Best places to kayak in the Hudson Valley & Catskill Mountains

Hudson Valley

Esopus Creek – The Esopus Creek is actually two of the best places, not just one. Real white water kayaking can be found in the upper reaches of the Esopus, above the Ashokan Reservoir. Using the United States Geological Survey (USGS) gage at Coldbrook, you can determine the average water depth. Esopus levels of 5 feet and above insure the best results.

For novices and folks who don’t (or can’t) travel with their equipment, Town Tinker Tube offers a total rental package that includes an inflatable kayak and paddle, life vest, helmet, wetsuit and a one-time Kayak Taxi transportation.

The lower Esopus offers some great flat water kayaking both below Glenerie Falls, where flat water winds along sparsely populated shores for several miles above the dam in Saugerties, while below the dam provides access to marshes and bays both above and below the entrance to the Hudson River. Chorvas Park on East Bridge Street has a public dock for boat launching.

Tivoli Bays – Also in the Hudson River, across from Saugerties is Tivoli Bays. It is designated as part of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, the freshwater tidal wetlands nationally recognized as an essential wildlife habitat. While there is a steep path from the parking area to North Bay, seasoned kayakers go in at Tivoli’s public dock and head south, or cross the Hudson from the boat launch area in Glasco. Paddling.net offers a map of canoe & kayak launch sites in the region.

Catskill Mountains

42 class I – V whitewater kayaking streams are documented at Riverfacts.com. They include launch locations and stream descriptions in Greene, Sullivan, Delaware, Schoharie and Ulster Counties, with a detailed map and directions for each.

Kayaking and canoeing are also very popular on the East and West Branch of the Delaware River. Catskill Outfitters, in Walton, NY, offer rentals on the largely undiscovered West Branch of the Delaware. In that same area there are many lakes and ponds available for recreation. Pleasant Pheasant Farm offers Kayak and canoe rentals on Lake Wawaka, in Halcottsville, with access to the East Branch of the Delaware River.

Purchasing Kayaks – Kenco, on Rt. 28 just off exit 19 (Kingston) on the New York State Thruway (I-87) offers a wide selection of sporting goods including EVERYTHING you’ll need to outfit yourself for a Kayak trip. It is locally owned and staffed with top notch people. Stop in for all your sport-related and work-related gear.

For more information, buy the book: A Kayaker’s Guide to the Hudson River Valley – FINALLY – a guide canoeists and kayakers can use for the vast watershed of the Hudson River Valley. This National Heritage Area holds several major rivers, scores of streams and tributaries, dozens of large lakes, and hundreds of ponds. The author leads the reader on 33 guided paddles through them with maps, photos and detailed descriptions of what you can expect on their quiet waters. 6×9 224 pages b&w illus resources Paper

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