Enchanted Gardens Canoe Rental

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Let Enchanted Gardens be your host as you canoe or kayak through the spectacular and historic Catskill Mountains and Susquehanna river basin of South Central New York State. Your excursion will take you through the homeland of the ancient Algonquins and the powerful Iroquois Nation. The islands south of Afton (once called Connahunta by the Native Americans) were used by the indians for raising corn, and many artifacts of this long gone civilization have been found there and elsewhere along the river.

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You will also be following the historic route of General James Clinton and the 1779 Clinton-Sullivan expedition, which was intended to counter Indian raids along the New York frontier. General James Clinton's troops came down the Susquehanna River from Otsego Lake, camping on the "Connahunta" islands. Clinton's expedition joined General John Sullivan's forces which had marched up from Easton, Pennsylvania. Together they fought a battle with the Indians and Tories, August 29, at Newtown, near Elmira, New York. Defeat of the Indians was followed by destruction of their villages and their retreat westward. This event is commemorated each Memorial Day weekend with the General Clinton Canoe Regatta in Bainbridge NY.

CP Rail crossing the river

North of Nineveh your route will parallel the former Delaware & Hudson rail line between Albany and Binghamton NY. This line is still active, operated now by CP Rail, so you may see railroad activity during your excursion. Canoe or kayak excursions originating north of Bainbridge will pass under this line as it crosses the Susquehanna.

Below Nineveh you will pass under a turn of the century steel truss bridge where the "Iron Horse" once thundered across the Susquehanna on it's way from the coal fields of Pennsylvania. The trains are gone from this line now, but one day the right of way and this bridge may become part of the Susquehanna River Rail-Trail, which parallels your canoe route to Windsor.

Misty morning on the river

Each season the forested hills rising majestically above the river basin take on a different personality. Deer, Mink, otters, and dozens of species of birds keep you company as you glide down the river.

Self-Guided Canoe or Kayak Camping Excursions

Looking for a beautiful, exciting adventure away from the pressures and rat race of everyday life? Join us here on the river or in our new riverside camping area. It's the ideal mini-vacation for singles, couples, families and groups. The canoeing and kayaking is refreshing, the scenery is spectacular, and you have plenty of time for fishing, bird watching, and photography along the way.

Enchanted Gardens will provide you with shuttle service, canoes or kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and a river map for orientation.

Whether you plan to join us in the spring, summer, or autumn, you won't be disappointed. The river and mountains take on a different and beautiful personality with each season. Many of our friends join us several times each year and discover that the seasonal changes make every trip unique.

Misty morning on the river

Canoe Rental Rates and Trips

We offer top quality rental craft, consisting of 17' Old Town Canoes. Equipment may be rented on a daily or multi-day basis. We offer many trip choices, ranging from 5 to over 100 miles in length. Because changing factors such as river current, weather and wind can determine the best trip to take, it's better to decide that after you arrive. See our Rates and Excursions page for more details.

Dock side

What to Bring

Appropriate dry clothing for the Weather
Dry change of clothes
Sneakers or river shoes
Bathing Suit and towel
Cameras and binoculars
River Map

Click to download our printable river map

(This is an Adobe Acrobat PDF file.)

Please - No Glass Containers!

For Reservations Call:

1-607-693-2755

Or Write Us:

Enchanted Gardens
2975 New York RT. 7
Harpursville, New York 13787

E-Mail: info@canoerental.net

Directions

Enchanted Gardens Canoe Rental is located 2 miles east of exit 6 (off I-88) on Route 7.

Map - How to get here

Click for Harpursville, New York Forecast

Last update - February 21, 2012

For technical questions about this site, or to report broken links or other problems, please contact the webmaster at: webmaster@canoerental.net

Susquehanna River Recognized as National Recreation Trail

People have been enjoying the recreational attributes of the Susquehanna River for years, and now it has national recognition for it.

In 2009 the U.S. Secretary of the Interior announced that the North Branch of the Susquehanna River has been designated a National Recreation Trail. It joins over 1,000 other national recreation trails in all 50 states.

The North Branch of the river, begins at the outlet of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York, NY and ends in Sunbury, PA where it merges with the West Branch. The river initially flows about 90-miles through New York State, through Nineveh, home of Enchanted Gardens Canoe Rental and Camping. From there it continues on to the Pennsylvania state line. In New York the river meanders through Otsego, Chenango and Broome counties and serves as the border between Otsego and Delaware counties for several miles near Sidney, NY. Once it enters Pennsylvania it flows some 20 miles west, then back north again to recross the New York state line and flow through Binghamton.

Besides the scenic beauty of this majestic river, most people are drawn to the Susquehanna for canoeing, kayaking or fishing. If it's fishing you're after, be ready to catch some bass, smallmouth, muskellunge, catfish and walleyes.

Traversing down the river is relatively easy with many public access points along the river's edge offering easy entry onto the waterway. The access points also offer the perfect opportunity to take a break from your downriver cruise and check out the local towns and all they have to offer.

It is usually best to begin your excursion with an experienced outfitter who can provide the necessary equipment for a safe trip as well as offer river safety tips and point out historical facts and wildlife habitats. Enchanted Gardens Canoe Rental is the premier outfitter for the Susquehanna River in New York State.

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