What are the best mountaintop lakes to kayak in Greene County, NY?

The four covered here are North-South Lake near Haines Falls, C.D. Lane Park in Maplecrest, Colgate Lake near Jewett, and Rip Van Winkle Lake in Tannersville. They suit different needs - rentals, quiet water, families, or camping/day-use - so the right one depends on what you want.

Which mountaintop lake has kayak rentals?

Rip Van Winkle Lake has Tanners Boathouse rentals (seasonal), C.D. Lane Park reports seasonal on-site rentals, and North-South Lake reports seasonal rentals as well. Confirm current season, hours, and pricing directly before you rely on renting.

Where can I paddle if I am staying in Hunter, Windham, or Tannersville?

Any of the four mountaintop lakes is a short drive from the mountain towns. Rip Van Winkle Lake in Tannersville is the easiest no-gear option, C.D. Lane Park is the most family-friendly, Colgate Lake is the quietest no-motor choice, and North-South Lake is the bigger park and campground experience.

Are the mountaintop lakes good for beginners?

They are calmer than the tidal Hudson and several read as good beginner water, but each guide is still desk-researched by Paddle Greene. C.D. Lane Park is labeled beginner; the others are beginner candidates. Confirm access and rules on each lake's guide, and check wind and water temperature before you go.

Destination Guide

Mountaintop Lake Paddles in Greene County, NY

Greene County Catskills - mountaintop towns (Hunter, Windham, Tannersville, Haines Falls, Jewett) · Hunter / Windham / Tannersville / Haines Falls / Jewett, Greene County, NY

Desk-researched Confidence: Medium Updated July 24, 2026

Best for

visitors staying in Hunter, Windham, Tannersville, or Haines Falls
easy mountaintop lake paddles
rentals and no-gear options
calm-water beginners and families

Not ideal for

anyone wanting Hudson River or moving water
treating all four lakes as interchangeable

Launch & Water

Launch type: various car-top, beach, and hand launches - see each lake's guide
Water type: lake

Access & Amenities

Parking: varies by lake - see each guide (ranges from ~10 cars to 40+ spaces)
Restrooms: varies by lake (C.D. Lane and North-South report seasonal facilities; Colgate has none)
Fees or permits: varies - some are free town/DEC access, others have state-park, town-park, or rental fees
Rentals nearby: seasonal rentals reported at several (Rip Van Winkle / Tanners Boathouse, C.D. Lane, North-South)

Water Conditions

Motorboat traffic: no-motor or quiet on these mountaintop lakes; confirm rules per lake
Wind exposure: sheltered mountain lakes, but open water still catches afternoon wind
Current or tide: none (lakes)

More Info

Family-friendly: yes - these are calmer, family-oriented lakes; see each guide
Dog-friendly: varies by lake

Rating Snapshot

Ratings not yet assigned. These will be added after field review.

Skill considerations

These mountaintop lakes are calmer than the Hudson, but they are not interchangeable: rentals, motor rules, facilities, and beginner-friendliness differ by lake. Use this page to pick the right one, then read that lake's full guide before you go.

Quick Comparison

If you are staying on the mountaintop and want an easy lake paddle, you have four good options - but they are not interchangeable. Use this table to narrow it down, then read the linked guide for the lake you pick. This is a routing page; the full details live on each lake's own guide.

Lake	Town	Motors	Rentals	Field review
North-South Lake	Haines Falls	None (per NYSDEC)	Seasonal (reported)	Desk-researched / Medium
C.D. Lane Park	Maplecrest	None	Seasonal, on site	Desk-researched / Medium
Colgate Lake	Jewett	None	Bring your own	Desk-researched / Medium
Rip Van Winkle Lake	Tannersville	Unconfirmed	Tanners Boathouse (seasonal)	Desk-researched / Medium

Best for Rentals (No-Gear Paddles)

If you do not want to haul a boat up the mountain, two lakes stand out. Rip Van Winkle Lake in Tannersville pairs with Tanners Boathouse, a seasonal rental operation that lets you skip the gear logistics entirely - call ahead to confirm the season, hours, and pricing. C.D. Lane Park reports seasonal on-site rentals too, and North-South Lake reports rentals in season. For the wider rental picture, see Rentals and No-Gear Paddles.

Best for Quiet Water

Colgate Lake near Jewett is the quietest of the four: a no-motor lake with a calm, undeveloped feel and no on-site facilities, which is exactly the appeal for paddlers who want stillness over amenities. North-South Lake is larger and more scenic but busier in season, especially around the campground.

Best for Families

C.D. Lane Park in Maplecrest is the most family-friendly pick: a calm, no-motor town-park lake with a beach launch, a swimming beach, restrooms, and seasonal rentals all in one place. North-South Lake also works well for families thanks to its state-campground facilities, with a little more driving and crowds to plan around.

