Kayaking Ulster County

Kayaking Etiquette & Rules

• When kayaking in waterways with motorized watercraft, keep to the shallower areas of the waterway to allow safe passage of larger motorized craft.
• When kayaking with a group, kayakers should travel in a single file line rather than side by side to avoid blocking the waterway for other kayakers and watercraft.
• Take care when entering and exiting the water to ensure that your watercraft and gear are not blocking others from entering or exiting at the same location.
• Be mindful of boisterous activity, or shouting. Noise travels a great distance over water and may disturb the local wildlife, and other boaters.
• Make sure that all gear is properly secured in waterproof bags and preferably attached to your person so that you are able to easily locate and retrieve your items should your kayak be overturned.
• Practice good “Leave No Trace” principles by ensuring that everything that is carried into the waterways and parks, is carried back out with you when you leave.

Kayaking Safety

Kayaking is a safe and enjoyable boating activity for paddle boaters of all ages and skill sets. The overall stability and easy maneuverability of the kayak makes it a perfect paddle boat choice for beginners. That being said, every water activity involves a degree of risk. You can help keep you and your fellow layers safe by following these simple kayaking safety guidelines.

• Wear a life vest at all times. A life vest will help to prevent you from being pulled under water in the event that you are separated from your kayak. New York state law requires that all children 12 years old and younger must wear a properly fitted life vest at all times while boating. All persons regardless of age are required to wear a life vest while boating between November 1st and May 1st due to the extreme cold of the local water bodies. Visit New Paltz Kayaking, or another local kayaking equipment provider, to purchase or rent life vests and safety equipment for your entire group.
• Stay mindful of changing weather conditions. Steady winds can form large waves on large bodies of water, and heavy winds can result in choppy water conditions with large waves in small and medium sized water bodies. If you notice storm conditions developing or hear thunder you should seek shelter on shore immediately.
• Kayakers who encounter large waves caused by wind, or the wake created by motorized watercraft, should turn their kayak to point directly into the wave to avoid being overturned.

Kayaking Equipment

Each member of your kayaking group should be equipped with a properly fitted life jacket, a kayaking helmet, and the correct kayak and paddles for the type of boating trip chosen.

While many experienced kayakers choose to bring their own equipment, those who are new to the sport, or simply looking for a no hassle kayaking experience can find all of the equipment they need from local kayak equipment rental providers like New Paltz Kayaking Rentals.

Top Ulster County Kayaking Locations

Alder Lake

Alder Lake offers a peaceful paddle boating experience on a quiet lake with few other boaters. Kayakers can access the lake from the park and carry down area located off State Route 254, 2.5 miles northeast of Hamlet of Turnwood. Campsites are available for overnight stays as well.

Belleayre Mountain Pine Hill Lake Day Use Area

Belleayre Mountain Pine Hill Lake Day Use Area offers a beach and picnic area complete with pavilions, a snack bar, and free wifi. Pine Hill Lake is perfect for swimming, paddle boating, and fishing. Visitors may bring their own canoe or kayak, or rent equipment from an onsite or nearby provider.

The Bob Shepard Highland Landing Park

The Bob Shepard Highland Landing Park is a public park located on the west side of the Hudson, just north of the Mid-Hudson Bridge, and Walkway Over The Hudson Visitors to the park can enjoy boating, kayaking, fishing, picnicking, and bird watching from sunrise to sunset daily. Kayakers may Bring their own equipment, or rent equipment from nearby New Paltz Kayaking Rentals.

Bristol Beach State Park

Bristol Beach State Park is an undeveloped park located at the site of a former brickyard in Saugerties, New York The park’s Hudson River waterfront location offers a boat launch area perfect for canoe and kayak enthusiasts.

City of Kingston Kayak Tours

The City of Kingston’s Forsyth Nature Center offers a variety of guided kayak tours on the Hudson River and Rondout Creek. Guided paddle boat tours are offered June through September, and geared towards those looking for a unique way to view the local flora and fauna, as well as Bald Eagles, Osprey, Turtles and other wildlife.

