Dave
Coureur des bois
Posts: 90
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Post by Dave on Apr 24, 2007 9:57:33 GMT -5
Does anyone know if you are suppose to check in with customs or the border guards or whatever before canoeing the St. Croix? I think we might float it on the long weekend in May. I have floated it before and we have never checked in with anybody but I have heard people say that you are suppose to. Does anyone know anything about this? Can you "get in trouble" for example if you stop on the US side at little falls? Can you camp on the US side?
Dave
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Post by Jamie on Apr 24, 2007 11:56:48 GMT -5
I went last year on the same week end and there were a good number of people on the river. I don't recall the border issue ever being brought up other than deciding which side of the falls to go down.
If anyone has had an issue it would be nice to get a heads up.
Jamie
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Dave
Coureur des bois
Posts: 90
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Post by Dave on Apr 24, 2007 12:05:20 GMT -5
Just doing a quick google search I found this site: www.chrs.ca/Rivers/StCroix/StCroix-F_e.htmwhich near the end says "Since the St. Croix is an international river, it is strongly recommended that all canoeists intending a trip on the St. Croix contact their respective custom services for information and advice on pertinent regulations and restrictions." I guess I'll have to look into this more. The last thing I need is a state trooper questioning me at little falls after I've had 6 beer. |
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Post by kyle on Apr 24, 2007 16:57:52 GMT -5
If you are planning on stoping in the u.s. where there is road accese (i.e. at a camp or on the u.s. side of little falls) you are suposed to stop and check with customs, if not then there is no problem you are still allowed to camp on either side. I and many other people have stopped countles times at little falls and other areas accessible from the roads on the u.s. side with no problems.However I once seen a u.s. customs officer at one of the camps at the deadwater sitting on a picnic table with binoculars in hand. Idon't know if he was looking for someone specific or what.
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Dave
Coureur des bois
Posts: 90
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Post by Dave on Apr 24, 2007 18:15:19 GMT -5
Thanks Kyle. Maybe you can give me a little more info. This may be a stupid question. Do you just walk up to u.s. customs in Vanceboro and tell them your plans or do you need to call someone special? Better safe than sorry. I'm sure we'll probably stop on the us side at little falls.
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Post by kyle on Apr 25, 2007 5:23:36 GMT -5
As far as I know you just walk up to the customs house and tell em youre plans. I wouldn't be terribly concerned about it though, I've been down probably at least a dowen times with no problems and on long weekends there could be as many as 100 people illegally at little falls. The customs people don't seem too worried, Maybe give them a call if your a little concerned, but they probbably don't care.
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tgneal
Voyageur
Little Falls - St. Croix River , NB
Posts: 229
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Post by tgneal on Apr 27, 2007 15:51:04 GMT -5
Just keep your eyes open for the black helicopters!
I paddled the headwaters of the St. Croix last June and had no problems with the U.S. customs. When I took out at the North Lake thoroughfare a Canadian customs officer asked me where I just came from. I explained my itinerary and she advised that informing customs is usually not necessary.
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Lloyd
Lily dipper
Posts: 38
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Post by Lloyd on Apr 27, 2007 21:40:52 GMT -5
You are more likely to encounter harassment from this lot. www.minutemanproject.com/mmp/I got buzzed at about 30ft by a small plane last July. Minutemen. I found out later that the guys that wash out of basic in the army or law enforcement are drawn to this group and intimidating people seems to be about all that they do. The respectable citizens of Maine and the border guys are quite nice. |
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caner
Lily dipper
Posts: 1
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Post by caner on May 10, 2007 11:20:00 GMT -5
If you put in on the Canandian side and cross over to the US , it's called illegal entry. I'd play it safe and notify customs if you plan on crossing to the other side.
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Dave
Coureur des bois
Posts: 90
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Post by Dave on May 14, 2007 6:04:16 GMT -5
Well, I called US Customs to get information on canoeing the St. Croix. They said if I was planning on stopping even for a second on the US side I need to stop into the customs office before I go, and fill in a boaters form or something. They also told me, and I never would have thought of this, that you cannot have Canadian beef or citrus products in your boat even if you only stop for a second on the US side. I'm not sure if or how they would enforce this. US beef is allowed in Canada though. So I guess if you really wanted to play it safe, you could cross over, buy your steak or hot dogs or whatever, and then bring them back into Canada.
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tgneal
Voyageur
Little Falls - St. Croix River , NB
Posts: 229
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Post by tgneal on May 14, 2007 15:45:59 GMT -5
All the best campsites are on the Canadian side anyways.
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Dave
Coureur des bois
Posts: 90
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Post by Dave on May 15, 2007 6:26:13 GMT -5
I have the St. Croix map and I see there are campsites marked. Can someone tell me how big a "campsite" is though? Are we talking room for three tents or room for twenty tents? Just wondering if groups of people who don't know each other are able to share campsites or if it's first-one-there gets it. Are there other places to camp besides the officially marked campsites?
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tgneal
Voyageur
Little Falls - St. Croix River , NB
Posts: 229
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Post by tgneal on May 15, 2007 14:13:46 GMT -5
If the campsite is accessible by road (upper stretch of the river) then it is usually quite large (a dozen tents or more).
The sites accessible from the river only are smaller and will hold no more than 5 or 6 tents.
There are very many campsites on the St. Croix so you shouldn't have a problem finding a spot.
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Post by tmacneil on May 17, 2007 14:30:19 GMT -5
About 10 years ago we were stopped by some Maine game wardens and asked to see our fishing licenses. They didn't ask anything about customs, but this was pre 9-11.
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