Canoes docked at a campsite at Umbagog Lake, New Hampshire

Photos by Cheryl Landes

For anyone who loves the outdoors, canoeing can be a relaxing way to enjoy beautiful scenery far away from the crowds and see wildlife in its natural habitat. Today’s armchair photo takes place in northeastern New Hampshire, near the border with Maine, where I’ve taken several day and weekend trips guided by Polly Mahoney, co-owner of Mahoosuc Guide Service in Newry, Maine. These photos are a collection from weekend trips on Umbagog Lake in New Hampshire and a fall day trip on the Magalloway River in New Hampshire and Umbagog Lake.

Canoe Weekends on Umbagog Lake

Before any canoeing trip starts, Polly gives her guests a paddling lesson at the put-in point.

Paddling on Umbagog Lake, New Hampshire

Beaver lodge

Common goldeneye swimming on the lake

Bald eagle (left) and eagle’s nest (right)

Loon’s nest in the foreground

Lunch stop

Paddling on Umbagog Lake to the next destination

Reflections in the lake

More reflections in the lake

Canoes docked at our campsite

Tents pitched for the night. We brought yoga mats for morning and evening sessions led by a certified yoga instructor.

A peek inside my tent

Polly Mahoney at the campfire, getting dinner ready

Dinner

A pastel sunset over the lake

Full moon reflection on the water

Breakfast

Dougette, a happy husky. Polly always brings one of her huskies on the canoe trips.

A Fall Day Trip on the Magalloway River and Umbagog Lake

The canoe trailer unloaded and waiting for us to return from our adventure

Getting ready to launch at the put-in point

A view along the river shortly after we were underway

More fall colors along the river

Paddling on the river

Another view of the fall colors

A technique called “rafting”, where we hold onto each canoe and float with the gentle current

Our lunch stop at Umbagog Lake

The view of Umbagog Lake through the maple trees at our lunch stop

Vixen, Polly’s husky, takes a nap in Polly’s canoe during our lunch stop.

After lunch, we start the trip to our take-out point

A view from the bow of the canoe

Paddling into our take-out point

Going ashore at the take-out point