Paddling in Great South Bay near Watch Hill
GENERAL INFORMATION
The best paddling at Fire Island National Seashore is on Great South Bay. However, getting your canoe or kayak to the island is only practical from Robert Moses State Park or Smith Point County Park. A park Ranger told me that there are so many places to paddle on Long Island that are much more convenient that very few people make the effort to do so at Fire Island. I never saw anyone paddling in their own boat during my four days at the park.
WATCH HILL CANOE TRIP
Those visiting Watch Hill have an opportunity to join a Ranger-guided canoe trip through the Fire Island salt marsh—no experience is necessary. Unless the water is rough, trips are held on the weekends from the Fourth of July through Labor Day. You can get a firm schedule by visiting the National Park Service’s official Calendar web page for Fire Island National Seashore.
There is no charge, but you must sign up at the Watch Hill Visitor Center starting at 10 AM on the day of the trip, and everyone who wants to go must be there in person to register. Furthermore, you must register in pairs, for two people at least 16 years old must be in each canoe. When I signed up I told the Ranger that I was by myself, so I was put on the list with the caveat that another single person would also need to register. I lucked out because a family with two adults and two kids had signed up (kids must be at least six years old). Since there had to be two adults in the boat—which leaves room for only one kid in the middle seat—I went with one parent and one kid and a park volunteer went with the other parent and one kid.
Ranger prepares for a canoe trip
The trip is limited to twenty people. I was there on a packed Sunday in mid-July and the trip did not fill up. The Ranger told me that there was room on the Saturday trip as well, which really surprised me (there were fourteen people each day). I don’t want to guarantee anything, but if the trips didn’t fill up on the beautiful weekend when I visited, I don’t know what it would take to do so.
Visitors to Watch Hill enjoy a leisurely canoe trip to the salt marsh
It is advised to wear water shoes because you do get out of the boat on some small grass-covered islands. I forgot mine, but luckily a lady had an extra pair. You can wear your tennis shoes or boots, but chances are that they will get wet.
The trip stays close to the bay-side shore and passes through some inlets and coves in the salt marsh. The water is very shallow—two feet deep in most cases—so even if you can’t swim there’s not much danger. All participants are required to wear life vests.
Paddling along the salt marsh shore at Watch Hill
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Last updated on May 30, 2020
