Hudson River Park (Pier 66)

W. 26th Street
Per Operator: www.pier66nyc.org

Launch: Yes

Landing: Yes

Site Fee: No

ADA Accessible: Yes

Rental: No

Storage: Yes

Rest Area: Yes

Parking: 3 blocks down at Chelsea Piers

Portage: 3 blocks on the route 9a bike path

Images:

Nearby Locations

View Entire Watertrail Map

By Car

The Pier 66 Boathouse is located on the west side of Route 9a in Manhattan at the corner of west 26th Street.

By Mass Transit

Take the M23 cross-town bus which runs across 23rd Street and stops right in front of Chelsea Piers.

The M23 connects with all major subway lines which stop on 23rd Street: The C/E lines on 8th Avenue, the 1/9 lines on 7th, the F and Path Trains on 6th, the N/R on Broadway and the 6 line on Lexington.

Points of Interest: In addition to Hudson River Park itself, where the Pier is located, nearby points of interest are many. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (when it returns in 2009) at 45^th street, the George Washington Bridge at 178^th Street, the Manhattan skyline itself which of course stretches all along the Hudson, Riverside Park which starts around 59^th Street, natural beaches on the NY side just south of the GWB and on the NJ side in Hoboken, Edgewater (adjacent to the Mitsuwa Asian food court and supermarket which is a great lunch stop) and several above the GWB including that at Palisades State Park which has public bbq’s and rest facilities.

Typical Day Paddle:

o Paddle North on the Hudson from 26^th Street, up the NY side, toward the magnificent GWB. Rest stops along the way might include the boathouse at 44^th street which is home to Floating the Apple, the 79^th Street Boat Basin, the soon to be opened 125^th Street pier and the small beach just south of the bridge around 165^th Street. The beach is easily accessible at low water and from there you can take a short walk through the park to visit the Little Red Lighthouse of children’s book fame, which stand just under the bridge. Paddling north from there, you might cross the rover to the NJ side and paddle past (or stop at ) Palisades Park, which boasts beautiful cliffs towering over the water, hiking trails, small beaches and safe landings – a good place to picnic.

o It’s about 8 miles to the bridge and the NJ side beaches are 1-2 miles further north

o This paddle would be suitable for advanced beginner to advanced paddlers, as ferry traffic is lighter than the southerly route, but currents, winds, and weather, plus working waterfront traffic are still concerns.

o Paddle South to the Statue of Liberty:

Cross the Hudson at or around 26^th Street to the Maxwell House Beach. It is now part of a private development but they will soon be opening a human-powered boathouse so it should be a good rest spot soon. This is one of the only remaining natural beaches in the area. From there continue south. About a half mile south you may stop at Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken, where there is a kayak launch. This is good for a rest stop or to pick up something to eat or drink at nearby businesses. Continue south another mile or two and you’ll come to the Morris Canal. The mouth of the historic canal is marked by a huge clock on the shore. The canal is a maze of marinas, so traffic entering and exiting can be heavy. If you proceed west into the canal, you’ll come to a waterside restaurant on the north side, the Sand Bar. This seasonal place offers food and drinks, plus restrooms. Continuing south from the canal, you’ll pass Liberty State Park, before approaching Ellis Island, then Liberty and Statue herself. ***note a 150 yard CG security zone is in place around both Ellis and Liberty Islands!!! Traffic from excursion boats and ferries can be brisk here, so use caution. There is no place to stop at Liberty or Ellis Islands at this time due to the security zone, but if you need a break there is a small beach west of the islands where you can land in Liberty State Park. Food/ drink concession should be available here, as well as restrooms. The Statue of Liberty is about 4 miles from 26^th Street.

Sanctuaries

Hudson River Park is a designated Estuarine Sanctuary that allows human-powered boating in nearly all of its territory from Chambers Street in Tribeca to West 59th Street.

No Access Areas

Boaters must be sure to comply with temporary restrictions dictated by the ongoing construction in the Park, and are not to paddle under park piers or structures for any reason.

Restrictive Conditions

Cruise ship terminals at 46th through 52nd Street, north of the launch site, have a Coast Guard restricted zone of 100 yards around them. There is a ferry terminal between west 39th Street and 40th Street (4 blocks north of the pier) that has very frequent service. Paddlers must use caution when paddling near or crossing in front of the terminal. The use of a marine radio is strongly advised.

Hazardous Launch/Landing Conditions

Reflecting wakes caused by motorized boats are the only hazard and this is usually negligible.

Currents

The Hudson River is a tidal estuary and the tide comes in and out twice each day, varying by about an hour each day. Consult local tide charts for high and low water times daily. Currents, which run in and out twice daily with the tides, can reach up to nearly three knots in each direction at maximum ebb and flood times.

Emergency Landing Points

*Note that much of the river’s edge on the NY side of the Hudson in the vicinity of the launch site is a sea wall and that egress from the water is extremely difficult there.

1. 79th Street boat basin, 2.5miles north
2. 56th Street, 1.5 miles north
3. 44th Street, 1 mile north
4. Surfside 3 marina at Chelsea piers (20th Street) private marina but should allow emergency landings
5. Small beach just south of George Washington Bridge, more easily accessible at low water
6. The Hudson River is approximately one mile wide at 26th Street and there are many private marinas on the NJ side which should allow landing in emergency situations.

Nearest Hospitals

St. Luke’s Roosevelt: 1111 Amsterdam Avenue, (212) 523-4000

St. Vincent’s Hospital: 170 West 12th Street, (212) 604-7000