Meacham Lake Campground is located approximately 39 miles from Tupper Lake on Route 30 heading north, 24 miles from Saranac Lake, 20 miles from Malone and 10 miles from Paul Smiths. As you can see it is bit of a distance from any downtown, but don't worry there are plenty of fun things to do!

Things we did!

This past September I camped there with a group of friends from the Albany area. The arrival day is always busy: unloading and setting up the tent, camper or RV, and then the grill, cook stove, and screen house. So, my friend Cathy suggested we make our first night an app night! It was great idea as it was an easy meal for everyone!

Paddle Meacham Lake with Mischief

On our first day, a group of us paddled across Meacham to the access point on Route 30. We saw an Osprey, but he was very high in a tree, so I did not get a good photo! We then paddled a portion of the Lower Osgood River. An eagle greeted us at the entrance, the eagle was even higher in a tree, so again - no photo! It was a blue-bird day, not a cloud in the sky, and it was very hot on the lake  -- and even hotter on the Osgood River due to no breeze. We only paddled a short distance on the river as we wanted to take a swim to cool off and relax prior to dinner. I must go back to paddle it!

View the Great Camps

The next day we loaded our kayaks up and headed for Upper St. Regis Landing, about a 15-mile drive from Meacham. Many of us were interested in seeing the great camps. I was especially interested in seeing the former "Camp Topridge." As a teenager I had worked there when it was owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post. We then paddled into Spitfire. Cathy and I were very hot and wanted to swim, but being the surrounding land is privately owned we could not find a place to jump in. Pam was speaking with a camp owner and the camp owner invited Cathy and I to swim near her dock! How nice was that!?

Visit Malone!

Next up, due to threats of rain, four of us went to Malone to shop and eat. We visited IBC, a huge store with much to offer including men's, ladies' and kid's clothing, shoes, and boots, plus camping gear, kayaks and paddles, and much more! We then visited the Market Barn, a unique store with antiques, clothing and food. We enjoyed the rustic decor while we ate lunch in between our shopping spree.

How could anyone not stop at Bokie's Drive In? The '50s pink diner is easy to spot on Route 11 next to the Market Barn. As you exit your vehicle you are welcomed by happy music from the era! While enjoying your selected ice cream treat or fast food meal you can enjoy reading the tables. Each table is labeled with a year and displays newspaper clippings and pictures from that particular year! You can also read bright colored words on the floor or view the vintage posters and photos that adorn the walls. It's so much fun and has such tasty food! What is there not to like?

Paddle Deer River Flow!

Mid-week arrived, and most of the group along with 3 paddler friends of mine from St. Lawrence County engaged in a beautiful paddle on Deer River Flow and Horseshoe Pond (2 more pins for me!). The access point is only a couple of miles north of Meacham Lake Campground on the left.

Do a hike!

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Next up we headed to Debar Mountain Trailhead on Meacham Lake Campgrounds. It's 7.4-miles round-trip, and rated as moderate. However, at the last minute we decided to hike Azure Mountain, 1.8-miles round-trip, rated as difficult. We climbed the fire tower, ate lunch while enjoying a fantastic view, and walked the ridgeline to the right to see the large boulder, known as a glacial erratic, just resting on the edge of the mountain. It appears that it could roll off at any moment! However, I have read that many people have pushed against this rock in an attempt to make it roll downhill, but it can't be budged!

The next day was once again threatening rain, so we headed back to Bokie's Drive In for lunch and ice cream, of course! This time we also visited Walmart for some supplies, Peebles, and the Label Shopper. On the way back to our campsite we stopped at a farmer's road side stand for some fresh veggies and fruit!

Paddle Church Pond to Jones Pond!

The week was winding down, and the forecast was good, so on our last days we paddled from Church Pond to Jones Pond. Water levels were low so we had to float our kayaks on one of the man-made canals and we had to exit our boats and walk a bit as we headed into Jones Pond Outlet. In the Outlet we got over or around four beaver dams! This paddle is Cathy's favorite. As for me, I have a hard time deciding which is my favorite, I love each and every paddle for their own uniqueness. 

Walk and bike!

The campgrounds at Meacham are relatively flat, so it is a great place to bike. I enjoyed biking the various loops, with a stop at the beach, picnic area, and playground.

We walked the campgrounds to get a good view of the sites and we selected our favorites for future stays! We also walked on a trail near the one lane bridge with Mischief leading the way!

More adventures!

There were many other paddling places and hikes that we plan to do on our next trip, and we can't wait to visit Malone to see other activities, eateries and events.

As for our Mischief, it was of the canine type!