19th Annual Paddles Up Niagara: Saturday, July 26, 2025
Paddles Up Niagara is a family-friendly and safe way to experience the natural areas and unique habitats of the Niagara River. Whether you are a novice or an experienced paddler, you will enjoy spending the morning with an enthusiastic paddling community. Guides and safety paddlers will be on hand to assist and answer your paddling questions.
Where: Beaver Island State Park at Shelter 2B
When: Saturday, July 26, 2025 (Inclement Weather Guidelines - possible rain date July 27)
Day Time Festivities: 7am to 1pm
*Park Admission is subject to Park hours of operation.
**If you need a kayak: Kayak rentals are available from Blue Water Marina:716-773-7884, 330 East River Rd. Grand Island, NY
Online Registration closes at 9am on Friday, July 25, 2025.
In-person registration is available at the Recreation Office M-F 9am to 3pm (716-773-9680), or on the day of the event opens from 7am to 10am.
If you need to cancel, please call 716-773-9680 or email Gr. Is. Recreation Dept. before 3pm Friday, July 25 so we can cancel your spot and transfer someone from the waiting list.
7:00 AM - Eco-tour Lite (Check in and launch from East River Marsh)
Tour Guide: Paul Leuchner -
This tour will have all the wildlife viewing but with less paddling. It is meant for beginners or those who are more interested in learning about the habitat. This tour will take up to 1 hour.
7:00 AM - Eco-tour #2 - Check in at Shelter 2B and launch from beach
Tour Guide: Joe Menter
7:30 AM - Eco-tour #3 - Check in at Shelter 2B and launch from beach
Tour Guide: Erin Redding
The eco-tours #2 and #3 begin at Beaver Island beach and are a bit longer and more strenuous than the Eco-tour Lite. They are meant for more intermediate to advanced paddlers. These tours can take up to 2 hours.
All Eco-tours are designed to be smaller in size, so everyone can hear the guide interpret plants and animal life as they guide the group through habitats around Beaver Island. Spaces are limited so please register early and only if you know you can attend. IF your plans change, PLEASE cancel your reservation, so someone else can have your spot. Please be ready to depart from launch site 10 minutes prior to start time. Each eco-tour is limited to 15 participants each.
8:00 AM - Eco-tour Hike - Check in at shelter 2B
Tour Guides: Edward Fuchs and Joanne Schlegel: The Eco-tour Hike will be lead by members of the Niagara Frontier Botanical Society, it will begin at shelter 2B and walk to River Lea and the Allenton Farm. From there it will continue on down the East River Trail, to the Kayak launch and then return to shelter 2B. The expert guides will identify and discuss trees, shrubs and flowering plants along the way. It is an easy walk on level ground. This hike is limited to 16 participants. If you register and your plans change, PLEASE cancel, so we can open up a spot for someone on the waiting list.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM - 15-minute Kayak Trial Sessions Near shelter 2B (first come first serve)
Instructors: Kelly Sieman and Tina Spencer
These sessions are offered by the NY State Parks Interpretive staff, who perform regular learn to Kayak sessions throughout the summer. For the Paddles UP Niagara event, they are offering a 15 minute kayak trial session on a first come first serve basis. If you have ever wondered what it would feel like to sit in a kayak in the water, now is your chance to experience just that! Our expert trainers will walk you through how to get into a kayak and how to paddle correctly. Kayaks and PDFs will be provided. If you decide to participate in the Fun Paddle you can rent a Kayak from Blue Water Marina, information below. These sessions are offered to anyone age 12 and up and are limited to 10 participants at a time. The sessions will be taking place at the Beaver Island Beach launch site, near shelter 2B
10:30 AM - Fun Paddle (Check in at shelter 2B)
The large Fun Paddle leaves from Beaver Island beach goes past the Marina, around Little Beaver Island, and then back to the launch site. This is session is unique because it is a very large group, possibly the largest in NY State all launching at the same time! We have safety paddlers to help guide the group along the route and the Park Police and GI Fire Department on motor boats to keep motor boats away from the paddlers.
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Environmental Exhibitors
Make sure to visit the many organizational partners that will be exhibiting very important water safety equipment & information, sharing environmental resources and other interesting facts about our unique and precious natural resource that surrounds WNY, our Great Lakes and the Niagara River! Participating organizations include; Citizen Coalition for Wildlife & Environment, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, WNY Land Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Black Rock Riverside Alliance, WNY Raptor & Wildlife Care, Department of Environmental Conservation, Niagara Region Parks Interpretive, Niagara Frontier Surfrider, Ladders to the Outdoors, Buffalo Museum of Science, and Erie County Climate Action
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Free admission to Grand Island Historical Museum at River Lea!
Paddles Up participants will have the opportunity to step back in time and see whatit was like living on Grand Island during the 1800's, when Grover Cleveland's uncle, Lewis Allen, built the mansion, that is now called River Lea. If you have been inside River Lea in the past, you may want to make another visit because it has gone through some changes with new displays. To follow recent developments with the museum and historical society visit: http://www.isledegrande.com/historicalsociety/historicalsociety.php
For more information on this event visit:
https://www.niagararivergreenway.com/paddles-up