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Upstate New York

Being on a boat that's moving through the water, it's so clear. Everything falls into place in terms of what's important and what's not. 
James Taylor

Kayaking Locations

The following is a list of places I've paddled in Upstate New York. 
Click on a location to open a blog post with a map,  put-in details, and description/story of the route with photos.

Finger Lakes (from west to east)
  1. Conesus Lake - Northern End
  2. Hemlock Lake
  3. Canadice Lake
  4. Honeoye Lake
  5. Canandaigua Lake - Northern End
  6. Keuka Lake - Northern End
  7. Seneca Lake - Southern End
  8. Cayuga Lake - Inlet & Tributaries
    Cayuga Lake - North of East Shore Park
    Cayuga Lake - South End to Taughannock
    Cayuga Lake - North of Long Point State Park
    Cayuga Lake - North of Taughannock
  9. Owasco Lake - Southern End
    Owasco Lake - Western Shore (middle)
  10. Skaneateles Lake - Southern End
  11. Otisco Lake

Here's the Elmira 1:250,000 USGS topographic quad that includes all the Finger Lakes (it's a big file, so it might take a while to load). 

Other Upstate New York Destinations
Cayuta Lake
Dryden Lake
Irondequoit Bay - Southern End

Don't forget to check out the Great Lakes Region page for Lake Ontario paddles in Upstate New York.

Adventure Map

Click on an icon to learn more about the amenities and conditions at each location, as well as a link to a blog post with more detail.

Launch Site

Destination

Science Site

Campground

City Trip

Mountain

Trailhead

Park


Camping, Hiking, and other Activities

Bear Swamp State Forest (XC skiing)
Green Lakes State Park (walk)
Onondaga Lake (bike trail)
[these haven't been transferred from the old site yet.]

Kayaking Organizations & Links

BayCreek Paddling Center, Inc.
Kayak, Canoe, and SUP Rentals and Sales
Rochester, NY

When I was 8-year-old, my parents signed me up for kids kamp at BayCreek, which I attended until I aged out at 12-years-old. For the next two years I washed boats in exchange for free kayak rentals. At 14 I was officially hired and began cashiering and helping out with kids camp. And so began my 9 years of working at BayCreek... 
Picture
View from the shop looking out over the Irondequoit Creek wetlands.

Picture
One of the very first Rough Rider outings, back in 2007.
BayCreek Rough Riders
Sea Kayaking Group
Rochester, NY

Rough Riders is group of paddlers in Rochester that's organized by BayCreek. Every summer Thursday night (6-8pm) they meet at Durand Beach on Lake Ontario in hopes that the surf will be up! See website for more information, including prerequisites. I was an active member of Rough Riders from its inception in 2007 until I moved to California in 2011. Now I just try to make an annual appearance :)

Cornell Outdoor Education
Gear Rentals and Outdoor Courses & Trips
Ithaca, NY

A group of outdoor enthusiasts of all types that want to share their respective love (paddling, climbing, backpacking, skiing, etc.) with other Cornell students and Ithaca residents. During my time in Ithaca, I taught sea kayaking and worked as a "wizard" in the gear rental/outfitting department. 

There are kayaking (whitewater and sea kayaking) and canoeing courses offered every semester. Also, an informal group of COE paddlers and others spend Thursday evenings kayaking on Cayuga Lake. Contact me if you'd like me to put you in touch with the organizer.
Picture
A kayak camping trip to Cranberry Lake, in the Adirondacks

Picture
The south end of Cayuga Lake, from Stewart Park in Ithaca, NY
Ithaca Kayak Club
Kayaking Group
Ithaca, NY

Group of paddling enthusiasts in and around Ithaca. I think their Facebook group is more active than the blog website.



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