A perfect paddle for families or beginners, the lower stretch of the Black River into South Bay can be done as a one-way trip, taking about 3 hours, or an out-and-back day trip. The put-in in Coventry and take out on Lake Memphremagog’s South Bay provide easy access points on either end, and the paddle is almost entirely flatwater, with only very small bits of quickwater at high water. The majority of this paddle takes you through the South Bay Wildlife Management Area, where you might see herons, turtles, and beavers, among other species. The trip ends on South Bay, which features beautiful views of the surrounding hills. The Black River offers an easy day trip from Newport, where you can find a bustling downtown, a good natural foods store, excellent coffee, and a tasting room for locally-made products including a number of local breweries.
Check out this video for more information:
To learn more about this region and plan your trip, visit the Northern Forest Canoe Trail website. There you can:
For more information, visit the NFCT website or contact:
Put in: Ladybird Johnson Park in Coventry. There is a large parking lot just off US-5, and there are stone steps leading down to the water.
Take out: South Bay Access Area in Newport. This large access area is just south of Newport on Coventry Street (which is also the US-5 truck route).
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