Hudson County
Paddling Page
Bayonne Nature Club
Appreciating, protecting and improving urban nature sites
Kayaking in Hudson County!
Yes, it can be done. And it's a lot of fun!
Paddle the Hudson River or Hackensack River and Newark Bay. Check the tide and get your boat. Below is a list of the best locations in Hudson County for launching your kayak. If you don't have a kayak, check out the locations listed below that offer kayak rentals.
---Mike Ruscigno
PADDLING HUDSON COUNTY
by Patricia Hilliard
Paddling opportunities in Hudson County are inexpensive and conveniently located. Today’s light-weight stable kayaks sit on the water’s surface. While kayaking, the oars are held in both hands. Propel yourself forward by dipping the oars only into the surface of the water. Do not dig deep. Glide. Kayaking is good aerobic exercise. Paddling the Hudson or Hackensack Rivers puts you in the theater of America’s industrial accomplishments. You'll see the bridges, the railroads, the ferries, the cargo ships and cranes. Listen to the sounds of business on the move.Or, if you seek solace with nature, paddle the wildlife areas and imagine yourself with the Lenni Lenape tribe crossing waters that today have the same species of ducks and herons that populated one of the greatest marshes of the eastern U.S.
What to Consider When Paddling Hudson County:
Hudson County's two rivers, the Hackensack and the Hudson River, have moderate currents throughout the year.
1.Waters are affected by tides. Consult a tide clock before paddling. Launch just before high tide and return within three or four hours to avoid being stranded by the dropping water level.
Waters are affected by tides. Consult a tide clock before paddling. Launch just before high tide and return within three or four hours to avoid being stranded by the dropping water level.2.Use Nature’s energy to your advantage: paddle up river with the incoming tide and down river with the out-going tide.
Use Nature’s energy to your advantage: paddle up river with the incoming tide and down river with the out-going tide. 3. At Liberty State Park: Do NOT paddle up to Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty Island or any industrial sites. These are considered security zones with no public access allowed from the shore.
4. Do NOT paddle to Shooters Island in Newark Bay. It is a Restricted Wildlife Area designated for nesting of protected bird species.
5. Do NOT paddle beyond the shoreline into shipping lanes! WATER CURRENT AND LARGE SHIP TRAFFIC ARE DANGEROUS.
SPECIFIC SITE LAUNCHES:
Liberty State Park:
Explore the Caven Point Cove. Launch from the kayak launch site at the Administration Building parking lot at 200 Morris Pesin Drive Jersey City, NJ 07305. Look for the sign shown in picture at right.
Carefully paddle west into Caven Point Cove. In the Cove, you can experience the natural world at the edge of the busy New York Harbor. Observe small fish and underwater crustaceans. Watch for migrating sandpipers, plovers and dowitchers on the shoreline.
Liberty State Park
200 Morris Pesin Road, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Phone: (201) 915-3402
Mill Creek Marsh, Secaucus City Park:
An autumn trip on Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus gives you an opportunity to see numerous migrating ducks and Northern Harrier hawks. No need to worry about fast-paced motor boats if you take the "canoe trail" into the marsh. Driving Directions: Take NJ Turnpike to Exit 16E to Paterson Plank Road, turn left, then go right on Franklin to Gillis Street, turn left then right on to Koelle Blvd which wraps around Schmidts Woods and becomes Mill Ridge Road. Take Mill Ridge Road out to Mill Creek Point.
Laurel Hill Hudson County Park:
Town of Secaucus Municipal Government Center
Phone: 201 330-2000
1203 Paterson Plank Road
Secaucus, N. J. 07094-3287
Recreation Director: (201) 330-2079
Laurel Hill Hudson County Park:
At Laurel Hill, the Hackensack Riverkeeper offers pontoon boat rides along with rentals of canoes and kayaks, including safety equipment. You can join a paddling tour or you can get a map from the Riverkeeper office at the park and explore the wildlife area for nature’s hidden treasures. From the boat ramp, paddle southwest across the Hackensack River to the mouth of Sawmill Creek Wildlife Management Area. Keep an eye on the tides and return before the water level lowers. Look eastward at the Empire State Building and all of Manhattan. Paddling the wildlife area puts life into perspective. Compare your workweek with your weekend entertainment on the water. Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-968-0808
NEWEST LAUNCH SITE! 16th Street, DiDomenico Park, Bayonne NJ. Located on the south side of the Boat Launch parking lot. (No need to use the motor boat site to the west). Easy access to the water. If you arrive at low tide there's plenty of beach. See photo at right.
Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse
Join experienced paddlers in Hoboken where you can learn the strokes for a great trip onto the Hudson River. Rent kayaks and do the Hudson.Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse
Phone: 610.780.2395
Click to get schedule information: http://www.hobokencoveboathouse.org
The Jersey City Reservoir
This is the place where children learn kayaking in Hudson County. In the Reservoir’s shallow waters basic techniques are demonstrated to teach water safety. Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance
P.O. Box 7833
Jersey City, NJ 07307
email: jcreservoir@gmail.com
Click to get schedule: web: http://www.jcreservoir.org
Phone: 201-656-5235
Patricia Hilliard launching her kayak into Mill Creek Marsh.
Be sure to check the NOAA tide chart before heading out on the water.
At right: Mike Ruscigno with his kayak at Secaucus, Mill Creek Marsh.
