Paddle adventures begin here...

Grab your canoe, kayak, or SUP (stand-up paddle board) and make Tupper Lake your basecamp for your next paddling adventure!

Tupper Lake is centrally located in the heart of the “10 Rivers Region.” Within a 30-mile radius, you can explore the Raquette River, Cold River, Hudson River, Beaver River, Marion River, Oswegatchie River, St. Regis River, Bog River, Grass River, and the Saranac River. Combine these ten rivers with a vast assortment of hidden ponds, winding streams, and pristine lakes and the product is a perfect paddling playground. From half-day kayak excursions to week-long canoe trips, Tupper Lake will most definitely offer a paddling trip to remember.

Talk to the experts

Are there just so many paddling choices that you're not sure where to begin? Talk to our local guides & outfitters and let them help guide you in choosing your perfect Adirondack paddling adventure.

Tackle the triad!

To combine your paddles with a challenge and earn a cool patch, look into the Tupper Lake Paddling Triad! It's a great way to explore and you'll love the experience!

Love Your ADK

By taking the Love Your Adirondacks Pledge and practicing Leave No Trace ethics you can help ensure that the forests, waterways, and communities of the Adirondacks remain beautiful and unique for generations to come.

Love your ADKs pledge banner showing a hiker standing in the foreground and mountains in the background

 

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Totally Tupper Lake

Paddling Triad 101

You won’t be hiking anything to complete this challenge. All you have to do is get in your canoe, kayak, or SUP and paddle three awesome routes near Tupper Lake!

Totally Tupper Lake

Paddling the Oxbow

Paddling through the waters of Adirondack lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams is a rustic dreamworld, and they are a perfect spot to learn how to paddle. Here are some beginner tips from Anne Fleck, co-owner of Raquette River Outfitters.

Totally Tupper Lake

Raquette River Trifecta: A Day on the Water

Spend a day in Tupper Lake, exploring all things Raquette River. Swing by Raquette River Outfitters, paddle the Raquette River, and top it off with a visit to Raquette River Brewery.

Totally Tupper Lake

Coreys Road Recreation Guide

Coreys Road, between Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, provides extraordinary access to all of the types of recreation that make the Adirondacks special. Learn about the trail systems, paddling routes, and campsites accessible via Coreys Road!

