Where can I kayak in the Catskills?

The most approachable Catskills paddling is on small mountain lakes: in Greene County that means North-South Lake, C.D. Lane Park, Colgate Lake, and Rip Van Winkle Lake. The tidal Hudson runs along the region's eastern edge with launches at Coxsackie, Athens, and Catskill. Nearby options include Onteora Lake near Kingston and the lower Esopus Creek at Saugerties, both in Ulster County, and the permit-only Schoharie Reservoir in Schoharie County.

Is all of this in Greene County?

No, and this site is honest about that. Paddle Greene covers Greene County most deeply. Onteora Lake and the Saugerties Esopus launches are in Ulster County, and Schoharie Reservoir is in Schoharie County; each of those guides is clearly labeled as nearby rather than core Greene County.

Do I need a permit to kayak anywhere in the Catskills?

Mostly no for the lakes covered here, but Schoharie Reservoir is the big exception: it requires a free NYC DEP Access Permit for each person, plus a DEP boat tag and steam-cleaning by a certified vendor before your boat can go in. Some village launches, like those at Saugerties, report permit or nonresident fees. Check the specific guide before you drive.

Which Catskills lakes have kayak rentals?

Seasonal rentals are reported at Rip Van Winkle Lake (Tanners Boathouse), C.D. Lane Park, and North-South Lake, all in Greene County's mountaintop towns. None of these are confirmed by an in-person Paddle Greene review yet, so call ahead for the current season, hours, and pricing before you rely on renting.

Is the Hudson River part of Catskills paddling?

Yes, along the region's eastern edge, but treat it as a different kind of day. The Hudson here is a tidal estuary with reversing current, wind fetch, and boat traffic. It rewards prepared paddlers and is not the default first paddle - the mountain lakes are the calmer starting point.

Destination Guide

Kayaking in the Catskills: A Regional Guide

The Catskills - Greene County first, with labeled nearby options in Ulster and Schoharie counties · Greene County, NY

Desk-researched Confidence: Medium Updated July 23, 2026

Best for

visitors planning a Catskills trip around paddling
picking the right water for your group
an overview before diving into individual guides

Not ideal for

spot-level detail - each linked guide carries that
whitewater or moving-water route planning

Launch & Water

Launch type: varies widely - mountain-lake car-top launches, Hudson River ramps, and permit-only reservoir access; see each guide
Water type: lake

Access & Amenities

Parking: varies by spot - see each guide
Restrooms: varies by spot - see each guide
Fees or permits: varies - several lakes are free access, Schoharie Reservoir requires NYC DEP permits, some village launches report fees; see each guide
Rentals nearby: seasonal rentals reported at several mountaintop lakes; confirm before relying on them

Water Conditions

Motorboat traffic: varies - the mountaintop lakes are no-motor or quiet, the Hudson is shared working water
Wind exposure: varies - sheltered mountain lakes to long Hudson fetch
Current or tide: none on the lakes; the Hudson is tidal with reversing current

More Info

Family-friendly: varies - several mountaintop lakes read family-friendly; the Hudson is not the default family choice
Dog-friendly: varies by site - check each guide

Rating Snapshot

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

Skill considerations

The Catskills offer very different water within a short drive: calm no-motor mountain lakes, a tidal working river, and a permit-only reservoir. Pick the water that matches your group, then read that spot's full guide - they are not interchangeable.

Paddling the Catskills, Starting from Greene County

"Kayaking in the Catskills" mostly means two very different kinds of water a short drive apart: small, calm mountain lakes up in the hills, and the big tidal Hudson along the region's eastern edge. This page is the regional overview - it routes you to the right guide rather than repeating the details. Paddle Greene covers Greene County most deeply, so that is where this guide starts, with the nearby out-of-county options clearly labeled.

This is a desk-researched routing page. Every spot links to its own guide with a field-review status, confidence level, and a list of what still needs verification. Access, fees, rentals, and rules change - confirm on the linked guide and with the managing agency before you go.

The mountaintop lakes (Greene County)

The heart of easy Catskills paddling is the cluster of small lakes in Greene County's mountaintop towns - Hunter, Windham, Tannersville, Haines Falls, and Jewett. Four have full guides:

North-South Lake near Haines Falls - the bigger state-campground experience, scenic and busier in season.
C.D. Lane Park in Maplecrest - the most family-friendly pick, a no-motor town-park lake.
Colgate Lake near Jewett - the quietest, an undeveloped no-motor lake with no facilities.
Rip Van Winkle Lake in Tannersville - the easiest no-gear option, with seasonal Tanners Boathouse rentals reported.

The mountaintop lake comparison puts all four side by side.

