New Chemung River Basin online paddle guide/maps have it all

A better way to paddle, fish and enjoying our local rivers is now just a mouse click away.
A new online paddle guide at www.chemungriverfriends.org – sponsored by the Friends of the Chemung River, or Chemung River Friends – features interactive maps and information about the Chemung, Cohocton, Tioga and Susquehanna rivers.
The maps show the locations of public boat launches, their GPS coordinates, distances between the launches, real time river levels and weather forecasts. The maps also include nearby roads, highways and municipalities — making it easier for first-time users to drive to the launch sites.
Click on a launch site and you get a boatload of information, including: the launch name, the river, nearest municipality, details about the boat ramps, access roads, parking spaces, restrooms, pavilions, picnic tables, benches, camping and picnicking.
The paddling guide and maps were developed over the last year by the Chemung River Friends. The guide and maps were available online starting June 22.
“Our website now offers the most detailed and comprehensive source of information available about our rivers and how to best use and enjoy them,” said Jim Pfiffer, director of the Chemung River Friends. “The online guide and maps make it easier to plan your river recreation, to get to launch sites, and to make your river experiences safer and more fun.”
Each launch site page includes a satellite view of the launch, pictures of the site from land and the water, and beautiful scenic photographs of the waterways and their plant and animal life.
Many of the launch sites include a watercolor painting of the site by Corning artist and Chemung River Friends board member Jennifer Fais.
You can also use the guide and maps to find helpful tips on paddling safety and river advice, and learn about nearby parks, business and tourist attractions and local history and river lore.
“Our new website paddling guide will help attract tourists to our region and remind local folks of what gorgeous and accessible natural resource and recreation opportunities we have in our rivers,” Pfiffer added.

For information on additional places to paddle in the southern tier & throughout the Finger Lakes region, pick up a copy of the guidebook “Take A Paddle – Finger Lakes New York Quiet Water for Canoes & Kayaks.”

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Long Rivers to Paddle in the Central NY & the Southern Tier

By Sue Freeman

Are you aching to dip that paddle in a stream and cover some ground? You’re in luck in the Finger Lakes region. The rivers here aren’t wide, deep, fast moving behemoths that the term “river” may conger in your mind.  They are significant waterways but the shores are close by and the currents are generally helpful, not menacing (except during spring melt of course). I loved paddling the rivers here. You can get a cadence going and meld into a trance as the countryside drifts by.

In the upper reaches of these rivers they can be creek-like with twists and turns and obstacles such as downed trees or submerged dams. It’s just enough excitement to keep you alert and on guard.

1. One of the more creek-like rivers is the East Branch Tioughnioga River between Cuyler and Cortland. No day dreaming allowed here. Expect 20 miles of good paddling.
2. The Otselic River begins creek-like in Cincinnatus and is more river-like 14 miles later when it meets the north end of Whitney Point Reservoir. Birds will serenade you on this remote wilderness stream.
3. The Tioughnioga River flows in a wide valley with low banks, providing a panoramic view rimmed with farm-dotted hills. It runs 21 miles from Marathon to Chenango Forks.
4. Running 15 miles from Wallace to Bath, the Cohocton River is an especially beautiful river. This clear water stream flows over a
   

   Enjoy a meander on the Cohocton River

   rocky bottom, and allows you to watch fish as you float or paddle downstream. On route, you pass beautiful, lush scenery and have ample opportunity to take breaks along shore.

Maps and details for each of these long paddling rivers and others can be found in the guidebook “Take A Paddle – Finger Lakes New York Quiet Water for Canoes & Kayaks.”

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