Every year during the third week of September, magic happens in Jamaica, Vermont, where the West River gets its annual dam release, sending a fresh pulse of water down an 8-mile stretch and enticing whitewater paddlers from far and wide to get a little sendy.

So you want to camp out at Green River Reservoir, Waterbury Reservoir, or somewhere else only accessible by boat. Where do you start? How’s it different from car camping? Guide to remote camping.