Discover Paddling

Little Tupper Lake (Whitney) Headquarters is off the Sabbattis Road, the entrance road is on the left. A hand boat launch and accessible restrooms are located here. (44.0495?N, 74.5832?W) Google Map (leaves DEC website)
The Little River is roughly 35 miles in length and under many instances quite narrow.
This is a classic flatwater three-to-four day trip through gorgeous wilderness.
Little Tupper Lake is a local favorite, a beautiful spot for fishing, camping, paddling, and more.
This is prime wilderness paddling right outside Tupper Lake, NY!
Raquette Pond lies north of Tupper Lake and is a manmade lake from a dam located just a bit further north. The pond itself is often used as an access point to get to Tupper Lake for extended paddling. The pond is rather large and motorboats are allowed.
The road is very flat and used as a snowmobile trail so it will be hard packed and easy to kick and glide upon. Along the 2.3 miles on Horseshoe Lake Road there are nice views over Horseshoe Lake and some wetland areas. Snowshoeing and Cross-Country...
The start of this paddle is known locally as “The Crusher.” It is an incredibly beautiful paddle that takes you through many interesting environments.
Starting at Axton Landing, you will need to paddle about eleven miles to The Crusher launch where you can take out, or you can keep going and paddle right to the village of Tupper Lake.
Bridge Brook Pond is a gem of a backcountry pond with numerous small bays and tributaries.
Little Wolf Pond is a nice relaxing paddle with a launch point at the public beach. It’s a great destination to sit back and soak up some outstanding weather.
Nicks Pond is easily reached and the footing on the carry is gentle with no elevation change. The shore can be a bit difficult to launch from, but once you are on this small pond it's well worth it.
Horseshoe is possibly the most attractive pond in the Massawepie area and one that might be overlooked the most as well. 
The launch is about 100 foot carry along a path and is flat. This is a very small sheltered pond with calm conditions.      
A visit to Tupper Lake isn't complete without a visit to the lake itself. This expansive, 9-mile long waterbody contains plenty of open water and impressive islands, including 28 miles of shoreline with a variety of bays, coves, and islands to explore.
The carry to Balsam Pond is very easy and flat, you can choose to paddle the pond or bypass it along the extended carry trail to Grass River Flow.
Long Pond is just that, long and a bit narrower than others at Massawepie.
If you're looking for a quiet pond not far from town but also in a wilderness setting, you can't beat Hoel Pond.
The only way to explore Round Lake is by water. With paddling, birding, and camping available, it is difficult to leave until everything has been explored.
Use two cars to make this an amazing spot-trip!
Lake Lila is located south of Tupper Lake on the way to Long Lake. Surrounded by campsites along the shores of Lake Lila, and camp sites available on Spruce Island and Buck Island, this is a great spot to take a multi-day paddle.
Horseshoe Lake is located in the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest. There are three perfect launch locations to choose from, each one gives access to a different part of the lake.
The Raquette River Boat Launch on Route 3, locally known as "The Crusher," offers a variety of day and multi-day excursions, making it one of the most popular paddling destinations in the Tupper Lake region.
At less than a mile long, this pond is a perfect for families and for anyone who wants to stretch their legs.
Carry Falls is the first of many reservoirs created by Brookfield Power on the Raquette River. This rather large body of water is a very mellow paddle, and if it were not for the dam you wouldn't know it was a manmade feature. From the launch you can...
Hoel Pond provides wonderful access to the St. Regis Canoe Area.
A unique heritage strain of wild brook trout are found in Little Tupper Lake and Rock Pond. These waters provide wilderness fishing experiences since no motors are allowed. Both are NO KILL waters where special regulations call for artificial lures only.
A fully accessible wilderness area located near Tupper Lake, it has picnic areas for day trips.
Deer Pond is a very easy access from Massawepie Road and can be launched upon in a couple different locations. Once on the water be sure to scour the shore for seasonal wildflowers.
This unique Triad paddle will guide you through an area that isn’t often explored. Because of the gentle, flatwater nature of this section of the river, it can be popular for paddlers who will enjoy the river's twists and turns.
The Piercefield Flow is a section of the Raquette River that has been flooded due to a hydroelectric dam. Not that this is a bad thing, it makes for some outstanding flatwater paddling and fishing (so don’t forget the pole).
This lake can be paddled all day and not see all it has to offer. Several narrow bays can give you shelter as well as scenic venues for birding and relaxing.
Gentle currents, beautiful views, excellent paddling: this spot is prime!
This is a great pond for first time users and to introduce others to paddling. It is also a nice place to just sit back and relax. It does get some use by local fisherman. 
This remote area has abundant wetlands, including vibrant marsh communities with rare plant species, wildlife viewing opportunities, and plenty of room to canoe and kayak!
This is a great trip for beginning paddlers! Meandering through streams, ponds, and rivers to get to Axton Landing will take you about half of a day. There are no portages, and there are great swimming and picnic spots.
This area is open for fishing and paddling from September 1 through June 14 each year.
This pond is a popular destination for fisherman as well as paddlers. The northern shores are brush and grass lined while the south side is forested, leaving opportunities for birding and wildlife viewing.
Boottree Pond is narrow and its construction keeps it well protected by the trees, making this a calm flatwater paddle.
Star Lake is public to all but this small sliver of land is privately owned. This access is your only available route to the lake. Once on the lake you have to be committed to your boat for the duration, there is no place to take shore leave. However,...
Explore the wild waters of Pine Pond on the Massawepie Conservation Easement.
This section of the Bog River is very scenic, but you can only go upstream so far.  
The remote and serene backcountry paddle into Lows Lake is the perfect spot for a multi-day paddling trip. It's a motorboat-free location with 39 primitive campsites, and it's also one of the largest nesting areas for loons in the state.
Town Line Pond gets heavy winds and at times has produced small whitecaps as bad weather rolls through the region.     
Dead Creek Primitive Area offers the chance to get close to nature in a narrow, winding paddle through shallow marshlands. How to get there Drive north on State Route 3 from Tupper Lake for 8.5 miles. There is a pull-off and picnic area to your left...

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