Even though it’s September, plenty of good kayaking days are still ahead this year. Unfortunately, the launch area at Long Pine Reservoir, close by in Michaux State Forest, is closed until next season. But for those determined to enjoy this lovely mountain lake, there are ways to reach the water. The fishing dock offers a quick downhill access, while the bridge farther down the short arm of the lake requires shlepping your boat through the woods. By next summer, we should have a decent parking and launch area there, as well as much-needed bathrooms.
Long Arm Reservoir, south of Hanover is especially beautiful in the fall, and its launch area is well equipped with a porta-potty and handicap parking close to the lake. Opossum Lake, west of Carlisle has several launch areas, one with bathrooms, and is great for birding and wild berry picking in summer. York, PA offers two adjacent reservoirs south of the city, Lake Redman and Lake Williams. Redman is more interesting from a birding standpoint, but Williams features a kayak launch, which holds your watercraft steady while you get into it, a feat no matter where you put in.
Two nearby State Parks are obvious choices. Codorus, east of Hanover, with large Lake Marburg, can be overrun on weekends with pontoon boats, not to mention motorboats that create unwelcome waves. During the week, however, it’s a great place to explore, using different launch sites. The sailing area, with bathrooms, offers good access to the upper end of the lake, while the Black Rock launch, best for the far end, has no facilities.
Gifford Pinchot State Park, east of Dillsburg, boasts a large lake unfortunately clogged with weeds in summer. The chief attraction there is Beaver Creek, accessed from Mooring #1 near Rossville, featuring an inviting shaded paddle a long way up the stream. In the fall, after hunting season begins, Pinchot’s Lake is divided into well-posted Hunting and No Hunting areas, which unfortunately is not the case at Codorus.
Creeks and rivers offer additional possibilities, but only if you have two cars and can park one downstream. The Yellow Breeches Water Trail, divided into three sections, begins in South Middleton Park near Boiling Springs and terminates at the Susquehanna. But the middle 10 ½ mile section, from Messiah College to Yellow Breeches Park, is most free of hazards and more likely to have acceptable water levels. In summer, the Conodoquinet, west of Carlisle, is frequently too low to kayak easily. The Monocacy, in Maryland, is another possibility, although it’s difficult to find good access to the water.
The Conococheague, south of Chambersburg, offers a pleasant and calm trip in kayak or canoe, once you have found a good access point. Locally, Marsh Creek and Rock Creek frequently suffer from low water levels, but please do not try to navigate them after a storm, as sharp rocks and swift water can make for a treacherous experience. One more waterway is the Susquehanna, with recommended launching south of Columbia off Route 441. Birding there on the Conejohela flats can be rewarding, but no more so than acres of yellow lotuses, calm water, and numerous islands.
An avid Adams County kayaker has lots of options for venturing out on the water. Cloudy days and gentle winds are optimum if you want to avoid heatstroke and hard paddling. Autumn days are often ideal, so you shouldn’t even think of putting that kayak away till November.
Jan Powers taught at Gettysburg College for 49 years in the fields of South Asian Studies, Women's Studies, and Peace Studies. In addition to being an avid kayaker, she is a published poet. Her photographs have appeared in a number of juried shows. She also teaches English to adults in two Afghan refugee families and enjoys sailing on the Chesapeake.