In his section I will add contributions from friends and fellow paddlers, The very first is from Jaimee. She provided me with a map that contains a lot of good info on the new York section of the river. Unfortunately I have not been able to upload the map (I will continue to try to figure it out and will add it as soon as possible). However, Jaimee also provided me with some good info that goes along with the map and here it is below. As you can see she provides some very useful info:
-A map of the Susquehanna river shed from The Friends Of The Chemung River that shows numbered access points to the Susquehanna (click on link below)
-Hotels/Motels on or near the river
-Sporting goods stores (I broke my paddle once and I had to find a place to buy a replacement)
-Campgrounds
Until I figure out how to add her map to my website I will be happy to send it to you in an email as an attachment. Write to me at domcuce@aol.com
JAIMEE'S WRITE UP:
This map is originally the “Paddling Guide to the Susquehanna River Watershed,” from the friends of the Chemung River. All numbered locations are river access points and can be looked up on their website here:
http://www.chemungriverfriends.org/launches_srw.php
This map began as my own personal use to know where low-head dams were located on my future kayaking trips on the Susquehanna, but I found it helpful to add campsites and shops with kayaking gear. Although the look is very home-made I took great pains in correctly placing the dams in their position between river access points. I thought I should share my map here in case others found it useful.
When I found out that the most requested information is hotels to stay at I went ahead and added hotels. Figuring that specific hotels and campsites could be researched for one’s unique needs, these provide more of a guide to where accommodations are available rather than an extensive travel agent. Hotels with water access are listed and I have insured that they are placed accurately on the river. Some of which you will see in kayaking pictures on this site.
Hotels/Motels/Inn’s with water access:
Lake Front Hotel, Southern Lake Otsego, Cooperstown, visible from lake
The Ostego Resort Hotel, Southern Lake Otsego, Cooperstown, not visible from lake
Knott’s Motel, Southern Lake Goodyear, Oneonta, visible from lake
Red Carpet Inn, Southern Lake Goodyear, Oneonta, not visible from lake
Super 8 Oneonta/Cooperstown, Oneonta, not easily visible from river
Country Motel, Sidney, not visible from river
Arlington Motel, Sidney, not visible from river
Susquehanna Motor Lodge (includes campsites), Bainbridge, not visible from river
Jericho Farm Inn Bed and Breakfast, Afton, not visible from river
Kirkwood Motel, Kirkwood, access river is a very short distance but must cross a quiet street
Hampton Inn, Owego, visible from river
Red Roof Inn, Owego, visible from river
Holiday Inn Express, Owego, not easily visible but next to other hotels with river access
Fainting Goat Island Inn, Nichols, not visible from river
Shops with Kayaking Supplies:
Canoe & Kayak Rentals and Sales, Copperstown, Brookwood Point on lake Otsego
Canoe & Kayak Rentals and Sales, Portlandville, visible from river on right hand side
Walmart, Oneonta, under 100 yards from the river
DICK’s Sporting Goods, Oneonta, under 200 yards from the river
Sportsman Adventures (mostly fishing and hunting supplies, but has paddles and life vests), Oneonta, under 200 yards from the river
Eureka Camping Center (factory outlet outdoors gear), Binghamton, on the river but not visible
DICK’s Sporting Goods, Binghamton, under 200 yards from the river but access may be difficult as railroad tracks are in the path
Walmart, Johnson City, about 1 mile from the river
Eddie Bauer, Oakdale Mall, Johnson City, under 1 mile from the river
DICK’s Sporting Goods, Vestal, under 400 yards from the river
Walmart, Vestal, under 300 yards from the river
Route 96 Power and Paddle, Candor, about 6 miles north of the river at Owego
Walmart, Sayre,under 200 yards from the Chemung river but access may be difficult crossing highway 220, about 1 mile from the Susquehanna
Chenango Canal Extension:
This was a proposed extension of the Chenango Canal to continue once the Chenango river met the Susquehanna. This project envisioned a way to get Pennsylvania coal into New York State, but started towards the end of the canal era. This, combined with the outbreak of the Civil War, meant that the extension from Binghamton NY to Athens PA would never be completed. By 1872 many of the towpaths were allowed to have railroad track placed on them. The canal made it about to Nichols, NY, but sources vary on this, likely due to the fact that over 30 years parts of the canal had fallen in disrepair and the extension only really operated into Vestal NY.