This is one of the best places we paddle. Barn Island lies along one of the prettiest sections of the Connecticut shoreline. It sits directly across from Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and offers great paddling opportunities, including marshes, pristine beaches and the swells rolling in from the Atlantic. Little Narragansett Bay will start our day. Rounding Watch Hill we will experience a surf landing onto the beach for lunch. A stop at Napatree Beach on our return allows us to rest and enjoy the surroundings.

Beacon-Annsville -

Distance: 17-20 miles

Location: Beacon, New York

Venue: Hudson River

This will be a one way trip for strong intermediate paddlers. We depart from Beacon with the current in our favor for 17 miles down to the Paddlesport Center. This stretch offers some of the nicest scenery along the river, as well as such landmark sites as Bannerman’s Castle and West Point. The conditions of the day and the group’s desire, will dictate if there will be any crossing of the river. A wind from the north could make this a very interesting trip. Once back at the Paddlesport Center, the group can take the train from Peekskill to Beacon to retrieve cars and have another view of the trip just completed.

From the Bluff Point State Park we travel down the Poquonock River, around Bushy Point and out into Fishers Island Sound. After a short open water crossing of the Sound we have lunch on Flat Hammock Island. On our return, we can paddle around Pine Island and enjoy the calm of Baker Cove.

Catskill to Saugerties Lighthouse -  

Distance: 18-20 miles

Location: Catskill, New York

Venue: Catskill Creek, Hudson River

The lower Housatonic River is our put-in for this ambitious trip. We will follow the tide out through a marsh area to the mouth of the Housatonic. Depending on the conditions of the day, we will continue out past the breakwater into the Long Island Sound, there we make an open water crossing to Charles Island for lunch. If you like longer tours with the possibility of rougher conditions and waves, then this program is for you.

Starting from Scenic Hudson’s Foundry Dock Park in Cold Spring, we paddle south with the tides past West Point to the Bear Mountain Bridge. Just north of the bridge we paddle up Popolopen Creek to our lunch stop. On occasion we have extended our paddle to Annsville Creek for lunch. The wind will determine how difficult or lengthy of a trip this will be. Many consider this to be one of the most beautiful paddles in the Hudson Valley and a great trip for those looking for lengthier trip in easy conditions.

Paddle with us on the "Queen of Adirondack Lakes", the clear and beautiful Lake George. We will launch near Bolton Landing village, paddling past the grand Sagamore Resort on Green Island, past the point of the Tongue Mountain peninsula and to the Narrows island group. The lake has over 100 islands and most are publicly owned. We will explore the islands and will stop at one for lunch.

From Liberty State Park we head north on the Hudson River to the aircraft carrier Intrepid. After lunch we ride the current down to The Battery and cross to Governors Island. This area is known for rough conditions and heavy traffic. This can be a very exciting trip, when the conditions are right. Only strong paddlers should come because of the challenging tides and waves. There are few opportunities for rest stops.

Starting in Westport, we head out the Saugatuck River to the Long Island Sound and cross over to Cockenoe Island. Our next stop is Chimons Island, which is where we stop for lunch. We can paddle around some of the other islands in the area, possibly around Shefield to get a glimpse of the lighthouse. On our return trip we head into Bermuda Lagoon before heading back up the Saugatuck River.

We launch from a small beach just above Sing-Sing prison. There we paddle north around Croton Point to Georges Island where we will have lunch. The pace will be fairly steady, if time allows, on the way back we can take a side trip up the Croton River. On a breezy day this can be a rigorous paddle.

We will put in on Staten Island at The Alice Austen House, a museum dedicated solely to the work of the turn of the century photographer Alice Austen. This site has been one of our personal favorite launch sites for over ten years. We will paddle south along the Staten Island coast, past Fort Wadsworth and under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge into the outer harbor. Our route will take us around the forgotten islands of Hoffman and Swineburn. Under the Verrazano Bridge the waves can get large, but this is part of the fun of paddling this area.

Palisades -   0.5

Distance: 16 - 18 miles

Location: Sleepy Hollow, New York

Venue: Hudson River

Note: No Rental boats available. Must bring own boat.

Note: No programs scheduled for this year, but can be done as a private program.

Heading north with the flood tide we paddle under the Bear Mt. Bridge. We will have lunch at West Point. On the return trip we can paddle up Popolopen Creek on the western side of the river and explore Devil's Hole waterfall.

Leaving from Peekskill we will ride the ebb south past Verplanck and Cortlandt. The Hudson River widens from one of the narrowest areas to the widest. With the openness of Haverstraw Bay we can follow the shore or cross the Bay on our way to Croton Point for lunch.

Plum Point Intermediate -

Distance: 11-14 miles

Location: New Windsor, New York

Venue: Hudson River

This is another in our Connecticut River series. Starting from Gillette Castle we will head north and up the narrow winding channel into Chapmans Pond, with its adjoining Nature Conservancy Preserve and varied bird life. We will move on to the Goodspeed Opera House where we will have lunch. From there we will head into Salmon Cove. We will explore some of the many channels that makes this part of the river interesting.

Saugerties to Norrie Point -

Distance: 16-20 miles

Location: Glasco/Saugerties, New York

Venue: Hudson River

This trip is one-way only, with a shuttle back to our departure point. It is approximately 17 miles of paddling and is only appropriate for strong paddlers. The GHRP is going from Saugerties to Kingston. For ease of parking, we will start at Glasco Landing in Saugerties, two miles below the starting point of the GHRP. Heading south we will pass a few parks which offers opportunity for a quick rest stop. Kingston Point Park will likely be our lunch stop. In the summer months a concession stand is normally open. We might meet up with GHRP as they will be camping in Kingston. From Kingston Point Park we continue south crossing the river, passing the Esopus Lighthouse and Mills Mansion on our way to the Norrie Point Paddlesport Center.

Schodack Island State Park Circumnavigation -

Distance: 10-14 miles

Location: Schodack Landing, New York

Venue: Schodack Creek and Hudson River

This new State Park is on the east side of the river, opposite the villages of Coeymans and New Baltimore, and is a long peninsula, rather than an island. We will paddle around the perimeter of the park, starting from the kayak launch on the creek side and heading south to the lower tip. From there, we return on the main river, paddling against the ebb tide, but sheltered from the strongest currents. Sandy beaches will provide good lunch and rest stops. A portion of the park shelters a Bird Conservation Area (BCA) that is home to bald eagles, cerulean warblers and blue herons that nest in the cottonwood trees. There is an entry charge for Schodack Island State Park of $ 6.00 per car, which is the responsibility of the participant.

Stockport Flats -

We launch from Stockport Creek, just north of the former whaling town of Hudson. This is our northern most tour on the Hudson River. We have the opportunity to stop on many of the islands (Middle Ground Flats, Stockport Middle Ground, Coxsackie Island, Rattle Snake Island) that makes this area unique. The extensive marshlands and undeveloped shoreline makes this area a kayakers dream. The northern end of our trip takes us up Mill Creek into a marsh area managed by Audubon Society. On our return trip, we can paddle other creeks which contribute to the beauty of this area.

Stratford -

Distance: 16-18 miles

Location: Stratford, CT

Venue: Long Island Sound

Note: No Rental boats available. Must bring own boat.

Leaving Stratford’s Long Beach, we’ll paddle past Bridgeport Harbor and Seaside Park. After exploring Ash & Cedar Creeks, we’ll have lunch at historic Black Rock Harbor. On the way back to Stratford we’ll head through Lewis Gut and in to the Great Meadows Salt Marsh. This trip has something for everyone - Long Island Sound, sandy beaches, harbors, creeks, and a salt marsh.