Kayaking Laurel River Lake (KY)

[AdventureMyk]

I loved the Jax Journeys I have played with. You can certainly tell their whitewater ancestry. Playful, sturdy, etc. Like to add one to my group. I'm down to a pair of 17c sea kayaks that haul the world and more.
Thanks for the map. Of you haven't tried Lake Santeetlah (just inside NC) it's fantastic for cove camping and clean! (and free!)

[TrailSlug]

Beautiful pics and area. What camera did you use?

[wsp_scott]

I have a Nikon D5100, glad everyone liked the photos.

I have a map of Lake Santeetlah on my computer, but I have not visited yet. I see on the map a lot of campsites, are these the only places you can camp? I assume it is a busy/crowded lake in the summer, right?

[AdventureMyk]

It can get busy but I have always found sites. The open lake by the dam and north side (Joyce Kilmer area) where you car camp go first. West side with the coves and river bits are more readily available and quiet. There are a lot of steep vertical areas where there simply isn't a place to pull in to camp and some spots on the old maps are gone while new have taken their place. Its worth the trip. Get out early on a Friday and you usually have your choice. Mon-thurs? Anywhere you want. Sat? Paddle faster than families in pontoon boats or take whats left.

[wsp_scott]

It can get busy but I have always found sites. The open lake by the dam and north side (Joyce Kilmer area) where you car camp go first. West side with the coves and river bits are more readily available and quiet. There are a lot of steep vertical areas where there simply isn't a place to pull in to camp and some spots on the old maps are gone while new have taken their place. Its worth the trip. Get out early on a Friday and you usually have your choice. Mon-thurs? Anywhere you want. Sat? Paddle faster than families in pontoon boats or take whats left.

Thanks for that info, if/when I go, it would likely be mid-week so it sounds like I should be ok.

[Twigs]

The D5100 explains the (literally) stellar night shots. Nice work! And a two-hearted from a kayak... Dreaming.

I've been very tentatively considering the foldable kayak REI now carries. Seems ridiculously smart to me - makes portaging super easy, possibly even big walking miles feasible. Don't even know if that would technically be portaging anymore

[ouroboros]

This looks like a really nice place, thanks for the write-up and photos, I'm going to have to go here some time, it's not far from me.