paddling with a camera

From the State Park website:

Sometimes called a sapphire on the plains, John Martin is a paradise for people to play, birds to flock and wildlife to roam. The park is close to historic landmarks, yet remote enough to attract year-round nature and recreation lovers to stay and explore.

John Martin Reservoir provides uncrowded boating, waterskiing, and spectacular conditions for a wide variety of wind water sports. The mild southeastern Colorado weather provides plenty of great days throughout the year. Anglers from shore or boat catch walleye, saugeye, bass, wiper, crappie, perch, and catfish.

Many consider the park a birdwatcher's paradise with almost 400 species documented in Bent County. Majestic Bald Eagles roost here in winter. Threatened and endangered species like the Piping Plover and the Least Tern make the park their home for several months each year. After the birds go to sleep, the stars entertain in a dramatic display of celestial light.

Following the advice from a park ranger I tried to reach the reservoir west, i.e., upstream from the State Park, using one of range going south from the JJ county road. These roads are not very rough but squeeze through a dense cover of cottonwood and tamarisk bushes. After a couple of miles of slow driving and bushwhacking I reached a nice rocky cliff with a view of something which looked like water. I was just across of a railroad trestle on the other side of the valley and, apparently, a little bit too far upstream.

I was tired with driving and decided to launch my kayak there. I carried the 21' Thunderbolt about a quarter of mile through dense bushes, unfriendly weeds, and marsh to reach some shallow muddy water. I had to drag, and then push my boat for a mile through these mud flats before I could paddle on a shallow river. Another half mile and I was on a very blue lake.

I was alone on the lake. Later, I saw some fishermen on the shore using rope to go down the rocky cliff. The scenery was similar to the Lake Pueblo. I enjoyed rocky outcroppings with interesting forms of erosion and even small caves and pillars. Unfortunately, the light in the middle of day was just terrible to photograph those light rocks. Of course, the restricted part of the lake looked the most interesting, but I didn't cross the border. There were indeed a lot of birds. I saw flying cranes for the first time in Colorado.

Paddling was on the lake was rather short but nice. Soon, I paddled back upstream of the shallow river. Before the river turned away from the high rocky shore I landed almost sinking in the mud, climbed the cliff and carried the kayak along the cliff for a mile or so to my car. I was too tired to stay there till sunset to shoot some nicer pictures.

If you are near the John Martin reservoir ti is worth to paddle there. It is better to do it before the end of October and use one of the boat ramps in the State Park. After November 1 you can still paddle the lake and, I believe, it is possible to drive closer to the water than I did, but this is the option for real adventures.

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