Kayaking the Susquehanna River from Cooperstown NY to the Chesapeake Bay

Five guys attempt to kayak all 444 miles of the Susquehanna River from Cooperstown NY to the Chesapeake Bay.

[@McDuffin]

Joe, I’d love to see a short video on how you guys planned the trip. Logistics of getting picked up at the end or where you left vehicles. What you packed. Were there towns along the river where you were able to resupply or even grab a quick shower? And I think most important, how and where you guys decided on campsites for the night. Great video.

[@JoeHainey]

Fuff, regarding the places we camped, I will say that the selection was very dynamic. We had goals for miles each day but they changed frequently. Also, we used Google Satellite views to select islands but later learned they change from downed threes or other undergrowth that made them undesirable.

[@FlyingJournalism]

@@JoeHainey wow

[@smartmouth1577]

Pretty cool. Thanks for posting.

[@nomad4k]

I want to do this. Your video serves as a good reference guide for me. Thank you.

[@mick5501]

I’ve been researching this trip for about a year now and this has been the most helpful and realistic information I’ve found so far. Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@FlyingJournalism]

That's nuts! Great video man.

[@shotsfired1106]

Just added this to the bucket list and your video popped up first on my search. I am from Chesapeake Bay area.

[@toddroy892]

Nice video, Joe.

[@Tuscarora21]

I live by this river near Harrisburg and actually didn't know it started out of a lake ? I thought springs ? What lake is that ?

[@JoeHainey]

It is Otsego Lake. The lake is by the Cooperstown. Cooperstown is known for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

[@litehousekid1]

Great video! Great adventure! I’m from lancaster area and have been hiking around safe harbor and Hollywood dam. I’m curious how those portages went. From what I read a 24 notice is required?

[@TomFrostJr]

I showed up at the guard shack of the Safe Harbor Dam one dark evening WITHOUT notice, while canoeing from Lenox, Pa. to the Chesapeake over New Year's of '85, and got treated like a king. They showed me a pavillion to spend the night in (while adding that if I needed to get down tonight, they could portage me tonight). I let them portage me in the morning, and they let the Holtwood Dam guys know that I'd be coming there next. I didn't even know that they provided you with a portage, until a guy in a bar told me shortly before i walked up to the Safe Harbor guard shack. I had first walked a mile downstream to the bar to eat dinner while hand-wringing about how I'd probably have to walk up to the guard shack to ask permission to portage through a gate that had a no trespassing sign. But nope; a guy in the bar told me, "Just call them and bitch; federal law requires them to give you a portage, because they can't block navigation." So, I finally walked up to the guard shack. It being late at night, the guy was so scared as I approached that he looked like he was about to jump for cover, so that's when I said, "Somebody told me you provide canoe portages". And that's when it got real friendly; we sat in the guard shack having nice conversations for an hour or three, including with the third-shift guy when he came along.

[@tangara7166]

I'm amazed you were able to paddle with so much gear on top of the kayaks. Why did you have so much stuff?

[@JoeHainey]

It is the gear needed for a multi-day camping trip. It is not uncommon.

[@drakkonov9]

Awesome video. Is there anyone I can contact about the map details with all the portages and campsites

[@JoeHainey]

I am not aware of a map that covers the Susquehanna from Cooperstown. Here is a link to the north branch PA River trail. emheritage.org/north-branch-susquehanna-river-water-trail/

[@drakkonov9]

Would you be willing to share your overlay of parks and portages. I found a map of each section besides middle branch PA