If you'd like a change of pace, this trip on the fresh water of Bantam Lake in northwestern Connecticut is for you. Although this trip is slated during peak foliage, check our website, as additional Connecticut lake programs will be listed.

The magnificent northern Catskill Mountains offer vistas of scenic beauty for visitors to the legendary land of “Rip Van Winkle?. We launch from Dutchmans Landing in the town of Catskill for both the North and the South trips. On the North route we paddle past Rogers Island to Hudson-Athens Lighthouse. Lunch is at a beach which offers a great spot to swim or to get wet from the boats on warm days. Before heading back to the launch, we paddle up Catskill Creek, from there we can explore Ramshorn Creek, also know as Little Amazon.

On the Southern route, we paddle to Germantown Landing for lunch. Along the way, there are a few of the prettiest creeks on the river to poke around. We’ve frequently seen bald eagles here as well.

Artists and writers have long been inspired by the majesty of this area. After a day on the peaceful Hudson River, the source of their inspiration becomes apparent.

.... the Hudson and the opposite shores, so wonderful toward sunset ... the noiseless splash of sunrise....Walt Whitman

The tidal marshland at the mouth of the Connecticut River is known as Great Island. There rivers and streams meander through the tall grasses out to the barrier beach of Griswold Point. We'll eat lunch on the beach looking out on the north shore of Long Island then follow the tide back to our put-in on the Lieutenant River. The scenery is as outstanding as the paddling. The tall grasses offer the opportunity to view waterfowl common to marshlands.

Hudson -

Distance: 8-10 miles

Location: Hudson, New York

Venue: Hudson River

Launching from the boat ramp in Hudson, this will be our most northern beginner tour on the Hudson River. The boat ramp is walking distance from the Amtrak train station. Depending on the conditions of the day, almost any day paddle from there could include a marsh, creek, or sandy beach, and always a beautiful view. In town, there are many fine restaurants to enjoy a good meal and extend your day.

Starting from Scenic Hudson’s Foundry Dock Park in Cold Spring, we paddle north along the steep cliffs that make this some of the most spectacular scenery in New York State. After lunch at Little Stony Point Beach we will paddle towards Bannerman’s Castle. For those who have viewed the facade of the castle from a distance, this will be a wonderful opportunity to get an up close view of the structure. As time allows, we will enter Constitution Marsh. A peaceful way to end our day.

Starting by the Mystic Seaport, we will glide past the C.W. Morgan and other historic sailing ships of days past. A kayaks vantage point offers a perspective of these classics few people get to experience. The river will carry us through downtown Mystic and into Fishers Island Sound to feel the effects of tide, wind, and waves on our kayaks and to get a sense of larger water paddling. A circumnavigation of Mason Island and smaller islands will offer views of marshes and bird sanctuaries to observe ospreys, egrets, and other waterfowl. The incoming tide will give us a gentle push on our return trip.

The Manhattan skyline is a dramatic backdrop for this, one of our most popular tours. We depart from Liberty State Park in New Jersey and paddle past historical Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty is a grand sight, and there is no angle more impressive to admire and photograph her from than the cockpit of a kayak. So, come along and enjoy Manhattan from a unique vantage point. While this is our shortest tour, we do run into some exciting conditions from the wind and wakes off the many ferries and other large ships in this area. Lunch will be back at Liberty State Park.

Norrie State Park has been called the Jewel of the Hudson. Spend the weekend at the Norrie State Park campground (cabins also available) and paddle both days or hike on the many beautiful trails. You have the opportunity to spot: osprey, great blue heron, green heron, snowy egret, wild turkey, snow geese, red-tailed hawks, kingfishers, deer, and bald eagle. We picked Norrie State Park for this program because of the natural beauty of the area. We have two different Norrie trips one heading north (N) and the other going south (S). The Norrie North trip paddles past the Esopus Lighthouse, one of the many lighthouses under restoration along the Hudson and has lunch at Mills Mansion. The Norrie south trip paddles down past the Vanderbilt Mansion and comes back north to have lunch the Vanderbilt Mansion. Some people on this program usually walks up to the Mansion during lunch. After lunch both trips paddle to Esopus Island, which offers us a beautiful view of this island our trip back to Norrie State Park. Rhinebeck is located a few miles north of Norrie State Park, and offers many fine restaurants for dinning after the trip.

Norrie Short Tour -

Price: $50 includes equipment

Distance: 2-4 Miles

Location: Norrie Point Paddlesport Center, Stattsburg, New York

Venue: Hudson River

Dates: Most Saturdays and on many Sundays in June through September

For those wanting to experience kayaking without a full day commitment we are offering shorter tours from the Norrie Point Paddlesport Center. This program is designed for people with limited or no paddling experience. Depending on the conditions of the day, exploring Black Creek, Esopus Island, and Mills Mansion are all possibilities, as well as sighting the occasional Bald Eagle. The tours will start at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. The area is beautiful and there are many things you can do with the rest of your afternoon within the Park or take a tour of one of the historic mansions along the River. Rhinebeck and Hyde Park both have nice restaurants for lunch or dinner. When the tour ends you can go on a self guided tour of Indian Creek (when tides allow) or demo different kayaks.

