The Best New Jersey Kayaking Adventure Trips

Kayaking In Northern New Jersey

Black River
Pleasant Hill Road bridge - Access point.
Launch upstream on Pleasant Hill Road and take a leisurely 3-mile paddle to the take-out point in the Wildlife Management Area parking lot. The Black-Lamington River flows through Hacklebarney State Park. The shallow, slow-moving river is perfect for a lazy afternoon outing.
A 12 mile river that flows through scenic woods and marshland, winding back and forth through tall reeds and grasses. Spring time is the best season to explore the Black River by kayak as the waters run high from the winter run off.

Cranberry Lake
Sussex County, NJ
Allamuchy State park borders the southern end and offers a remote and pristine exploration of coves and inlets, where mountains rise sharply from the lake. Bring your own Kayak. A three mile water trail on the Musconetcong River is available for canoes, kayaks and rowboats. The trail is between Waterloo Road at Route 80 and the Saxton Falls Dam.
A public boat launch is available at Cranberry Lake.

Lake Hopatcong
Jefferson Township, NJ
Being on New Jersey's largest lake means that there are plenty of places for kayakers to paddle and explore.
Lakeview offers Kayak rentals, and has a boat ramp for launching kayaks.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Columbia, New Jersey
Located in the northwest corner of New Jersey, the park runs along 40 miles of the Delaware River, including where it cuts through a ridge in the Appalachian Mountains to form the famed “gap.” The park is a magnet for kayak enthusiasts.

Delaware River - Kittatinny to Belvidere
Comparable to the upper sections of the Delaware, you will paddle through a few more, and bigger, waves to add to the excitement.
Kayak East Tours offers tours for the novice up to experts.

Hackensack River Water Trail
Laurel Hill County Park
Secaucus
Launch and retrieve kayaks at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus. River access is free and available to boaters with craft up to 24 feet in length. They offer fifty-two canoes and kayaks for rental.

Kayak on the Hudson River in Hoboken
Launch from the The Hoboken Cove Boathouse. All of their activities are free and open to the public. The kayaking season at Maxwell Place begins in late May and runs through September (weather permitting). They have free kayaking programs during the season. Kids under 16 can paddle with a parent or an adult over 18. They supply the kayaks, paddles, and life jackets. Located at the intersection of Frank Sinatra Drive and Maxwell Place on the Hoboken waterfront.

Kayaking The Hackenck River
Laurel Hill County Park
Paddle this preserved section of the Hackensack River and explore the tidal waters of the grassy Meadowlands. Meander through miles of creeks surrounded by salt marshes and other habitats. Enjoy wildlife-watching, migratory birds, diamond back terrapins, and scenic views of NYC in the tranquility of this unique urban wilderness.

Liberty Island Kayaking
Liberty State Park, Jersey City Launch site
Come explore the natural beauty of the Hudson River Estuary by kayak. Tours will embark from the canoe/kayak launch located at the south side of Liberty State Park near the Park Office and will highlight the local wildlife and habitats of Caven Point. Trips will run approximately two hours and will include a brief safety and paddle instruction. No prior paddling experience is required however participants need to be comfortable navigating in relatively deep water.

Merrill Creek Reservoir
34 Merrill Creek Road
Washington, NJ
Paddle past the red pine and cedar-lined shore forests and fields amongst wildlife and water fowl, where you will find mergansers, king fishers, pileated woodpeckers, bald eagles, white-tailed deer, muskrat, hawks and herons.
kayaks must be launched from the boat ramp on the east side of the reservoir. The Boat Ramp is open from Sunrise to Sunset. The ramp will remain open year round, unless it is inaccessible due to ice

Monksville Reservoir
Ringwood, NJ
Kayak Rentals
Near Ringwood State Park, the undeveloped shores of this lake create a peaceful location for paddlers looking to get away from it all. In the northwest corner of the reservoir you can float through flooded standing timber, and experience in the now-weathered trunks.This horseshoe shaped reservoir with steep forested banks isolate you from the outside world as you paddle and enjoy the beautiful natural settings all around. It's especially scenic in the autumn when great walls of color make it especially beautiful.

Overpeck Park
Leonia, NJ
Canoe/kayak launch into Overpeck Creek
The park straddles Overpeck Creek, forming a lake. and is one of the best places to learn, because it’s protected and calm.

Lower Passaic River Blueway
Find the locations of put ins, take outs, portages, mileage and other useful information you'll need to know if you plan to kayak or canoe in the Passaic River.

