Top 11 Places For Kayaking In Long Island, New York

kayaking in long island
Sowmya
Sowmya  
Updated
| 4 min read

Although most well-known for being home to the Hamptons, Long Island actually offers a bevvy of attractions to visitors of every kind. This island, located east of New York City, has spectacular beaches, water sports, delightful coastal communities and major cultural landmarks among other things. The Long Island Aquarium, Old Westbury Gardens, Oheka Castle, Long Beach and Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium are just a few of the most important landmarks here. Plan your accommodations accordingly as there are many viable places to stay, ranging from Airbnb rentals to even hotels with smoking rooms.

With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Long Island Sound on the other, the island has a complex network of waterways that offers options galore for water sports such as fishing, surfing, swimming and paddling. Find out, in this article, about the top places for kayaking in Long Island, New York.

1. Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Oakdale

Connetquot State Park on Long Island
Source: Photo by Flickr user Terry Ballard used under CC BY 2.0

Kayaking is a great way to spend the morning or afternoon. Apart from getting fresh air and exercise, you can paddle through some scenic waterways you won’t easily access on foot. For a fantastic kayak launch site while in Long Island, Connetquot River State Park Preserve lets you enjoy calm waters with plenty of flora and fauna to admire. Head south and you’ll reach Connetquot’s main and lower ponds. If you go north inland, you’ll find brooks to explore instead.

Connetquot River State Park Preserve

Address: 4090 Sunrise Hwy, Oakdale, NY 11769, United States

Website: Connetquot River State Park Preserve

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 8am - 4pm; (closed on Mon)

Price: 8 USD for cars

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2. Hempstead Lake State Park, West Hempstead

Hempstead Lakes
Source: Photo by Flickr user Terry Ballard used under CC BY 2.0

Long Island offers many options on where to kayak, but if you’d like a day trip with a larger variety of options beyond paddling, you should check out Hempstead Lake State Park. Hempstead Lake permits launching of kayaks, canoes, and rowboats. The lake, along with McDonald Pond and South Pond are also stocked for hobby fishing. Bring your rods and bait boxes so you can try catching some delicious trout, carp, and bass.

A spot in the park can also be rented if you have a special occasion to celebrate. The Carousel Party Room, for example, can be booked for 300 USD during weekdays and 350 USD on weekends for a three-hour party.

Hempstead Lake State Park

Address: Eagle Ave, West Hempstead, NY 11552, United States

Website: Hempstead Lake State Park

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 7am - 6pm; Mon - Fri: 6am - 7pm

Price: 8 USD for cars

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3. Ocean Beach, Fire Island

Fire Island, NY
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user dans362 used under CC BY 3.0

Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great South Bay is Fire Island, a barrier island that comprises a collection of beaches. Located towards the central section, Ocean Beach is a great place to head out into the bayside for a calm paddle or try out the more intense sea kayaking in the Atlantic Ocean.

There are several rental and guide operators who can provide you with paddle and kayaking lessons as well as guided tours of Fire Island. You can also try some intense watersports here, much like the rest of Long Island.

Ocean Beach, Fire Island

Address: Ocean View Walk, Ocean Beach, Fire Island, NY

Website: Ocean Beach

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4. Coecles Harbor, Shelter Island

House on Shelter Island
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Peter Bond used under CC BY-SA 2.0

One of the best places to kayak in Shelter Island is Coecles Harbor, which is the starting point of a five-mile (eight km) marine trail that offers spectacular bird-watching opportunities. The Coecles Harbor Marine Water Trail is inside the Peconic Estuary and it encompasses many undisturbed small creeks and inlets that you can explore. Paddle close to the shore for chances to see a variety of wildlife such as ospreys, jumping fish, great blue heron, ducks, and even deer on the banks. You need not make the whole trip and can instead do just as much as you prefer as there are several launch points throughout the trail.

Coecles Harbor, Shelter Island

Address: 18 Hudson Ave, Shelter Island, NY

Website: Coecles Harbor Marine Water Trail

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5. Belmont Lake State Park

Belmont Lake State Park, lake
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Bonnachoven used under CC0

Enjoy a day of kayaking on the calm waters of Belmont Lake situated inside Belmont Lake State Park. Kayaks can be launched from the boat dock and you can explore the lake’s beautiful setting. As you go along its verdant banks, you can view several birds such as egrets, ospreys, Northern Shovelers and more, as well as animals like turtles and ducks.

