Paddles Up Niagara
19th Annual Paddles Up Niagara Saturday July 26, 2025
(Rain date set for July 27, 2025)
What: Paddles Up Niagara is a family friendly and safe way to experience the natural areas and unique habitats of the Niagara River. Whether you are a novice or an experienced paddler, you will enjoy spending the morning with an enthusiastic paddling community. Guides and safety paddlers will be on hand to assist and answer your paddling questions. Continue the celebration by visiting with the many exhibitors and vendors to learn more about our waterways and greenspaces. Stick around for some refreshments and free prize drawings!
Where:
Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island, NY
Check in at Shelter 2B
Thank you to our sponsors:
Click on maps above to enlarge images
Registration
In order to communicate important messages with participants, such as a cancellation due to weather, a free account setup is required with the Grand Island Town Recreation Department.
When: Saturday July 26th 2025
7:00 AM - Eco-tour Lite
Tour Guide: Paul Leuchner - Check in and launch from East River Marsh
This tour will have all the wildlife viewing but with less paddling. It is meant for beginners or those who are more interested in learning about the habitat. This tour will take up to 1 hour and is for people age 12+.
7:00 AM - Eco-tour #2
Tour Guide: Joe Menter - Check in at Shelter 2B and launch from beach
7:30 AM - Eco-tour #3
Tour Guide: Erin Redding - Check in at Shelter 2B and launch from beach
The eco-tours #2 and #3 begin at Beaver Island beach and are a bit longer and more strenuous than the Eco-tour Lite. They are meant for more intermediate to advanced paddlers. These tours can take up to 2 hours. Both Eco-tour #2 & #3 are for people age 12+
All Eco-tours are designed to be smaller in size, so everyone can hear the guide interpret plants and animal life as they guide the group through habitats around Beaver Island. Spaces are limited so please register early and only if you know you can attend. IF your plans change, PLEASE cancel your reservation, so someone else can have your spot. Please be ready to depart from launch site 10 minutes prior to start time. Each eco-tour is limited to 15 participants each. All youth participants must be accompanied by an adult.
8:00 AM - Eco-tour Hike
Tour Guides: Edward Fuchs and Joanne Schlegel
The Eco-tour Hike will be lead by members of the Niagara Frontier Botanical Society, it will begin at shelter 2B and walk to River Lea and the Allenton Farm. From there it will continue on down the East River Trail, to the Kayak launch and then return to shelter 2B. The expert guides will identify and discuss trees, shrubs and flowering plants along the way. It is an easy walk on level ground. This hike is limited to 16 participants. If you register and your plans change, PLEASE cancel, so we can open up a spot for someone on the waiting list.
8:00 AM & 8:30 AM - Kayak Trial Sessions
Instructors: Liz Nelson & Holly Henderson
These sessions are offered by NY State Parks staff, who perform regular learn to Kayak sessions throughout the summer. If you have ever wondered what it would feel like to sit in a kayak in the water, now is your chance to experience just that! Our expert trainers will walk you through how to get into a kayak and how to paddle correctly. Kayaks and PDFs will be provided. If you decide to participate in the Fun Paddle you can rent a Kayak from Blue Water Marina, information below. These sessions are offered to anyone age 10 and up and are limited to 10 participants at a time. The sessions will be taking place at the Beaver Island Beach launch site, near shelter 2B.
10:30 AM - Fun Paddle!!
The large Fun Paddle leaves from Beaver Island beach goes past the Marina, around Little Beaver Island, and then back to the launch site. This is session is unique because it is a very large group, possibly the largest in NY State all launching at the same time! We have safety paddlers to help guide the group along the route and the Park Police and GI Fire Department on motor boats to keep motor boats away from the paddlers. All youth participants under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Environmental Exhibitors & Vendors
Make sure to visit the many organizational partners that will be exhibiting important water safety equipment & information, sharing environmental resources and other interesting facts about our unique and precious natural resource that surrounds WNY, our Great Lakes and the Niagara River! Participating organizations include; Citizen Coalition for Wildlife & Environment, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, WNY Land Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Black Rock Riverside Alliance, WNY PRISM, Department of Environmental Conservation, Niagara Region Parks Interpretive, Niagara Frontier Surfrider, Ladders to the Outdoors, Buffalo Museum of Science, Erie County Climate Action, PureSky Energy, Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm, CW Native Botanicals and Buffalo Maritime Center.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Live Canoe Paddle Carving by Buffalo Maritime Center -
A longtime member of the BMC & skilled craftsman, Jonathan Thornton, will show off his hand tools that are used to shape wooden canoe paddles, as he does a live carving demonstration. You will have an opportunity to sit on a shavehorse, and try out the tools yourself. View a wooden strip canoe and learn how they are made.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Free admission to Grand Island Historical Museum at River Lea!
Paddles Up participants will have the opportunity to step back in time and see what it was like living on Grand Island during the 1800's, when Grover Cleveland's uncle, Lewis Allen, built the mansion, that is now called River Lea. If you have been inside River Lea in the past, you may want to make another visit because it has gone through some changes with new displays. To follow recent developments with the museum and historical society visit: http://www.isledegrande.com/historicalsociety/historicalsociety.php
Where to rent kayaks:
For individuals who don't feel like bringing their own kayak, or for those who are just starting out and need a kayak, please contact Blue Water Marina. They are a trusted partner with quality boats and they bring the kayaks right to the Beaver Island Beach on the day of the event.
Address: 330 East River Rd. Grand Island, NY
Phone: 716-773-7884
website: https://www.bluewatermarinagi.com/
Refreshments:
The Lions Club of Grand Island will be grilling food on site to help raise funds for the many good community service projects they complete every year.
The Rotary Club of Kenmore will be offering adult beverages within the designated shelter for those over 21, all proceeds will benefit their numerous community projects.
The Venus Food Truck will be offering fine Greek & Mediterranean foods!
Important Must Do's:
Personal Flotation Device
1.
All paddlers MUST wear a zipped up coast guard approved lifejacket, anyone who refuses to wear a lifejacket will not be permitted to paddle with the group. Lifejackets must be worn properly.
Sound Producing Device
2.
Paddlers should bring a whistle on their watercraft. NY State Parks Marine Services will have some to pass out at the event. If you are in need of assistance on the water, blow your whistle and wave your arms or paddle in the air to alert the safety paddlers.
Follow the Course
3.
Paddlers must follow the designated course and display their numbers on their boat or lifejacket. Race type bibs with numbers will be supplied on the day of the event.
Organizing Partners:
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