Things to do / Travel Guide
The Hudson River is today one of the major sea kayaking spots in the northeast United States. It offers constant changes of scenery and the finest exposure to serene hamlets, wilderness, and wildlife. That the Hudson is actually a tidal estuary (the water flows with the tides, not in any stable direction) means the current is never swift, and its width adds to the overall experience of solitary viewing the surroundings.
There are several parts of the Hudson River that are well-known for among kayakers for natural beauty and scenery.
- Paddling in the area near Sleepy Hollow is great for witnessing the gradual change taking place upon the river from being lined with pollution-spewing factories to expansive parks and greenery.
- On Pollopel Island, north of Cold Springs and opposite Cornwall-on-Hudson, there looms the haunting Bannerman Castle. This relic of an eccentric's vision of paradise, built in the first years of the 20th century, cannot actually be visited. Therefore a good way to see it is from the water.
- Norrie State Park has been called the Jewel of the Hudson for its views of nature and of wildlife. Among the birds you can spot: wild turkeys, water osprey, great blue heron, snow geese, red-tailed hawks, kingfishers, and bald eagles. The park is located a bit north of Poughkeepsie.
- Opposite Saugerties, on the eastern side of the Hudson River, are the Tivoli Bays, where you can catch looming views of the Catskills, paddle through marshland, and visit the river islands. Waterfowl, such as the kingfisher and swans, are prevalent as well.
- The area near the town of Catskill, on the Hudson River's western shore, has been a magnet for artists and poets for nearly two centuries. There's an old lighthouse near Athens-Hudson, slightly north of Catskill. You can kayak up for a closer look, and admire the scenery for miles in either direction.
The Delaware River, slightly west of the Catskills is another popular kayaking and paddling route. It's one of the northeast's longest and cleanest rivers. There are actually places on this river in the Catskills that become whitewater, so you need to check when you go that you'll be launching from a place suitable for sea kayaking.
There are several kayaking and paddling outfitters throughout the Catskills and Hudson Valley region, near both the Hudson River and Delaware River. Those outfitters who lead excursions can usually facilitate everyone from beginners to advanced-level paddlers and kayakers.
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