out the website to see how you can participate.
Some 70 percent of the operating budget comes from individual gifts annually.
You can learn more about UVLT, the canoe campsites, hiking trails, events open to the public, it’s many projects and how to get involved at https://uvlt.org/.
Bits and Pieces
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking the public for help in monitoring the condition of Vermont’s wild turkey population. Since 2007, the department has run an annual online survey in August for reporting turkey broods, but beginning in 2021, the survey was expanded to include July.
If you see a flock of turkeys in Vermont during July and August, the department asks you to go to the turkey brood survey at https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/ and report your observations, including where and when you observed the turkeys with the number of adult and young turkeys you observed. The value of the data collected improves when more people participate.
The biologists use the data to monitor long-term trends in the productivity of the turkey flock and assess the impacts of spring weather on the survival of poults and adult turkeys to better manage the population.
***
Five locals were among the lucky 33 who received a permit to hunt moose in new Hampshire.
James B Stinson from North Stratford, Luke Shannon from Groveton, Elie R Roy from Pike, Calvin L Roy from Bath and Spencer A Barass from Littleton beat the odds.
There were 5,968 applicants, making the odds of being drawn this year 1 in 110 for residents and 1 in 500 for nonresidents. Each year I enter knowing I stand little chance of being drawn but at least the money goes to a cause I believe in.
***
New Hampshire’s State Wildlife Action Plan, a roadmap for conserving wildlife in the state, is being updated to set priorities for the next 10 years, through 2035. The plan is a guide for state agencies, conservation organizations, towns, landowners, and others in their efforts to help conserve New Hampshire’s wildlife. The plan includes an updated list of species of greatest conservation need, a list of priority habitats, an assessment of the challenges these species and habitats are facing, and the actions needed to conserve wildlife in New Hampshire over the next decade.
The draft revision of the plan can be reviewed by visiting http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/wap.html.
Those who would like to submit written comments may email their input to wildlifeactionplan@wildlife.nh.gov (include “SWAP” in the subject line), or by mail to: Wildlife Division, NH Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301. All input must be received by July 16, 2025.
Parting Shots
Just a couple of weeks after the historic Canadian company Hudson Bay shut down, Vermont’s own Orvis appears to be in trouble. We can only hope it will survive.
Orvis is laying off four percent of its workforce by the end of the year as part of a reorganization of the famed outdoor company founded in 1856 in Manchester, VT. The cuts are in addition to more than 110 jobs the company made last year while closing some retail locations and discontinuing its catalogue sales service.
Orvis President Simon Perkins said, “Tariffs disrupted our business model in ways we haven’t faced before and have exposed a clear path to solidifying our long-term future. Moving forward, Orvis will be returning to our roots and shifting our entire focus to the core strengths of our business, the fly fishing and wingshooting pursuits that have guided our company for nearly 170 years and inspire our customers in unique and powerful ways.”
***
The mosquitoes and black flies have been voracious the past few weeks, probably because of so much standing water from all the rain we have had.
My first line of defense is Natrapel whose natural, plant based ingredients are less harsh than those that contain DEET. However, in times when I will be away from home such as last week’s hike to Zealand Falls Hut, I also carry Ben’s 30 and Ben’s 100 when needed for the most protection.
I also have tubes of After Bite in my pack, in the glove compartments of all my vehicles and on the counter at home to sooth the itch from the bites I do get.
All the products I named come from Adventure Ready Brands, https://adventurereadybrands.com/, which is headquartered in Littleton.
I first used After Bite in the early 80’s when Ken Grout gave me some to try as we were preparing for his Moore Reservoir After Bite Fishing Tournament.
Ken founded Tender Corporation which manufactured After Bite and Natrapel and later purchased Ben’s. The company grew and expanded until it is now part of Adventure Ready Brands.
***
Friday morning I spent some time kayaking on Moore Reservoir with Jack Varin of North County Kayak. It was wonderful being on the water. More about North County Kayak next week.
Friday afternoon Linda and I drove south to Claremont to view the replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial called The Wall That Heals. I have been to the original in Washington DC and found the names of people I served with which is always a moving experience.
It is similar for the replica wall which we saw several years ago at the North Haverhill Fairgrounds. This time Linda found the name of a friend she grew up with in Passumpsic.
Saturday I spent in Strafford attending the Vermont Woodland’s Association’s 110th anniversary. It was a good time with a lot of educational events to take part in.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2025 Gary W. Moore
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