Unadilla River in New York

Trip Overview

For a real country adventure Tom Sawyer kind of trip, I would recommend the Unadilla River from Mt. Upton through to Bainbridge, NY. Shaded here and there with giant willows, and crossed periodically by small bridges, you get the feeling that you're in a nostalgic Norman Rockwell painting as you float past small dairy farms and rural villages. There are lots of great spots to explore, swim and fish, and the river is so loaded with smallmouth bass, my son actually had one jump into our canoe while we were floating down the river. Bainbridge NY is known for the General Clinton Canoe Regatta held over Memorial Day Weekend, but with the addition of the new Tall Pines Canoe Livery located at the Tall Pines Campground, now you can enjoy the river any time with canoe and kayak rentals and escorted trips.

Accommodations:

Mt. Upton town stores; Tall Pines Campground; Hess Station; General Clinton Park.

Fees:

None known.

Directions:

I-88 to exit 9 (Sidney), go 3 miles North on Rt.8 to the blinking yellow light, turn right at the light, and go 1000 feet to the Tall Pines Canoe Livery which is located at The Tall Pines Campground on the left. Other put in points on Rt. 8 are Rockdale, Mt. Upton, and on Rt. 7 Sidney, and Bainbridge at the General Clinton Park.

Launches:

Mt. Upton, just off Rt.8, public access; Rockdale, public fishing access off Rt. 8; Tall Pines Campground, private access, off Rt.8 & CR 35; Sidney, off Rt. 7, public fishing access; General Clinton Park in Bainbridge, off Rt. 7, public park access.

Contact:

Tall Pines Canoe Livery, 607-563-8271, www.tallpinescampground-ny.com; or General Clinton Park, www.canoeregatta.org.