Where to kayak in the Hudson Valley

The Hudson

And then there’s the Hudson, where the tides have a big impact on the current. Consult a tide chart before planning your trip, and plan on heading north when the tide is coming in and vice versa. (Charts are printed in several local daily newspapers, and are available online at www.protides.com/newyork.)

The Hudson is a big river, and it’s capable of influencing weather conditions. Aber says the weather can turn on a dime, and unexpected high winds can make things difficult.

“I’ve been on it when the wind has come up, and there’s so much current and wind that I had to paddle with all my might or I’d go backwards,” she said. That kind of change is most likely to happen on summer afternoons, says Aber, so check the forecast ahead of time. Large ships and barges share the water, and move through shipping channels marked by red and green flags. If you’re paddling across a shipping channel, don’t tarry, as those big ships can come up surprisingly quick.

There are dozens of places to access the Hudson, but Aber has two similar paddles she thinks would be ideal for beginners; both involve launching on the Hudson itself, then turning in toward the shore to a more sheltered area. In Cold Spring, there’s Foundry Cove/Constitution Island Marsh, another wildlife intensive paddle. Park at the boat launch and head south, and hang a left under the railroad bridge. The park is managed by the National Audubon Society, and is surrounded by the Hudson Highlands. “It’s a beautiful pristine area,” says Aber. From that same spot, you could opt to head north for a couple miles and see Bannerman’s Island, a 19th century armory now in glorious decay.

Other Hudson picks include Tivoli Bay (park in Tivoli and head south, then left under a bridge) and RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary in Catskill, another protected area removed from the main channel.