Paddling Long Island and New York City: The Best Sea Kayaking from Montauk to Manhasset Bay to Manhattan

by Kevin Stiegelmaier

Overview

Paddling Long Island is the only book on the market to depict routes and destinations across the whole of Long Island and the New York City area. And it showcases 50 of the very best. It is a diverse selection, too. After all, according to skill level, weather, personal mood, and other factors, a paddler may want open, fast water one day, but a quiet, protected experience at another time, and something in-between later on. It’s all here, from New York City to the far eastern tip of Long Island’s Montauk Point.

What’s more, the book’s guidance and language are geared to wide-ranging skill levels: the novice will be enlightened and encouraged, and the seasoned kayaker or canoeist will be engaged and engrossed. That is because the author’s intimate, lifelong knowledge of the area’s waterways shines in his descriptions of natural and social histories, humorous stories, personal anecdotes, and beautiful black-and-white photographs.

In addition, the author provides contact information on local paddling clubs, outfitters, and Internet links. And a final extensive section on personal safety, boat and equipment preparedness, and related topics makes this book an invaluable tool.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781634042291
Publisher:	Menasha Ridge Press
Publication date:	07/01/2018
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Kevin Stiegelmaier enjoys a lifelong devotion to nature and the outdoors. Growing up on Long Island instilled in him a love of the ocean and led to a degree in Marine Biology. It also inspired the purchase of his first kayak and the beginning of what has been a 14-year passion with paddling. In that time Kevin has canoed and kayaked on every type of water in every state along the East Coast, although he prefers exploring the waters of his home state, New York. Kevin currently lives on the north shore of Long Island with his two children and teaches high school biology whenever he is not paddling.

Read an Excerpt

1 ACCABONAC HARBOR

OVERVIEW Ask any group of paddlers on Long Island to name their favorite place to paddle, and, if they’ve ever been there, most of them will say Accabonac Harbor. And rightly so. This small harbor has a lot that makes it such a special place. First and foremost are its miles of undeveloped shoreline. Though just a short distance from the heart of East Hampton, in a fairly populated part of town known as Springs, Accabonac somehow has managed to evade extensive development. Instead of encountering large waterfront homes replete with Adirondack chairs, barbecues, and boats tied up at docks, visitors to the harbor are greeted by an extensive salt-marsh ecosystem, complete with the usual wildlife species that call such areas home. Accabonac’s serene waters flow along low-lying grassy islands, through strands of spartina marsh, and within the mazes of channels in between. The beautiful sandy beaches separating the harbor from the bay are perfect for a short rest, a quick swim, or a long and lazy picnic lunch.

But none of the features that make the harbor so amazing would mean anything if it were inaccessible to paddlers. Thankfully, this is not the case, as two excellent launch sites exist at the end of Landing Lane and Shipyard Lane, respectively. Although neither location boasts more than a safe place to launch a kayak and parking spaces for a handful of cars, both put you on the water—in the southern portion of the harbor—primed and ready to paddle. So while not just anyone can be considered a "Bonacker," as a local is affectionately known, everyone can—and should—come and experience Accabonac Harbor for themselves.

USGS Quadrangles
Gardiners Island West (NY), Gardiners Island East (NY)

1 Description
The beauty of Accabonac Harbor is obvious, even if you're just sitting on the beach at the end of Landing Lane. From here, only a small cluster of homes is visible in the distance, with an amazingly vast salt marsh spreading out everywhere in between. Though breathtaking from the sand, this view should be enough to make you jump into your boat as quickly as possible and hit the water.

Landing Lane to Cartwright Island and Back

• Level: IB
• Distance: 8.7 miles round-trip
• Time: 4 hours
• Navigable months: Year-round
• Hazards: Open water
• Portages: None
• Rescue access: Easy
• Tidal Conditions: 3 hours before on after high tide
• Scenery: A+

Once you've launched, paddling out of the small cove and hugging the left (west) shore will bring you to a secluded stretch of water. Here you'll see a handful of homes on the southern shore and the Merrill Lake Sanctuary on the northern side. The latter, owned by The Nature Conservancy, houses one of the most beautiful sections of marsh on Long Island. It serves as an important habitat for many juvenile fish and marine invertebrates while also providing a home for ospreys, terns, and many species of waterfowl. Stay alert while paddling along its shores, and you may be lucky enough to spy willets, black-bellied plovers, or even a glossy ibis or two.

Besides observing the conservancy property, you can also check out another remarkable landmark within this small stretch of water. The home of abstract painter Jackson Pollock sits in the northeastern most corner, albeit a bit far back from the water’s edge. Heading up the small creek present there during high tides may allow you to get close enough to get a good view of the modest but historic residence.

Table of Contents

DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PREFACE
RUN RECOMMENDATIONS
Best for Scenery
Best for Wildlife
Best for Seclusion
Best for Kids
Best for Geologic Sites
Best for Fishing
Best Beaches
Best Water Trails
INTRODUCTION TO USING THIS GUIDE
THE RUNS
New York City
Arthur Kill, Staten Island
Bronx River
East River
Gowanus Canal
Jamaica Bay
Little Neck Bay
Newton Creek
New York Upper Bay
Nassau County
Cold Spring Harbor
Hempstead Harbor
Jones Beach
Manhasset Bay
Norman J. Levy Park
Oyster Bay
Suffolk County
Accabonac Harbor
Captree State Park
Carmans River (Upper)
Carmans River (Lower)
Coecles Harbor Marine Trail
Connetquot River
Cutchogue Harbor
Flanders Bay
Forge River
Georgica Pond
Greenport Harbor
Hallock Bay
Huntington Harbor
Lake Montauk
Lake Ronkonkoma
Lloyd Harbor
Mattituck Creek
Mecox Bay
Montauk Point
Moriches Bay
Mount Sinai Harbor
Napeague River
Nissequogue River
Northport Harbor
North Sea Harbor
Peconic River
Port Jefferson Harbor
Robins Island
Sag Harbor
Sebonac Creek
Setauket Harbor & Conscience Bay
Shelter Island's Mashomack Preserve
Shinnecock Bay
Stony Brook Harbor
Swan River
Three Mile Harbor
West Meadow Creek
APPENDIXES
Appendix A: Paddling Outfitters
Appendix B: Paddling Clubs
Appendix C: Internet Resources
Appendix D: Safety Code of American Whitewater
About the Author

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"With hundreds of miles of coastline, touring New York by water only makes sense."
—WABC-TV New York

"Stiegelmaier provides paddlers with the information they need to explore 400 miles of coastline where they can enjoy everything from the glittering Manhattan skyline to the sandy beaches, salt ponds and forests of Montauk Point." — Sea Kayaker Magazine, December 2012

Editorial Reviews

"With hundreds of miles of coastline, touring New York by water only makes sense."
—WABC-TV New York

"Stiegelmaier provides paddlers with the information they need to explore 400 miles of coastline where they can enjoy everything from the glittering Manhattan skyline to the sandy beaches, salt ponds and forests of Montauk Point." — Sea Kayaker Magazine, December 2012

From the Publisher