Best for Camping and Day-Use

North-South Lake near Haines Falls is the bigger park-and-campground experience: a scenic mountain lake inside a state campground with day-use facilities and reported seasonal rentals. It is the natural anchor for a Catskills weekend built around lakes and easy paddling.

What to Check Before You Go

These are lakes, so they are calmer than the Hudson - but "calm" is not the same as "supervised," and conditions still matter:

Rentals and fees: Confirm the season, hours, and pricing directly; several are seasonal and change year to year.
Motor and boat rules: No-motor and personal-boat rules vary by lake. Confirm on the lake's guide.
Wind: Open water still catches afternoon gusts, even on a small mountain lake.
Water temperature: Mountain lakes stay cold into early summer. Dress for the water, not the air.
Access and parking: Capacity and seasonal access differ; check the individual guide.

See Conditions and Before You Paddle before you head out.

Field-Review Status

Every lake here is currently Desk-researched with Medium confidence. That means the access and amenity details are drawn from public sources and each lake's guide, not yet from an in-person Paddle Greene visit. Each guide lists exactly what still needs field verification. For how we label guides, see How we review and label guides.

North-South Lake, C.D. Lane Park, Colgate Lake, and Rip Van Winkle Lake - the full guides
Rentals and No-Gear Paddles
Beginner kayaking in Greene County
Planning around wind? See Windy Hudson Backup Paddles - these mountaintop lakes are the calm-water fallback when the Hudson is rough.

Submit an Update

Paddled one of these lakes recently, or rented from Tanners Boathouse or C.D. Lane? Submit a launch update - current rentals, fees, and access notes help the next visitor plan.

How to use this guide: How to use these guides safely · Before you paddle · Conditions · Map · Field review status · Where to Paddle

Before you launch

Conditions change fast. Paddle Greene gives planning notes, not a promise that any spot is safe today. You are responsible for checking wind, weather, tide, current, water temperature, and your own skill before you launch. Wear a properly fitted life jacket, tell someone your plan, and turn back early when in doubt.

Lake and pond

Wind can still build chop on open lakes. Check the forecast and stay near shore if it picks up.
"Calm" does not mean "supervised." There may be no lifeguard, ranger, or cell service.

What we still need to verify

These details are not yet confirmed for this guide. They are based on desk research or are awaiting a field visit, so treat them as a starting point and confirm before you rely on them.

Current rentals, hours, and pricing at each lake (Tanners Boathouse, C.D. Lane, North-South)
No-motor / personal-boat rules per lake
Parking capacity, restrooms, and seasonal access at each site

Source notes

Lake-by-lake specifics are drawn from each Paddle Greene guide, the NYSDEC Greene County launch pages (https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/boating/launch-sites/greene-county), and the Great Northern Catskills paddling overview (https://www.greatnortherncatskills.com/outdoors/paddling).
This is a desk-researched comparison page. Rentals, fees, motor rules, and seasonal access change; confirm current details on each lake's own guide and with the operator or managing agency before you go.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best mountaintop lakes to kayak in Greene County, NY?: The four covered here are North-South Lake near Haines Falls, C.D. Lane Park in Maplecrest, Colgate Lake near Jewett, and Rip Van Winkle Lake in Tannersville. They suit different needs - rentals, quiet water, families, or camping/day-use - so the right one depends on what you want.
Which mountaintop lake has kayak rentals?: Rip Van Winkle Lake has Tanners Boathouse rentals (seasonal), C.D. Lane Park reports seasonal on-site rentals, and North-South Lake reports seasonal rentals as well. Confirm current season, hours, and pricing directly before you rely on renting.
Where can I paddle if I am staying in Hunter, Windham, or Tannersville?: Any of the four mountaintop lakes is a short drive from the mountain towns. Rip Van Winkle Lake in Tannersville is the easiest no-gear option, C.D. Lane Park is the most family-friendly, Colgate Lake is the quietest no-motor choice, and North-South Lake is the bigger park and campground experience.
Are the mountaintop lakes good for beginners?: They are calmer than the tidal Hudson and several read as good beginner water, but each guide is still desk-researched by Paddle Greene. C.D. Lane Park is labeled beginner; the others are beginner candidates. Confirm access and rules on each lake's guide, and check wind and water temperature before you go.

Know a launch? Help improve the guide.

Paddle Greene gets better when local paddlers share what they know. If you recently visited a launch, noticed a change, took photos, or have safety or access notes, send an update.

Helpful updates include:

Parking details
Launch condition
Restroom availability
Water conditions
Crowding
Beginner-friendliness
Photos
Safety concerns
Nearby food, trails, or local tips

Submit a Launch Update