Summer Solstice Celebration at Kinderhook Lake

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Summer Solstice and a Super" Full Moon ....what more could you ask for.

Join us as we paddle Kinderhook Lake in the moonlight.

We will meet at the DEC boat launch area on Route 28 in Niverville.

Please be cognizant of these invasive species that are present in Kinderhook Lake as posted by DEC and wash your boat after this outing. Eurasian Watermilfoil, Water Chestnut, Brittle Naiad

A few facts about Kinderhook Lake: shoreline is 7.7 miles and is 1.6 miles in length. The maximum depth is 32 feet and mean depth is 15 feet.

There are many types of fish that make the lake their home, including: Northern Pike, Brown Bullhead, Channel Catfish, Fourspine Stickleback, White Perch, Rock Bass, Redbreast Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Walleye and many more.

In the early 1900's, travelers rode the train for hours to play along the shores of Kinderhook Lake. Getting to the lake in New York's Berkshires requires much less effort today, but its lure is just as strong as it was then.

Electric Park opened in 1901 on the shores of Kinderhook Lake. Admission to the park was free for roundtrip ticket holders (40 cents) on the Albany and Hudson Railway. All other visitors paid ten cents for admission to the park. The Albany and Hudson Railway Company owned Electric Park and the third rail was actually used to power the park's lights and some of the attractions. There were two Ferris wheels - a steam powered one outside the park that visitors could ride for five cents and an electric one inside the park included with park admission.

A carousel on an island in Kinderhook Lake lured visitors to the lake. A bridge led to the island and there was also a bridge that crossed the lake. Young men escorted their dates to the middle of the bridge then made it sway from side to side eliciting squeals of mock terror and delight. Squeals could also be heard coming from the wooden slide known as the "chute to chute," which could be traveled by floating carts in the summer and toboggans in the winter. The roller coaster rose over the surface of the lake. The supports for the coaster were sunk through holes in the frozen lake and can still be seen sticking out of the water today. In the winter ice was cut from the lake and stored in the park's icehouse for summer use. Electric Park included a dance hall, vaudeville theater shooting gallery, bowling alley and restaurant. It was in a "dry part" of the county, however, and residents joked that fathers would drop their families at the park and "go fishing for beer." There were six saloons around Kinderhook Lake and rented boats carried people to "rest areas" on islands in the lake.

Minimum age is 8 (8-15 yrs must have a participating adult with them, 16-17 yrs must have a parent/guardian sign participant agreement but do not need to attend) Please be dressed for the weather, we will go rain (thundershowers will cancel this event) or shine please bring water, snacks and any personal medicines you may need as well as sunscreen and bug repellent Don't forget your kayak, PFD (required), whistle, white light, 2 glow sticks and paddle for an evening of fun Directions: From LL Bean at Colonie Center or use Map Quest

Take the I-87 S/New York State Thruway/I-90 W exit, EXIT 1E-W, toward New York/Buffalo. (0.2 mi)

Merge onto I-90 E via EXIT 1E on the left toward Albany/Boston. (19.8 mi)

Take the US-9 exit, EXIT 12, toward Hudson. (0.3 mi)

Turn right onto US-9 S. (2.3 mi)

Turn left onto Main St (Route 28). There is a stop light at this intersection (Kinderhook Transmission and Steiners is on the right side just before the light)

Follow Route 28 for about 1.5 miles....as you enter Niverville the parking area is on the right once you have crossed the bridge. If you get to the post office you have gone too far.

If you have any trouble finding us, my cell is 518-641-9660, feel free to call or text. Cell phone coverage is good. Look for my black Jeep Liberty!