Ossining, known for its famous prison, "Sing-Sing". This is our southern most program on the Hudson River. There's good access to Croton Point Park, where we will have lunch at the HRWA campsite. The river is wide here, but the shore line is pretty.

The northern Hudson Highlands is a gem of a trip. Starting from Plum Point in New Windsor, we will head south past Cornwall to explore a small tidal marsh at the foot of Storm King Mountain. We then cross the Hudson to Little Stony Point Beach for lunch. The beach offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Highlands. After lunch we head past Pollepel Island and majestic Bannerman's Castle. On our return journey we can explore Moodna Creek before returning to Plum Point. Link to the Bannermans Trust.

We depart from the Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center and head north with the current toward the Bear Mountain Bridge. Crossing the river, we paddle past Iona Island and Bear Mountain State Park. The historic site of Fort Montgomery is a great spot to have lunch and take a self guided tour of the site. After lunch we paddle to the end of the creek where we get a beautiful view of the cascading waterfalls. The current will then turn back south to help push us back to the Paddlesport Center.

Situated below the Rhinecliff train station is a boat ramp that has now been included as part of the HRWA. The Roundout Creek lies directly across the river and is interesting enough to spend most of the day there. We'll time the trip so we can spend a good portion of the day exploring the creek, but have enough left to paddle the Kingston shoreline where we will have lunch.

The Saugatuck River in Westport, Connecticut is a very scenic route out to the Long Island Sound. Trips are planned to ride the out going tide to the mouth of the river, where we than cross out to Cockenoe Island for lunch. We can circumnavigate the island and take a leisurely trip back along the shoreline with a possible side trip into Bermuda Lagoon. The Norwalk Islands were created during the last ice age and have since been home to dairy farms, mansions, and now large populations of waterfowl. The Nature Conservancy recognized the significance of these islands and purchased Chimons Island to create a National Wildlife Preserve. As we head out from the Norwalk River into the Sound we will paddle past many of the Norwalk Islands, stopping on a few.

Join us for a scenic day of paddling on the Connecticut River. Our day begins in East Haddam, where we will put in just below Gillette Castle. We will paddle south to explore the hidden beauty of Whale Bone Creek with its labyrinthine channels. We will continue on to Selden Island where one of the many campsites will serve as our lunch stop. Continuing our circumnavigation of Selden, surrounded by the Nature Conservancy Preserve and Selden Island State Park with its bountiful bird life.

We will start in the picturesque town of Stony Creek and paddle through most of the small granite islands that make up the Thimbles. The Thimbles are a contrast to the low sandy beaches along the Connecticut shoreline, resembling the Maine shoreline with its many islands. The morning starts by weaving through the islands, where we get an intimate view of beautiful homes that occupy them. We then make an open water crossing to our lunch break, on a granite outcrop. If the winds are strong, this part can be very exciting. After lunch, we follow the coast on our return journey.

Tivoli Bays are located 90 miles north of New York City on the Hudson River and offers all a sea kayaker could want: beautiful marshland; three great islands; views of the high peaks of the Catskills; quiet and private paddling, all in one trip. In the spring large groups of osprey feed on the shad which are running up the Hudson to spawn. Year-round it is possible to see deer, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, kingfishers, snow geese, swans and all the waterfowl commonly found in marshlands. The National Park Service granted a 30 mile area on the eastern shore of the Hudson River (including Tivoli) Historic Landmark Status. Recognized by local historians for its importance, this area now has national prestige. North and south dates reflect tidal differences, and determine the direction we take in the morning. Stay late and join us for dinner at Santa Fe, a critically acclaimed Mexican restaurant, and our personal favorite.

Verplanck Point is back on our tour schedule after a two year absence, with a revamped waterfront. From there we have the option to cross the river and paddle to Stoney Point if conditions allow. In the afternoon we would return to the eastern side of the river to have lunch at Georges Island, which is a county park. Henry Hudson's ship The Half Moon is anchored just north of Verplanck.

Wallkill River -

Fee: $65 includes equipment

Distance: 3-5 miles

Location: New Paltz, , New York

Venue: Wallkill River

The Wallkill River shares with great rivers like the Nile and the Rhine the unique distinction of northward flow. This quiet river eventually feeds into the Hudson River. This program is geared toward the new paddler, as we will have no particular destination and no great distance needs to be covered. The pace will be comfortable for the group. We will return in early afternoon, where if desired, one can enjoy a nice lunch at one of the local New Paltz restaurants. Nearby hiking is also an option as this area has much to offer.