Boating in New York

Going boating in New York? Visit a big city like New York City or Buffalo. Or a smaller NY town in the Hudson Valley or Adirondacks like Lake Placid. Visit the Thousand Islands Seaway, Finger Lakes area or ‘close-to-the-bustle’ Long Island. NY state has something for everybody. So make some plans, or don’t plan anything and just go exploring. Whatever your style, just make sure you get on water and get yourself into a ‘New York state of mind’.

If you’re planning on boating in New York, where you should plan to launch your boat and hit the water in New York state really depends on the region you plan on visiting. But New York state has more than 7,500 lakes, reservoirs and ponds and over 70,000 miles of rivers and streams. So to get you started, we thought we’d name just a few of our favorite locations to go boating in New York!

Lake George is a popular attraction for water lovers due to its breathtaking natural beauty. The land of the Adirondack Park and the Lake George Village hold numerous exciting diversions. The great attraction of the area though is the lake itself. The lake is 32 miles long with a surface area of roughly 28,000 acres.

Due to the sheer size of Lake George, boating is a popular pastime, however the lake never feels too busy. There are numerous marinas, launch sites, and rentals along the shores of the lake. Water enthusiasts can enjoy water skiing, tubing, and other exhilirating activities. The peaceful islands are a great place for relaxation.  The wide and narrow shallows are great for paddlers.

Personal watercraft such as water bikes and jet skis are available to rent.

Long Lake is a perfect setting for motor boating, canoeing and kayaking. The Adirondacks remain the premier destination for the small boat vacation. Water sport enthusiasts enjoy waterskiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, and tubing on our 14 mile Long Lake.

For those seeking quiet exploration, paddle along the shorelines to see incredible views of the mountains. Revel in the sparkling blue water and admire the solitude of the lush green forest. The Long Lake beach is a great place to relax and soak up the sun and an excellent launch for your next paddling journey.

There is a boat launch available at the end of Olivet/Dock Road.

The Finger Lakes are a group of 11 long, narrow lakes named by early map-makers of the region. Here is a bit of information about four of the lakes.

Otisco Lake is perfect for tooling around in a pontoon boat or powered row boat—both of which are available for rental at the Otisco Lake Marina in Marietta. There are various boat launches dotted about the lake as well.

Owasco Lake is a big draw for people who enjoy being on the water. However with a highly developed lakefront public access is limited to the Emerson Park beach in Auburn. There are two boat launches at the beach and not other public launches on the lake.

Skaneateles Lake is very popular for sailing and other recreational boating. However due to environmental controls there are few boat launches. There are two small docks as well, for approach by water which are used as fishing spots.

As one of the deepest of the Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake is an exceptional spot for sailing and other recreational boating in New York. Marinas in Waterloo and just south of Geneva offer boat rentals, campgrounds and marine supplies. The Seneca Lake State Park in Geneva features public boat launches and a marina, as well as a picnic area and a swimming beach.

By boat is an excellent way to experience Lake Placid. Many spots along the shore are only available by boat with no roads leading in. Lake Placid is considered one of the cleanest fresh water lakes in the world with fresh spring water and mountain streams feeding into it. One mountain source is Whiteface Mountain where visitors can experience breathtaking views.

The lake includes 3 islands, Buck Island, Moose Island, and Hawk Island each having their own history and contributing to the allure of the lake.

Visitors can enjoy waterskiing (even using the slalom course next to the main island), wake-boarding and tubing, cliff diving, camping, hiking and tour boating.

For paddlers, did you know you can access Lake Placid from the vilage via Mirror Lake? There is a walking path between the lakes which can be used to portage.

Everywhere you look in NY, there’s a New York State Park sign and an opportunity to break away from the busy flow of the everyday to enjoy the great outdoors. There are over 215 state and national parks to choose from!

So which park should you choose? Any of the 20 state parks located on Long Island or the very popular Niagara Falls state parks region will all boast endless activities for visitors. You can also find quiet parks that offer trails and boat launch ramps for those who prefer the sound of the wind in the pines. Adirondack Park is a protected area covers 6 million acres in northern New York and contains over 3,000 lakes. You’re sure to find a quiet spot to launch your boat in there.

Plan on Freshwater Fishing in NY state? Here you can catch bass, trout, salmon, northern pike, muskies and walleye. New York is also famous destination for anglers for a number of reasons. It has 4 of the 50 best ‘Bassmaster’ lakes and streams. The lakes in the Catskils and Adirondacks regions offer anglers some of the  best fly fishing on the east coast. During the winter months, the ice fishing is pretty good too.

Saltwater Fishing? Along the coastal shorelines you can reel in fluke, striped bass and bluefish.

Before you go, make sure you have your Fishing License and that you know the fishing regulations for New York state. There are 165 fish species here. Learn up!