Paddling near Staten Island, NY

Staten Island sits at the mouth of New York Harbor, surrounded by Lower New York Bay, Kill Van Kull, and Arthur Kill. Paddlers here navigate a mix of calm harbor inlets and open bay water, with launch sites ranging from the South Shore's Tottenville to the North Shore's Stapleton waterfront. Great Kills Harbor and the waters of Gateway National Recreation Area are the marquee destinations, drawing kayakers and SUP paddlers looking to explore the city's least-developed shoreline from the water.