Niagara River in New York

Trip Overview

The 3101 Paddling Club traveled to Grand Island and launched at the East River Marsh Launch Area on 6/5/13. This area is on the east side of Grand Island at the end of East River Road. The launch area is a dedicated kayak and canoe launch with a floating dock and protected inlet, which is very nice. The pavement is close to the dock making unloading easy, carrying short, and ample parking is right across the street. The area does not have a washroom/bathroom facility.

Eleven of us launched and paddled down the east Niagara River, around the south end of Grand Island, past Beaver Island State Park, past the beach and the marina and on into the Park's wildlife rehab area. There is another Kayak / Canoe launch in this area. We continued on thru this area, on to the West river downstream for a ways to view some of the boat houses then turned around to head back.

On the return trip we stopped at the kayak launch inside the wildlife rehab area, there is a Park bathroom facility just across from the parking lot above. (This launch area in the Park requires paid park entrance, East River Marsh does not.)

We re-boarded our yaks and continued on back around the south end of GI and back to the our original launch area.

Everyone enjoyed it this outing, it was easy paddling, the slight river current and west breeze was not an issue.

The water was very clear, relatively shallow all along, we seen quite a few fish, and many shore birds.

We paddled just under 7 miles, and after loading up, we stopped at a nearby hot dog stand for a bite to eat.

All of us from the 3101 Paddling Club recommend this launch site, we will definitely be returning to this area later in the summer.

Accommodations:

Nice launch, good vehicle parking, no restroom

Fees:

None

Directions:

East side of Grand Island at the end of East River road