Lake Umbagog in New Hampshire

Trip Overview

Four cousins and I spent 5 days in Sept. on Lake Umbagog in New Hampshire.

Umbagog straddles New Hampshire and Maine with most of the lake and the main campground in New Hampshire. Our campsite was on the New Hampshire side. It involved a 3+ mile paddle from the put in on the Androscoggin River.

The site itself is very open with a beautiful view of the lake looking east. From the campsite the view involves not only the lake but surrounding mountains. Both the sunrise and moonrise are directly across the lake� both were spectacular!

The only down side of staying at a remote site is that there is no outhouse to speak of. The state does provide a "thunder box" which sits in the open except for a short wall on two sides. We lucked out and avoided rain so it wasn't a problem.

One thing to be aware of is how treacherous this shallow lake can be in windy conditions�beware! The site we stayed at is called Molls Rock and is called that for a good reason, it's on a large outcropping of granite and can be a little breezy for a good campfire sometimes.

In our exploration of the lake we decided to cross to the west side paddling 3 kayaks. Once we made to mile trip the wind came up and kicked up some pretty big waves�3 feet or so. We stuck to the shore and were attempting to follow it around the north end but is was obviously not safe. Luckily there was a state worker installing some solar panels in a small cove. He called his dispatch who contacted the campground and they came to the rescue in what looked like a modified fishing boat with a drop down ramp in the front.

After loading us and the boats they dropped us on the "rock" and wished us well. Any embarrassment I may have felt soon gave way to gratitude. We were safe, warm and dry. They assured us we weren't the first.

The main campground has hot showers, water, a small store and firewood available. There are also drive in campsites as well as a few cabins.

Outfitting:

2 canoes and four kayaks.
The canoes were used a barges to haul firewood, food, tents, etc. Kayaks were for cruising the lake.

Fees:

Yes, depending on which site use. Reservations recommended. Firewood may NOT be brought into the park unless it's been certified kiln dried to kill insects. Wood is available at the park for a reasonable fee.

Resources:

Maps of the lake are provided when you sign in.