The Hudson River edge (Greene County)

The Hudson runs the length of Greene County's eastern border, with launches at Coxsackie, Athens, and Catskill. It is rewarding, scenic - and tidal, with reversing current, real wind fetch, and shared boat traffic. Start with the Hudson River destination guide and read the Hudson safety guide before planning a river day. If you are newer to paddling, the mountain lakes are the better first stop.

Ulster County options (just outside Greene County)

Onteora Lake near Kingston (Ulster County - just outside Greene County) - a small, carry-in lake with an undeveloped shoreline where gas motors are not allowed, only electric. No fee is reported, but verify current DEC rules.
Saugerties and the lower Esopus Creek (Ulster County - just outside Greene County) - village launch points on the lower creek near the Hudson confluence. Permits or nonresident fees may apply at village launches, so confirm before going.

Schoharie County: the permit-only reservoir

Schoharie Reservoir near Gilboa and Prattsville (Schoharie County - just outside Greene County) is NYC DEP water and works completely differently from a show-up-and-paddle lake: each paddler needs a free DEP Access Permit, and each boat needs a DEP tag and steam-cleaning by a certified vendor before it can launch. Strictly non-motorized, hand-carry only at designated sites. Plan this one well ahead.

Quick comparison

Spot	County	Water	Character	Field review
North-South Lake	Greene	Lake	State campground, scenic, busier	Desk-researched
C.D. Lane Park	Greene	Lake	Family town park, no motors	Desk-researched
Colgate Lake	Greene	Lake	Quiet, undeveloped, no motors	Desk-researched
Rip Van Winkle Lake	Greene	Lake	Village lake, seasonal rentals reported	Desk-researched
Hudson River corridor	Greene	Tidal river	Working river, prepared paddlers	Desk-researched
Onteora Lake	Ulster	Lake	Small, carry-in, no gas motors	Desk-researched
Saugerties / Esopus	Ulster	Creek	Village launches, possible fees	Desk-researched
Schoharie Reservoir	Schoharie	Reservoir	DEP permit + boat tag required	Desk-researched

What this page does not cover (yet)

The Catskills are bigger than this list. Delaware and Sullivan county waters and the Ashokan area are beyond Paddle Greene's current coverage, and we would rather say that plainly than pad the map with thin pages. Coverage grows as verification allows - the where to paddle index always shows the current picture.

What to check before you go

Whatever you pick, run the conditions checklist first: wind, water temperature, access, and - for the Hudson - tide and current. Then the basics in Before You Paddle. Every spot here is desk-researched unless its guide says otherwise, so treat details as things to confirm, not promises.

Browse everything on the map, and if you have paddled any of these recently, send an update - firsthand reports are how a desk-researched page earns a stronger label.

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.

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.

Spot-level access, fees, rentals, and rules - see each linked guide's own verification list

Source notes

This is a desk-researched routing page over individual Paddle Greene guides. Every spot-level fact comes from the linked guide, which carries its own field-review status, confidence level, and verification list.
Paddle Greene's coverage is Greene County first. The wider Catskills (Delaware and Sullivan county waters, the Ashokan area) are not yet covered; this page says so rather than padding the map.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I kayak in the Catskills?: The most approachable Catskills paddling is on small mountain lakes: in Greene County that means North-South Lake, C.D. Lane Park, Colgate Lake, and Rip Van Winkle Lake. The tidal Hudson runs along the region's eastern edge with launches at Coxsackie, Athens, and Catskill. Nearby options include Onteora Lake near Kingston and the lower Esopus Creek at Saugerties, both in Ulster County, and the permit-only Schoharie Reservoir in Schoharie County.
Is all of this in Greene County?: No, and this site is honest about that. Paddle Greene covers Greene County most deeply. Onteora Lake and the Saugerties Esopus launches are in Ulster County, and Schoharie Reservoir is in Schoharie County; each of those guides is clearly labeled as nearby rather than core Greene County.
Do I need a permit to kayak anywhere in the Catskills?: Mostly no for the lakes covered here, but Schoharie Reservoir is the big exception: it requires a free NYC DEP Access Permit for each person, plus a DEP boat tag and steam-cleaning by a certified vendor before your boat can go in. Some village launches, like those at Saugerties, report permit or nonresident fees. Check the specific guide before you drive.
Which Catskills lakes have kayak rentals?: Seasonal rentals are reported at Rip Van Winkle Lake (Tanners Boathouse), C.D. Lane Park, and North-South Lake, all in Greene County's mountaintop towns. None of these are confirmed by an in-person Paddle Greene review yet, so call ahead for the current season, hours, and pricing before you rely on renting.
Is the Hudson River part of Catskills paddling?: Yes, along the region's eastern edge, but treat it as a different kind of day. The Hudson here is a tidal estuary with reversing current, wind fetch, and boat traffic. It rewards prepared paddlers and is not the default first paddle - the mountain lakes are the calmer starting point.

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