Belmont Lake State Park

Address: 625 Belmont Ave, West Babylon, NY

Website: Belmont Lake State Park

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6. Blydenburgh County Park

Smithtown, NY, USA
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user dans362 used under CC BY 3.0

Located within Blydenburgh County Park is Stump Pond, a picturesque lake of Long Island that is fed by the Nissequogue River’s headwaters. Open for boating from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the lake offers a scenic setting for a paddling trip. You can enjoy views of the lovely green banks and wildlife around. Do note that the pond can get filled with weeds in certain seasons.

Blydenburgh County Park

Address: Veteran’s Memorial Highway, Smithtown, NY

Website: Blydenburgh County Park

Opening hours: 8am - 3:30pm (daily)

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7. Riverhead

Peconic in Riverhead
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Chumash11 used under CC0

At 15 mi (24 km), the calm Peconic River is the longest river of Long Island, and it flows by the town of Riverhead before merging into the Peconic Bay. Kayaking through this shallow river is not very challenging as it is slow-moving and has minimal currents but offers a wonderful experience. The river has fresh water until Riverhead, after which it turns into an estuary.

The Peconic River Blueway Trail has several launch points across the river, so you have the flexibility to plan a trip depending on distance and also difficulty levels. Enjoy the variety of wildlife on its banks and the water as well as the river falls within the Central Long Island Pine Barrens. You will pass through forested lands, beaches, boat marinas, houses and even shops.

Riverhead

Address: Route 25, Riverhead

Website: Riverhead

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8. Brookhaven

Carman's River
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Russ used under CC BY 2.0

One of the largest rivers of Long Island, Carmans River in Brookhaven stretches for 10 miles (16 km). The river is protected as a part of Central Long Island Pine Barrens and it is home to a variety of fishes. You will see vast schools of fishes through its crystal clear water upstream as well as a variety of birds like geese and osprey. For around 8 miles (13 km) the river is freshwater but later turns into an estuary as it flows into the Bellport Bay of the Great South Bay. Named as a “Scenic River” a paddle trip guarantees you beautiful sights of this serene river and its lush banks.

Brookhaven

Address: Montauk Hwy., Brookhaven, NY

Website: Central Long Island Pine Barrens

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9. Stony Brook

Stony Brook Harbor
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Traitor used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The placid waters of the Stony Brook Harbor is another of Long island’s scenic settings that are perfect for kayaking. As you go along the shoreline starting from the river upstream down towards the harbour, you will appreciate the beautiful hilly countryside as well as historic buildings like Historic Stony Brook Grist. These waters offer wonderful opportunities for bird-watching as they are home to several birds such as terns, plovers and hawks.

Stony Brook

Address: 51 Shore Rd, Stony Brook, NY

Website: Stony Brook

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10. Centerport Beach

Centerport Harbor
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Andrew73 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Centerport Beach on the Northport Bay comes under Centerport Beach Park and it is located just outside Huntington. Paddling in the waters off the beach offers a wonderful view of the pretty shoreline. You can enjoy sightings of various wildlife as well as scenic views of Long Island.

Centerport Beach

Address: Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY

Website: Centerport Beach

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11. Island Park

Kayak on Hudson River
Source: Needpix

Island Park is a small village located in Nassau County, that sits between Long Island and the mainland. Kayaking along the many bays and inlets along this coast offers a great way to enjoy the beauty of the South Shore, which is home to diverse wildlife habitats and stunning skylines of the city. As you go along the trail, you can enjoy the charming villages and wooded banks on the shore along with the wildlife.

Island Park

Address: 127 Long Beach Road, Island Park, NY

Website: Island Park

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Experience Long Island from a new perspective

There are several water-based activities that you can experience in Long Island, including windsurfing, surfing and water-skiing. Kayaking is, however, one of the best ways to appreciate Long Island’s natural beauty and its fascinating marine environment that not many know about. It provides a superb opportunity to explore its beautiful verdant forested lands and get a closer look at its rich wildlife. For those new to the activity, there are several kayaking rental stores close to each boat launch that offer training and guided tours suitable for every experience level. Our list of top places for kayaking in Long Island, New York, offers a wonderful selection of places you can choose for your next paddling adventure.

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Frequently asked questions about kayaking in Long Island


  • Which kayaking tours in Long Island run on the Peconic River?

    If you’re looking to explore the Peconic River, you can launch at Coecles Harbor and follow the local Marine Water Trail. Another option is the town of Riverhead, where the Peconic River runs through.

  • Which places in Long Island offer kayaking lessons?

    If you’re a beginner when it comes to kayaking, you may want to catch a few lessons first to build your confidence. Ocean Beach has both rentals and lessons available. Towns such as Riverhead are also worth checking out for renting boats and learning how to kayak.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Writing and travelling both bring joy to Sowmya's life. Her favourite destination so far is Bhutan - a land of incredible beauty! And her favourite style of travelling is solo backpacking!...Read more

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