Sometimes a destination is also the route. In other words, boating on a river is enjoyable whether it leads to somewhere else or it is the entire adventure. Want to know what we mean? Check out these rivers for yourself.
Carmans River
At 10 miles long, the Carmans River in Brookhaven is one of the four largest rivers on Long Island. Fed exclusively from groundwater (and protected by the Long Island Pine Barrens), the first eight miles of the river is fresh water. It then becomes an estuary as it encounters the tidal effects of the Great South Bay.
There are four dams on the uppermost part of the river — Upper Mill Pond, Lower Mill Pond, Southaven Park, and Sunrise Highway. The river empties into Bellport Bay, providing boaters with easy access to the Great South Beach on Fire Island and Moriches Bay.
The Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge is along the Carmans River. This scenic area hosts a variety of habitats including oak-pine woodlands, grasslands, and fresh, brackish, and salt water wetlands. These habitats attract and support many types of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, osprey, muskrat, fox, turtles, frogs and fish. Wertheim also serves as a haven for waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and songbirds.
Carmans River is also home to Tooker’s Boat Yard and The Carmans River Maritime Center.
More information
https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/111624.html and https://www.fws.gov/refuge/wertheim/
Connetquot River
Located just off of Nicolls Bay, this is a typically tranquil river affording boaters views of lush foliage, the former LaSalle Military Academy, and grand homes.
Traveling to this South Shore river can be a bit tricky, especially if the tide is slack and your boat draws more than four feet (like many waterways along Long Island’s southern shore, it’s not deep). The river turns from salt to brackish and then to fresh water the further north you travel. Follow the markers into the river, turn port, and stay to the right. If you want to bypass the marinas, you can drop anchor about a mile up river. Past that point, you’ll want to explore the river in an inflatable or a paddlecraft. The Connetquot River State Park Preserve has an abundance of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, moths, and plants living in the park’s more than 3,400 acres.
After spending a day on the river, you may enjoy dining at the Snapper Inn or View, two restaurants along the shore. Both have transient space for diners. Marinas on the river: Timber Point East Marina, Nichols Point Marina, Oakdale Yacht Club, and Vanderbilt Marina.
More information
https://parks.ny.gov/parks/8/details.aspx and http://www.friendsofconnetquot.org/
Nissequogue River
The Nissequogue River, located on the western side of Smithtown Bay, is over eight miles long. Part of this freshwater river (derived from groundwater) flows through Nissequogue River State Park. The park, a designated State Bird Conservation area, serves as shelter for waterfowl, herons, and egrets, and is along the migration route for songbirds. Amphibians and reptiles also reside in the park’s tidal and freshwater wetlands and hardwood forests. There’s also a Greenbelt Trail, marina, and canoe and kayak launch.
This is a calm river to drop anchor and visit a nearby beach, or to travel along and explore in smaller vessels — Nissequogue becomes too shallow for larger craft to navigate the further south you head up river. Inflatables, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and dinghies can traverse all the way to the south side of Jericho Turnpike in Smithtown (but paddleboarders can’t stand up while passing under the road). Along with the state park facility, there are launch areas near the mouth of the Long Island Sound in Kings Park and on the southern side of Jericho Turnpike in Smithtown.
Timing your Nissequogue River trip is crucial, as a rising tide gives you an advantage while traveling south in the river, but the return trip will be more difficult, so unless you are exploring in an inflatable with a small engine, we’d recommend staying close by. There is a restaurant just south of the ramp in Kings Park. There is no docking, but you can anchor outside of the channel and reach the restaurant via your inflatable.
More information
https://parks.ny.gov/parks/nissequogueriver/maps.aspx
Patchogue River
This river is about one mile. It’s short on scenery but long on shoreline activity. Restaurants: The Oar Steak & Seafood Grille, Off Key Tikki, Dublin Deck Tikki Bar and Grill, Drift 82, and Harbor Crab Company. Marinas: Frank M Weeks Yacht Yard, Leeward Cove Marina, Island View Marina, and West Bank Marina.
Peconic River
The Peconic River is basically a bog near the Brookhaven National Laboratory. It then flows for 15 miles, mainly within the Long Island Pine Barrens, and empties into Flanders Bay.
Most of the river west of Riverhead is shallow, making it accessible only by human-powered crafts and dinghies. Running near the old Navy/Grumman airfield, it is fresh water until it becomes a brackish estuary around mid-Riverhead. The river’s wetlands and dense vegetation provide a great environment for turtles, muskrats, birds, and water fowl. Traveling east the river broadens and ultimately becomes navigable by larger vessels.
There are lots of restaurants in Riverhead that are along the water or a short stroll away. Treasure Cove Marina and the town marina are accessible to recreational boaters. There are launch locations in Riverhead off of West Main Street and at Edwards Avenue on Mill Road.
More information
https://www.peconicestuary.org/discover-the-peconic/on-the-water/ and https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/32019.html
Swan River
Swan River is easily accessible from the Great South Bay. Located between Patchogue River and Mud Creek, this 1.5-mile long and 15-foot wide river is tidal. Swan River is home to several marinas, a water accessible restaurant, and waterfront homes. There’s another community as well — one made up of wildlife and fish.
The river flows south from Swan Lake, passing through forested wetlands, under Montauk Highway, and into the mouth of Patchogue Bay. While construction has encroached upon the river, it remains one of a few free-flowing, spring-fed waterways on Long Island, providing homes for wildlife. Swan River Preserve is located along the river.
Boat docking facilities are limited. Morgan’s Swan River Marina and JT’s Hideaway Restaurant are located just north of the entrance to the Swan River.
More information
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Swan-River-Preserve/332493467208592
NOTE TO READERS: as of press time, no determination has been made as to whether any eateries and facilities mentioned will be operating. Please check for yourself.
