What is a Water Trail?
A water trail, or blue way, is a stretch of river that has been mapped out with the intent to create an educational, scenic, and challenging experience for recreational canoers and kayakers. They allow access to waterways for non-motorized boats and sometime motorized vessels, innertubes, and other craft. Water trails often connect users with additional amenities ashore such as camping, wildlife viewing and other facilities for boaters.
"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." Greek Proverb
New York’s Southern Tier Water Trail
New York’s Southern Tier Water Trail is a conceptual project intent on connecting outdoor recreation enthusiasts with water access in New York’s Southern Tier. The Chemung and Susquehanna river basins comprise over 190 miles of navigable waters, when combined with their tributaries, total well over 400 miles of potential water trail access. Combine that with access to the southern tips of three finger lakes and several smaller lakes and canals systems and the region has the makings of a world-class water trail system.
Water Trail Vision
Create a water-based trail system that will provide opportunities for recreation, conservation, tourism and education while preserving the natural, historic and cultural resources along the river.
• New major tourism product development
• Entrepreneurial business growth (ex. outfitter business challenge)
• Downtown revitalization
• Tool for recruiting new people to visit, live and work in region
• Vertical business opportunities (ex. kayak manufacturing)
River Access
The Susquehanna River flows north to south through – Otsego, Chenango, Broome, Tioga, and Chemung counties with tributaries in Cortland, Delaware, Madison and Schoharie counties. The Chemung River flows north to south through Steuben and Chemung counites with several tributaries in Steuben. Within the two watersheds there are approximately 150 public access points for water sports enthusiasts to put in and take out along the river system.
Lake Access
The southern tips of Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga lake provide easy access to canoe, kayak and stand up paddleboard activities. Several smaller lakes and reservoirs also provide opportunities for flat water floats, birding and fishing. Steuben, Schuyler, Tompkins, Delaware and Otsego County all have smaller lakes or reservoirs with public access points.
Opportunity
A coalition of regional Tourism Promotion Agencies are currently partnering on developing the New York’s Southern Tier Water Trail with the support of the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, Conservation Assistance Program. To find out more and to get involved please contact Kevin Costello at info@corningfingerlakes.com or call (607) 936-6544.
Photo Credit: Southern Tier Kayak Tours
Upcoming Events
New York’s Southern Tier Water Trail Project
Visioning Workshop
Monday April 25, 2022
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Corning Hilton Garden Inn
23 Riverside Drive, Corning, NY 14830
RSVP HERE!
New York’s Southern Tier Water Trail Project
Visioning Workshop
Tuesday April 26, 2022
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Koffman Small Business Development Center
120 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY 13901
RSVP HERE!
New York’s Southern Tier Water Trail Project
Visioning Workshop
Wednesday April 27, 2022
9:00 – 11:00 am
Morris Conference Center, SUNY Oneonta
West Dormitory Road, Oneonta, NY, 13820
RSVP HERE!
