Sunday, June 1-Paddle the Punkhorn Ponds, Brewster

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We paddled here a couple of times last summer and it was just beautiful. We explored all 3 ponds; two are huge. Almost no houses. The launch is really easy and parking is plentiful.

If you decide to take a walk after the paddle, Punkhorn usually has the greatest deer tick density on the Cape.

There are three interconnected ponds, which form the headwaters of the Stony Brook/ Paines Creek watershed. The Town of Brewster owns much of the surrounding area, which preserves the pristine lake shorelines. It is possible to see Green Herons and Belted Kingfishers. Black-crowned Night Herons roost here and Ospreys are always out fishing. Most of Cape Cod's native trees and shrubs are found here and it is a paradise for sunning painted turtles.

It is extremely difficult to find a location that combines (1) parking for a group, with no sticker required and (2) a beautiful area to paddle, while not seeing many houses. This location is perfect.

The pix below shows the narrow, shallow connector between two of the ponds. If there has been some rain, we will make it through.

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DIRECTIONS: Heading west on 6A in Brewster, pass Tubman on your left, then take a left fork OFF 6A onto Stoney Brook. Pass Paines Creek Rd, then take left onto Run Hill. Drive past the last road on your left which is Red Maple Rd. and see parking lot on the left.

Heading east on 6A, take right on Stoney Brook Rd. Pass Setucket/Satucket that comes in on your right.. take the next right onto Run Hill Rd. Drive to parking lot on left.

The parking lot on the left, with split rail fencing around it, is just past the last house on the road. DRIVE PAST THE PARKING LOT a very short distance to find the kayak launch on the right. If there are no / few cars near the launch, you can drive down, turn around & unload....or back down this narrow road to the launch. There is a shed and rental kayaks there. Unload your kayak and park your car in the parking lot you passed on the way in.

Be in the water and ready to paddle at 10:00. We never wait at the launch.