An "In-Progress" Coastal Sea Kayaking Guide and Map to Long Island, NY - Places I've Paddled

View Jim's Long Island Sea Kayaking Locations in a larger map


Icons on the map show places I've paddled on Long Island, mostly coastal. Although I don't live on Long Island (surprising now that I look at my map), the Long Island coast has a different, exposed feel to it that is a nice diversion from the rocky shoreline of mainland NY/CT I typically paddle. I've  included some notes on parking fees. Hope to expand on this post with updates to fill in some of the empty spaces on the map I’ve yet to paddle, including: Peconic River; Connetquot River; Carmen’s River; Gardiner’s Island.  Stay tuned...


1. Breezy Point – good place to catch surf and feel the ocean swell near NYC, easy put-in off Belt Pkwy at Plum Beach parking lot, free parking.

2. East Rockaway Inlet – launch at Silver Point County Point (in off-season no fee and few people). Been there only once, hope to return.

3. Buttermilk Channel and Valentino Park, Brooklyn - launch from Liberty State Park (NJ), paddle past the Battery - check out the current east of Governor’s Island and land in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Atlantic Kayak Tours runs this trip - a favorite of mine in NY Harbor. Link to photos.

4. Throgs Neck Bridge – I've crossed over from the mainland from City Island (to east) or Soundview Avenue (to west) - so not technically a real LI kayak trip that way, but I'm told there's a launch in the park at the Long Island side of the bridge too. Urban kayaking at its best.

5. Manhasset Bay – in the off-season, I launch from New Rochelle/City Island and cross the sound to reach this bay (3+ miles). If launching from LI, Manorhaven Town Park has a nice kayak launch on the Bay that I've inspected, free parking. Nice area with sandy cliffs – you immediately see the difference from the rocky shores of Westchester.

6. Glen Cove Shoreline – big public beach and boat launch at Tappan Beach off Shore Road (parking fee in season) or Garvey’s Point Rd Boat Launch (free parking) or East Beach Drive beach (parking fee in season) or Creek Beach in Bayville (parking fee in season). Welwyn Preserve shoreline, Frost Creek Tidal Creek – very nice paddling. See link to photos and to a more in-depth map of this area: Oyster Bay Kayak Launch Map.  Oyster Bay Kayak Launch Map

7. Jones Inlet – launch from Town Marina (free) just west of Loop Parkway. Head out inlet to SW, look for fun/friendly surf about ½ mile offshore. My most frequent venue for paddling ocean surf - photos from a recent trip.

8. Oyster Bay – launch at Theodore Roosevelt Park (south) or Center Island Village Park (north) - both free to park when I visited – Mill Neck Marsh a great spot to paddle.  Also you can easily circumnavigate the Centre Island peninsula with a short portage over Centre Island Rd back to the Park's parking lot. See link to photos and to my detailed map of this area: Oyster Bay Kayak Launch Map.

9. Fire Island Inlet – small parking area under the loop of Robert Moses Causeway bridge (north side) or off Oak Beach Rd (to south). Both launches require huffing it down some rip-rap unfortunately. Nice rip current and gentle surf at end of barrier beach overlap. Significant boat traffic to watch for.

10. Lloyd Harbor and Caumsett State Park – peninsula lends itself to a circumnavigation, easy ½ day paddle, including a very short portage. Just don’t park on West Neck Rd or you’ll get a ticket like I did. The nearby State Park or Target Rock Federal Wildlife Refuge have parking, then walk back to your boat. Hobart Beach on Eatons Neck looks to be a good launch but I’ve not done it yet.

11. Sunken Meadow State Park and Nissequogue River – kayak launch at Nissequogue State Park or Old Dock Road (parking fee for both). Great river trip upstream to public launch at W. Jericho Tpk. Link to my photos and outfitter info here.

12. Port Jefferson – launch at road by McAllister County Park (no parking there sadly/amazingly) so you  risk a ticket for onstreet parking unless you sweet-talk a policeman as I did. Nice bay and exposed spit of sand with Port Jeff ferry coming by. Better places to park at southern end of harbor I expect.

13. Moriches Inlet – launch at end of Bay Ave or Atlantic Avenue – paddle southwards past islands on the way to the inlet, some of the bumpier water when ebb meets incoming waves. Link to photos.

14. Shinnecock Inlet – public "Road I" just west of inlet free off-season parking, short paddle from there to the narrowest LI barrier beach inlet with current that moves fast (park-and-play at max ebb).

15. Shelter Island north – launch from parking lot and beach at end of Manhasset Ave (free off season). Access to the north shore of Shelter Island or head east to the lighthouse and beach extending from Orient Beach State Park.

16. Shelter Island south – launch from the ferry dock at South Ferry Road in Northport (free but crowded). Fun currents and pristine shores of Smith Cove.

17. Three-Mile Harbor – launch from Maidstone Park (free), small harbor to poke around in. Due to its narrow inlet, there can be fun waves to play in at the inlet with an incoming, north wind.

18. Orient Beach State Park and Plum Gut – parking lot at Ferry Terminal (always crowded) or Orient Beach State Park (preferred but small fee in season). The Race flows off Orient Point (see photo), with incoming swell at max ebb there can be fun rides by the lighthouse or close to Plum Island (experienced paddlers only). The bayside (north side) of Orient Beach State Park is activily used by kayaks for good reason - beautiful place to paddle.

19. Acabonack Harbor – launch from Gerard Drive (free) on north side of inlet to harbor. Beautiful tidal marsh and good access to Gardiners Bay. Preferred launch for a trip out to Gardiners Island.

20. Napeague Harbor – launch off Lazy Point Road (free but avoid no-parking signs), wide open space with few boaters, protected lands around, solitude and wildlife. See some photos of a recent trip.

21. Montauk Harbor – launch at Gosman’s Dock, end of Flamingo Ave (free but iffy/crowded). Access to ocean swells or explore Montauk Lake and the active fishing community. Among my favorite places to paddle. Link to my montauk post.

22. Montauk Point – launch from 4x4 access near lighthouse (State Park Fee) or paddle from Ditch Plains (Town Parking Permit  needed in season) or Camp Hero (Seasonal Fishing Permit to access water). Consistent line of NW waves to ride at north side of light. Exposed and wonderful, skilled paddlers only.

23. New "Old" Inlet - As a result of Hurricane Sandy (10/2012), the historic inlet here reopened. You can paddle west from Smith Point County Park to here. Amazing display of nature's power. Link to my post on "Old" Inlet.

24. Little Gull Island - Paddling northeast from Orient Point, past Plum Island (Federally-owned NO LANDING) one passes Great Gull Island (again NO LANDING as it is owned by the AMNH as an endangered bird habitat) you eventually reach Little Gull Island – where you CAN land.  Great trip – you can see seals our here in the Springtime.  Photo from a 2009 trip here. 

25. Eatons Neck - Free parking (it seems) at Hobart Beach (when I was there in September no problem)  - although most of the North Shore requires Town Parking Permits so check. Nice coastline up to the north towards the Coast Guard Station.