Cold Springs to Bannerman Island

[Bob Smith]

This is a nice 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hour paddle on the Hudson River, we put in at the Metro North station in Cold Springs, NY and paddle north about 2 1/2 miles.

Some info about the island http://www.bannermanisland.com/

There is a beach where you can stop and have lunch or take a break and the views are Great entire way. A note of caution, tides and currents, wind and wakes from motor boats can pose a hazard. stay close to shore.

 

[Trudy]

This is a trip I've been meaning to do.
Thanks for the reminder.
As a back-up plan, is there a launch that is closer to Bannerman's?

 

[Mark Schaefer]

As a back-up plan, is there a launch that is closer to Bannerman's?

Little Stony Point will put you about a mile closer to Bannerman (Pollelpel Island). There is a phone contact for the Little Point park on the link above. I have hiked, but not kayaked there. I noticed that the Kayak rental and tour operators sponsor paddle tours to Little Stony Point. So it is probably OK to start there. There is a gravel/sand beach on the north side of the point. Bear to the right on the loop trail after crossing the bridge over the railroad. There is a small parking area on Route 9D that also serves the Washburn Trail on Bull Hill. There was once a small rock hill on the point that has been quarried into nonexistence. The point does provide nice river level views.

I don't know if there is any river access from the Breakneck Station, north of Breakneck Point. I have heard stories that hikers whacking down to the river near the start of the Breakneck Ridge trail have attracted the attention of NYC water security personnel, as the Catskill Aqueduct pumping station is located there.

 

[Jay H]

There is a launch in Newburgh called Plum Point. It's in the Hudson River watertrail guide which is an awesome guidebook for all things paddling on the hudson, highly recommended!

http://www.hrwa.org/

The last I've heard, the island is off limits except by permit and the couple of kayak outfitters who run tours to the island.

http://www.bannermancastle.org/

Jay

 

[Bob Smith]

Both Mark and Jay provided the closest points to Bannerman's but be careful, you have to cross the river and weekend's are crowded with pleasure boats and jet skis (get an early start).