Canoeing / Kayaking

Experience Beaver Lake Nature Center in a whole different way by enjoying a leisurely paddle on your own across the lake. Explore the lake’s edge and search for beaver lodges, turtles, herons, and osprey. Click here for more information.

Launch your own non-motorized boat from the nearby parking lot.

The shoreline at Oneida Shores Park is practically wide open for car top launching of Canoes or Kayaks for a relaxing paddle through Muskrat Bay and throughout Oneida Lake.  The campground shoreline and swimming area are the only designated off limits areas.  Standard park admission fees apply during beach season.

Park patrons are permitted to launch their personal recreation watercraft anywhere along the shore of Onondaga Lake within Onondaga Lake Park, EXCEPT at the Marina (unless paying the $10 daily launch fee), the Syracuse University floating docks and the Syracuse Chargers floating docks.

A free kayak launch site is available just north of the Syracuse Chargers boathouse, on the Onondaga Lake outlet. The launch, which is ADA compliant for kayaks, is available seasonally Memorial Day - October 1, and offers a gravel site that gently slopes into the water suitable for canoes and kayaks.  Public parking is located just steps away from these new launch options.  You may access this area of the park by entering Cold Springs Trail at the Wegmans Good Dog Park, 59 Cold Springs Trail.  The launch site is ½-mile south of the Dog Park.  Click here for a map.

Another popular launching spot is under the Long Branch Bridge on the west side of the Onondaga Lake outlet.  This area is at the beginning of the West Shore Trail has nearby parking, and offers an improved gravel site, gently sloping into the water.  The parking lot is located at 395 Long Branch Road, Syracuse. Click here for directions.