South Branch of the Raritan River - Ken Lockwood Gorge
The Ken Lockwood Gorge is one of the State's most picturesque wildlife areas with a river that has areas for both beginners and more experienced kayakers. The more experienced route consists of about 3 miles of rapids. There are no boats available for rent on the South Branch.
The paddling the gorge is for the more experienced kayaker. It consists of about 3 miles of class III mixed boulder garden and ledge rapids.
There are no boat liveries on the South Branch so you must come prepared with your own boats and shuttle system.
Suggested access points: Put-in: 40.706402 ,-74.861801 Take out 40.681801 ,-74.877899
Hoffman's Crossing Bridge has a gravel parking spots and is the typical put-in. You can also put in about 1/4 mile downstream on river left. There is a State Park parking area with a few spots. For take out, paddle down to Lake Solitude. There is a gravel parking spot along river road at the head of the lake,

Split Rock Reservoir
Splitrock Road
Boonton, NJ
The Split Rock reservoir is a scenic water body ringed by hills and rock cliffs, with several islands. It's approximately 4 miles at it's widest point, with a dam/bridge on the south side, and a large island about halfway in.
The reservoir and surrounding land is owned by the State of New Jersey and the public may access the water body for kayaking from the public access parking area located near the dam.
Directions: Route 80 to exit Hibernia 37. Go north on Green Pond Road for 6.7 miles. (Pass Lake Telemark on left). Turn right onto Upper Hibernia Road (across from Marcella Community Center on left). After 1 mile, turn left onto Split Rock Road. Drive 1.2 miles to parking lot and put in location which is shortly after crossing over the dam. Split Rock Road is unpaved, with many potholes. Drive carefully.

Swartswood Lake
Newton, NJ
Paddle the perimeter of this glacially-formed lake for 5-6 miles and get to see two small islands, an old grist mill, a few homes and perhaps a Bald Eagle

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge
Experience the great diversity of habitats that makes the refuge unique. Paddle through beautiful floodplain forests, wet meadows which are maintained by seasonal flooding, and under tall rock cliffs. Access points are where Rt. 642 crosses the Wallkill River in Wantage, Rt. 565 (Glenwood Road) in Vernon, New Jersey, about one-half mile north of the Rt. 23/Rt. 565 intersection.

Wayawanda Creek
Launch just off Rte 94 on Jockey Hollow Road at the bridge in New Milford, New York.
While ninety-five percent of your paddling will be on the New Jersey side of the border, your automobile shuttle trip will never leave New York State. The road trip is about five minutes. The canoe trip is four to six hours.
The launch site at Wawayanda Creek on Jockey Hollow Road is just a few yards below a feeder creek that adds flow via extensive drainage from Wawayanda Mountain. A few yards below, a larger creek, the outflow from Wawayanda Lake and drainage from Wawayanda State Park's great laurel bogs, doubles the volume of the river.
Although there are a variety of possible launch points from which a valley tour can begin, a complete loop roughly copies the shape of a horseshoe. This means that instead of driving a long straight line down river to place a pick-up vehicle, you simply drive across the horseshoe. It is a canoeist's dream; short drive for a long paddle.

Wawayanda Lake
Hewitt, NJ
Paddle this lake in the fall and experience this glacially formed lake in an Atlantic white cedar swamp and mixed oak-hardwood forest at it's best with scenic fall foliage. It is also home to many animals including deer, beaver, black bear and river otter.
Launch Site: From Route 23 north to Union Valley Road, Follow Union Valley Road about 6 miles to stop sign, At stop sign, proceed to second traffic light, Turn left, proceed ahead approx. 2 miles, to fork in road, bear left about 1/2 mile to Warwick Turnpike, turn left on Warwick Turnpike, proceed 4 miles, the park entrance is on the left, proceed approx 1.5 miles, and turn left into first parking area. Go past the first parking area and follow road to boat ramp parking area.

White Lake Natural Resource Area
120 Stillwater Rd
Hardwick, NJ
White lake is a NJ spring fed lake treasure! This easy paddle with exceptionally clear blue water down to the white bottom will feel like your in another land.
Continue down the driveway past the parking lot to drop your boat at the launch, and then park your vehicle back at the lot. Restrooms: Portable toilet in the parking lot.
The park offers a limited number of kayaks by reservation only (free).
This 394 acre preserve is owned by the County of Warren. White Lake itself is a deep 69-acre spring fed water body. Beneath the clear blue water lays a chalky marl bottom composed of freshwater mollusk shells and clay. Set out on your kayak or canoe and enjoy the crystal clear waters of the lake..
The White Lake Natural Resource Area has been officially designated as a National Geographic Geotourism Destination.