Great Chazy River in New York

Trip Overview

The Great Chazy is a lazy river that runs from Chazy Lake to Lake Champlain. Most of the river is broken up by shallow rapids that make it impossible to boat in. However, the last 6 miler of the river (from Champlain to the mouth in Coopersville) make for a wonderful and beautiful paddling experience. The river leaves all civilization and snakes through some forest and farmland. The current is just enough to give you a little nudge on your way, making for easy paddling. There are few to no hazards (depending on water level) and the wild life is plentiful, bird watchers would be very pleased. The starting point is just past the last bit of rapids and starts in the village of Champlain. About a mile into the trip you are in the heart of the North Country farmland and no, you really don't smell it!! Shortly after the river enters thick woods however the river it's self is not affected. By this I mean that you will not be paddling through a swamp or anything like that. As you come to the last mile you will enter the town of Coopersville, a small farming town that sports a marina and state boat launch. The marina lines the shores are you come to the mouth of the lake and the state dock where many people choose to pull out at. All and all, a wonderful little trip!

Directions:

To get to Champlain, take I-87 north until you get to the last US exit before Canada. This exit will bring you into down town Champlain. You cross a bridge and if you look down you will see the last rapids of the river, approx. 2oo yards past that bridge there is a left hand turn to another bridge, take this turn over the second bridge and take the first right after the bridge, this is river st. at the end of the street there is an old abandoned private boat launch. it is over grown, but a kayak will have no problem getting in.