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Boating

New York State has more than 7,500 lakes, ponds and reservoirs and over 50,000 miles of rivers and streams. Boating on these waterbodies can take the form of canoes, kayaks, personal watercraft, sailboats and motorboats. Many lakes, ponds and streams in the Forest Preserves are restricted to non-motorized boating.

DEC provides many boat access points at campgrounds and fishing access spots in the Adirondack and Catskills. This includes both car top and trailer access sites.

Please remember to wear your life jackets, don't drink and drive, and have a good time.

Note: Boaters and Anglers, please remember that you can help prevent the spread of unwanted aquatic plant and animal species by following these guidelines:

  • Remove all mud and aquatic plants from all gear, boats, motors and trailers before departing from your fishing location.
  • Drain all water including bilges, live wells, and bait tanks before departing from your fishing location.
  • Do not transport fish from one body of water to another.
  • Do not release unused bait into a body of water.
  • Do not dispose of fish carcasses or by-products in any body of water.



More about Boating:

  • Marinas - New York State has over 800 public and private commercial marinas along its coastal zone and connected waterways. This listing of marinas was compiled as a result of an inventory conducted in 1997 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York Sea Grant, and the Empire State Marine Trades Association. The inventory was conducted as part of the state's Clean Vessel Act Program and funded through the Sport Fish Restoration Program.
  • New York State Pumpout Facilities - Boaters are aware of and concerned about pollution threats facing our coastal waters. The primary goal of the Clean Vessel Act(CVA) is to reduce the overboard sewage discharge from recreational boats, and so it provides funds for the construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pumpout stations.
  • Boat Launch Sites - A list of New York State Boat Launching Sites by county.
  • Diving Guidelines for Lake George - Diving the "Sunken Fleet of 1758" and the "Forward" Underwater Classroom are on a first-come, first-served basis. Both are open into the autumn.