Waterford Harbor
Launch from Waterford Harbor to paddle around Peebles Island and the Flight of Locks. The waters in Waterford Harbor are flat, in contrast to those around the island which at certain times can create some whitewater challenges.
Islands off Town of Halfmoon
Several islands, filled with lush vegetation and bird habitats, off the Town of Halfmoon between the Route 9 Bridge and Twin Bridges can easily be explored by watercraft. The foundation of a large barn used to store ice from the Mohawk River still stands proudly on one. Launch from the water’s edge near Crescent Park and cross the river in a southerly direction toward the islands.
Wager’s Pond Outlet
At the intersection of Riverview Road and Boyack Road park on the broad gravel shoulder on the north side of the road and launch on the south roadside. Paddle south across Wager’s Pond to a secluded outlet that leads through a remaining section of the original Erie Canal into the Mohawk River. A massive cliff across the river marks the location of what Dutch settlers referred to as “Wat Hoix Gap” and by the Native Americans who lived in the area as “White Horse” and “Evil Spirit.”.
Lake Between Crescent and Vischer Ferry
Construction of a dam at Crescent to provide waterpower in 1907 formed a 5-mile with flat water lake between Crescent and Vischer Ferry.
Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve
Launch from Clute’s Dry Dock at the eastern end of the Preserve, into the Erie Canal to paddle east for a half-mile to the Mohawk River or west to Wager’s Pond. Launch from Whipple Bridge to explore the 1842 Erie Canal from the causeway a half-mile east of the launch to a point just east of the Lock 19 remnants. At the eastern end, portage across to the 1825 Towpath Trail and a segment of the original “Clinton’s Ditch” which runs a short distance right along Riverview Road. This is the only are along the Erie Canal corridor where you can experience all three eras of the canal from the water.
City of Schenectady Waterfront
An interesting maze of islands to explore sit in the flatwater along the Schenectady waterfront. Several still look like they did three centuries ago when Native Americans in the area used one of the islands now in Riverside Park, as their home base.