Free Fishing Days
During the last full weekend in June (June 29-30 this year), anyone may fish the fresh waters of New York State without a fishing license! Saltwater anglers may also fish in marine waters or for migratory marine fish species without enrolling in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry.
This is the perfect opportunity to try fishing for the first time or take a friend or relative fishing. With more than 7,500 lakes and ponds and 50,000 miles of rivers and streams, there are plenty of places to try fresh water fishing in New York.
Visit our "Places to Fish" webpages for ideas on where to fish. Just getting started? Visit our "Learn to Fish" webpages for advice on how to fish.
Whitewater Rafting the Hudson Gorge
The steep-sided Hudson Gorge is one of the most spectacular reaches of the Hudson River. Amid the gorgeous scenery of the central Adirondacks, it is the longest stretch of whitewater in New York State.
Whitewater rafting through the gorge is the most popular recreational activity in the area. Most visitors are customers of whitewater rafting outfitters who lead trips between the Lake Abanakee dam, on the Indian River, to North River, 16 miles away.
Visitors should also head to the Hudson Gorge Primitive Area (HGPA), located north of State Rte. 28, between the hamlets of Indian Lake and North River. With limited foot trail access, the interior of the 17,000-acre area offers great opportunities for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and trapping in a wild setting.
The First Annual Adirondack Challenge is July 21, 2013 in Indian Lake. The Adirondack Challenge is a day-long festival with food, music and two water races-an invitational whitewater event and an international flatwater paddling competition.
Hike of the Month - Black Pond Wildlife Management Area, Jefferson County
The Black Pond Wildlife Management Area, located along the eastern shoreline of Lake Ontario, is a rare, natural wetland complex comprising barrier beach, dune, open water, emergent marsh and wooded/shrub swamp.
Black Pond is open to the public year-round and offers hiking, wildlife observation, birdwatching, hunting, fishing and trapping. A viewing platform along the Black Pond Trail offers the opportunity to view wetland wildlife, waterfowl and migratory birds. Black Pond also features an accessible trail, which passes through woodland, wetland and dune areas, and ends on the Lake Ontario shoreline. In addition to wetland bird, waterfowl and shorebird resources/viewing opportunities, white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbit and ruffed grouse are found on the upland portions of the area.
Watchable Wildlife: Birding at Bowman Lake State Park - Oxford, Chenango County
Bowman Lake State Park is a remote sylvan retreat, where scenic park roads wind through evergreen and hardwood forests. A lake annually stocked with trout is located here, and birdwatchers can spot as many as 103 species of birds. Lucky visitors may encounter a wide variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, red fox, woodchuck, raccoon, gray squirrel, cottontail rabbit, beaver, geese, ducks, finches, warblers, hawks and woodpeckers. Bald eagles and river otters have sometimes been spotted as well.
Gently rolling terrain offers hiking and nature trails for enjoyment during warmer months.
Biking in the Catskills - Bluestone Wild Forest
Located at one of the most popular gateways to the Catskill Park, the 3,000-acre Bluestone Wild Forest has something for everyone. Trails, old quarries, hemlock and oak forests, an occasional cliff and ponds are ideal for hiking, mountain biking and fishing. Visitors to the Bluestone Wild Forest should be properly prepared and equipped for a wilderness experience.
Mountain biking is permitted on the main trails, one of which begins at the trailhead parking area to the west of Onteora Lake and connects to three trail loops: the Yellow Trail loop past Pickerel Pond (3 miles), the Red Trail loop along a ridge with vernal pools (2.25 miles) and the Blue Trail loop (1.5 miles). Mountain biking also is allowed on the Jockey Hill-Wintergreen Ridge Trail (4.5 miles).
Visitors can park off State Rte. 28 near Onteora Lake, one of the few public lakes in the Catskills and just three miles west of Kingston.
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