Chodikee Lake

Location: Town of Lloyd, New York
Equipment Rentals: No
Guided Tours: No

Chodikee Lake located near the Town of Lloyd, New York, is a small oval lake shaped lake fed by Black Creek. The lakefront wetlands offer prime fishing and paddle boat opportunities. Boaters can access the lake from the parking area and hand launch located off of Route 299, 5 miles east of The Village of New Paltz. Visitors will need to bring their own kayaks or rent equipment from New Paltz Kayaking Rentals, or another nearby equipment provider.

Esopus Meadows Preserve

Location: Town of Esopus, New York
Equipment Rentals: No
Guided Tours: No

The Esopus Meadows Preserve is a 93 acre preserve located along the Hudson River, in the Town of Esopus, New York. The preserve’s Hudson River Greenway Water Trail attracts kayakers and other boaters looking to explore the abundance of nature and wildlife that call the preserve waterways home. Boaters can also catch a glimpse of the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse located downriver. Visitors will need to bring their own kayak, or rent equipment from New Paltz Kayaking Rentals, or another local provider.

Kenneth L. Wilson Campground and Day Use Area

The Kenneth L. Wilson Campground & Day Use Area is a year round campground and boat launch located off Route 28 and Wittenberg Road, 4 miles east of Mount Tremper, New York. Visitors can enjoy the site’s many activities and amenities such as picnic pavilions, horseshoe pits, hiking trails, a boat launch, and on location equipment rental facility. Tent and RV campsites are available for overnight stays. A fee is required for day use visitors during the peak season.

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Minnewaska State Park Preserve, located on a Shawangunk Mountain ridge, is home to several picturesque waterfalls, crystal clear sky lakes and streams, hardwood forests, and stunning rock features. The preserve offers world class rock climbing, hiking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and more. Boaters can access the preserve’s boat launch through the entrance to the Minnewaska State Park Preserve located at 5281 Route 44-55, in Kerhonkson New York.

Onteora Lake

Onteora Lake is a small, narrow body of water with an undeveloped shoreline that offers the perfect spot for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing from small boats. Boaters can access the lake from the small parking area and hand launch located off of Route 28, 4 miles north of the Town of Kingston, New York.

Rondout Creek

Rondout Creek located above the Eddyville Dam, is a slow moving river tributary of the Hudson River. Rondout Creek is a great location for small boats, canoes, and kayaks, and offers excellent fishing for Bass, Walleye, and Panfish. Boaters can access the water from the small parking area and gravel ramp boat launch located off Creek Locks Road and Route 213, ¾ mile south of Eddyville, New York.

Shaupeneak Ridge

The picturesque Shaupeneak Ridge preserve is the ideal location for nature-lovers who can enjoy the grassland pastures filled with wildflowers, deep woods, as well as a waterfall and pond. Visitors can expect to catch glimpses of the wide variety of wildlife that make their home in the preserve including beaver, coyote, deer, wild turkey, and more. The preserve offers an array of activities including, bird watching, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, picnics, and more.

Village Of New Paltz Sojourner Truth Park

The Sojourner Truth Park is a small park located along the Wallkill River in the Village of New Paltz, New York. The park offers a parking area, picnic tables, and a non-motorized boat launch where kayakers, canoers, and other paddle boaters can easily access the Wallkill river for a day of nature watching, fishing, or simply relaxing. Visitors may bring their own kayaks, or visit New Paltz Kayaking Rentals, conveniently located within the park, for all of their kayaking equipment needs.

Wallkill River

Location: Village of New Paltz, New York
Equipment Rentals: Yes
Guided Tours: No

The Wallkill River is a unique river which flows south to north through the Village of New Paltz and Town of Rosendale, in Ulster County New York. The slow flowing river is a popular spot for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Boaters can enter the water from one of three parking and hand-launch areas located in the Village of New Paltz, or the Town of Rosendale, New York.
Kayakers may bring their own kayaks, or visit New Paltz Kayaking Rentals, or other local equipment rental service providers to rent or purchase all of the equipment they need.

We have reached the end of our Ulster County kayaking guide. We hope we have inspired you to head out and explore all of the fun and adventure that the waterways of Ulster County have to offer. Contact New Paltz Kayaking today for help planning your next Ulster County kayaking adventure. We can’t wait to meet you!