Paddle Journal: Lake Erie
(Presque Isle has a its own page.)
Southtowns Paddling Put-Ins
April, 2005
by Vanessa Wazny
Where: Eighteen Mile Creek (into Lake Erie)
Parking: Free parking at the County gravel lot by the bridge over
Old Lakeshore Rd. (Town of Evans).
Status: Water is open, free of any ice, looks shallow, but jammed
full of fishermen in waders! We saw at least 7-8 fishermen in the
water about 10:30 a.m. If we had kayaked through them, they would not
have been too happy. So we'll avoid this put-in (which takes us
down the creek about a half mile and into Lake Erie) for a little
while, or at least when the fishermen are NOT out in such numbers.
From experience paddling here, there are always a few fishermen at the
creek, but not usually quite so many!
Where: Sturgeon Point Marina
Parking: This is a public marina. Parking is free, and you can
usually park in the lot to the left of the boat launch or to the
extreme right of the boat launch.
Status: Some shoreline ice to the left as we drove in, but it was
negligible. We saw 6 motorboats in the lake fishing there.
It costs $6 to launch from the boat launch, but the caretakers will
turn a blind eye if you carry your kayak down to the beach areas
(but these are not public swimming areas). You will see the first
sandy area as soon as you drive in, to the left of the break wall.
You can also launch to the extreme right of the boat launch. This is
a more littered beach area (debris, sticks, rocks, garbage) with a
hill to climb down to carry your yak or canoe to the water. It's a
bit of a workout, but doable.
Where: Hanover Boat Launch
Parking: This is a DEC/State launch, and parking is free in the lot
right at the launch. Note: the bathrooms are always locked here!
Status: Water is open for paddling and looks inviting! This is an
underused boat launch near Sunset Bay. Due to low water levels,
the launch is not good for some larger boats, but it's perfect for
smaller boats, jet skis, canoes, and kayaks. Cattaraugus Creek is
wide and easy to paddle here, but as you approach the Routes 5 and 20
bridge, the current becomes almost too strong to paddle against, so
at that point, we usually turn back. The left side as you paddle
towards the bridge is the Seneca Reservation -- you cannot get out on
the land there. One can also paddle out to Sunset Bay if Lake Erie
is calm.
One note of caution, as you approach the 5 and 20 bridge, fishermen in
waders become more prevalent! (Don't paddle across their lines.)
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