Flowing to the VIC

The many waterways around the Malone region can lead you to some of the best adventures. The Deer River Flow is one of the best examples of this. On one of my recent adventures, I took to the water to enjoy paddling the scenic flow. The best place to launch in the Deer River Flow is right off of Route 30, just a few miles south of Malone. You won't have to carry your kayak too far before getting to actual water. The large parking lot is also great.

On my recent trip with a friend, we paddled heading north along the flow. We went against the slight current for the majority of our way north, stopping only to check out some birds and wildflowers along the way. The Adirondack Mountains and their rolling foothills created the most beautiful backdrop for our adventure. That, along with the smoothly rolling water accompanied by the sunshine and blue sky, created the picture perfect day. The weather was great, a refreshing 67 degrees with a small breeze and plenty of sunshine.

On the way back, paddling was easier as we went with the direction of wind. This was great because we were able to take in the beautiful scenes and enjoy some peaceful conversation. We had brought along a small battery powered speaker and played some easy listening music as we paddled. I had paddled this flow before so I shared memories of it with my friend. He liked hearing my stories because he was from the south end of the state. We met in college and he was visiting my beloved region for a short time.

As we parked and got out of our kayaks, I knew what we had to do next. Just around the corner was the Adirondack's Visitor Interpretive Center (the VIC) full of activities for visitors, which gives a small example of all the fun that takes place within the blueline of the Adirondack Park. I knew we had to head to the center since it was right around the corner on State Route 30.

With so much to explore, and just a little bit of time, we tried to make the most out of this fun experience. The first part of our adventure led us to a classic all-American smell--freshly baked apple pie. But, where was it coming from?

Next we headed outside because that's where the real adventure lies. With so many options for trails and water and other great things to see, we had to decide what to do next. The map and other signs helped us make our decision. I suggest that when you visit, you try to fit in as much as you can. Try out the trails and check out the scenery.

My friend and I chose to head over to the the Butterfly House. It was exciting to see all of the life that was happening inside this cute little exhibit. As I stood there taking it in, I thought about all the people who travel to our region in search of wildlife like deer, bears, and the infamous Adirondack moose. All of these big and beautiful animals are symbols of the place I call home. Loons, ducks, and fish are part of it too, and here I was in awe of the beautifully graceful butterflies in the exhibit. We definitely did not regret our decision to check it out. The area around the Butterfly House was blooming with wildflowers, making all the little critters feel comfortable in their surroundings. It was truly a scene.

We headed to the parking lot and loaded up to get ready to drive north along Route 30, the Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway. It was time for our adventure to come to an end and we were headed back to Malone for an open mic night at Mo's Pub and Grill. We were sad to leave the beautiful nature, but excited for more fun in town!

It doesn't matter what type of adventure you have in mind when you visit us here in northern Franklin County. All that matters is that you are ready to explore. Our waterways, our trails, and our eclectic downtown are here just waiting for you.