PLAN YOUR ADVENTURE

The Buffalo RiverWorks site provides paddlers with multiple options for launching and getting out of the water safely and easily.

This Blueway site boasts a fully accessible paddlecraft roller dock facility on the Buffalo River, as well as additional direct-entry docks and dock sections for transient powerboat access. Kayaks, paddleboards and hydrobikes are available for rent.

In addition, parking access is provided for those who bring their own car-top watercraft. Multiple other entertainment options are available at this site, and restrooms can be found inside the restaurant and bar area for patrons. This site is located in a high-traffic area of the river, so it’s critical that paddlers stay along the shore and yield to larger craft.

359 Ganson St.
Buffalo, NY 14203

Buffalo Riverworks Website

Wilkeson Pointe provides a roller launch for easy access and a paddlecraft drop-off area, along with ample on-street parking.

This launch facility provides access to paddling in the Outer Harbor—conditions may include exposure to wind and waves.

Use caution and stay close to shore. There are very few emergency exits along the Outer Harbor. Launching of motorized vessels is not possible.
225 Fuhrmann Boulevard
Buffalo, NY 14203
Latitude: 42.87074133652292
Longitude: -78.88216444544695

Beaver Island Beach is the sandy waterfront highlight of Beaver Island State Park at the south end of Grand Island, where the Niagara River meets the lake system. With roughly a half mile of sandy beach for swimming, the site features lifeguard-staffed water access, a snack stand, restrooms, and wooden boardwalks.

Visitors can also picnic in shaded areas, explore nature trails, launch hand‐boats, or fish along the shoreline. In winter, the park transforms to allow for sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Whether you come to soak up the sun, splash with family, or walk along the lake’s edge, Beaver Island Beach offers a scenic and refreshing riverside escape just minutes from Buffalo.

Beaver Island State Park
Grand Island, NY 14072

Black Rock Canal Park sits along the Niagara River where the historic canal meets the city shoreline. Once two separate areas — Cornelius Creek and the Ontario Street Boat Launch — the sites were combined in 2013 to create one vibrant waterfront park.

Visitors can walk, bike, or rollerblade along the paved trail, launch a boat or jet ski from the free public ramp, or enjoy the off-leash Bark Park with their dogs. With its mix of recreation, scenic views, and access to the water, Black Rock Canal Park provides an active and welcoming gateway to the Niagara River corridor.

16 Black Rock Harbor Rd.
Buffalo, NY 14207

Gallagher Beach lies along the lakefront of Lake Erie within Buffalo Harbor State Park, offering a scenic shoreline escape just minutes from downtown Buffalo. The beach provides panoramic lake views, paved paths for walking and biking, picnic areas, and a quiet respite ideal for reflection and nature-watching.

Though swimming is currently prohibited, visitors enjoy fishing from the breakwall and strolling the trails at sunset. Located on Fuhrmann Boulevard, Gallagher Beach connects with Buffalo’s Outer Harbor revitalization, linking history, nature, and recreation in one waterfront destination.

1111 Fuhrmann Blvd.
Buffalo, NY 14203

East River Marsh is a restored wetland at the southern tip of Grand Island along the Niagara River. Once a degraded shoreline, the area is now a thriving habitat thanks to shoreline reefs, native plantings, and fish-refuge channels that support wildlife and enhance water quality. Visitors can launch small craft from the floating dock and paddle through marsh channels to observe herons, waterfowl, and northern pike.

The marsh also connects into the local trail network and contributes to the region’s Blueway of paddling and walking along the Niagara River. Whether you’re fishing, nature-watching or simply seeking quiet water-side scenery, East River Marsh is a calm gateway to the river’s ecosystem and our collective stewardship of it.

Beaver Island State Park
Grand Island, NY 14072

Eastern Park Kayak Launch provides public access to Ellicott Creek for kayaks and other hand-launched watercraft. The launch features a roller system for easy access to the water.

Paddlers heading upstream can enjoy quieter waters past boathouses and docks, while downstream travel leads toward Gateway Harbor and the historic Erie Canal, where motorboat traffic is more frequent.

Along the way, massive iron railroad bridges span the creek and canal, offering striking views of the area’s industrial and transportation heritage. Eastern Park also includes playgrounds, picnic tables, and grills, making it a welcoming stop for both paddlers and park visitors.

278-286 Fillmore Ave.
Tonawanda, NY 14150

Established in 1926, Ellicott Creek Park is one of Erie County’s original parks and a longtime favorite for families and outdoor enthusiasts. The park’s historic development in the 1930s and 1940s included stone shelters, a boathouse, and recreation facilities built by the Works Progress Administration.

Today, visitors can enjoy walking, bicycling, and rollerblading along the paved trails that follow the creek, or cross the footbridge to Ellicott Island and its popular Bark Park. Ellicott Creek Park offers picnic shelters, playgrounds, sports fields, tennis courts, and an 18-hole disc golf course. In winter, the park remains lively with sledding, skiing, and snowshoeing. Shaded by maples, oaks, and willows, Ellicott Creek Park continues to offer a scenic and active retreat along the water.

1 Ellicott Creek Rd.
Tonawanda, NY 14150

Erie Basin Marina is a signature waterfront destination in the City of Buffalo, offering scenic views of Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and the downtown skyline. The marina features extensive boat docks, gardens, and a public observation tower overlooking the harbor and city.

Designed to resemble the shape of an American bison when viewed from above, the marina sits just south of the Black Rock Canal and the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park. Protected by a long breakwall maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Erie Basin Marina provides a welcoming gateway to Buffalo’s vibrant waterfront and boating community.

329 Erie St.
Buffalo, NY 14202

Located at the foot of West Ferry Street on the scenic Niagara River, Freedom Park was formerly known as Broderick Park until its renaming in November 2023. The site holds deep historic significance as a major terminus of the Underground Railroad — enslaved people seeking freedom used the docks here to cross into Canada.

Today, the park offers sweeping river views, popular fishing spots, and open green space along the Riverwalk. Visitors are invited to reflect on the story of courage and freedom, while enjoying this vibrant waterfront destination.

1170 Niagara St.
Buffalo, NY 14213

Situated along the historic Erie Canal at Main and Niagara Streets, Gateway Harbor is a vibrant waterfront park and community gathering space in the City of Tonawanda. The harbor sits within an active canal corridor that supports boating, paddling, and a habitat for fish and wildlife while connecting the region to the Niagara River and Lake Erie.

Gateway Harbor offers scenic water views, picnic areas, public dockage, and kayak access, along with direct connections to the Empire State Trail for walking and cycling. As a focal point of downtown revitalization, the park hosts seasonal events, concerts, and festivals that celebrate Tonawanda’s canal heritage, natural resources, and waterfront environment.

1 Young St.
Tonawanda, NY 14150

River Lea is a historic estate nestled within Beaver Island State Park on Grand Island. Originally developed in the mid-1800s, it now houses the Grand Island Historical Society and provides visitors with a rich glimpse into local history and the natural shoreline. A nearby nature trail leads to a peaceful bird-watching blind along the Niagara River, where migratory waterfowl and native species find refuge.

With its blend of heritage architecture and lakeside habitat, River Lea invites you to step back in time, reflect on the landscape, and explore the connection between history and nature.

2136 W. Oakfield Rd.
Grand Island, NY 14072

Stretching 1.2 miles along the Niagara River, Isle View Park is a favorite destination for anglers, walkers, and outdoor enthusiasts year-round. Visitors can enjoy fishing, picnicking, boating, and bicycling along paved trails that are part of the Niagara Riverwalk.

The park features free boat launches and a playground. A pedestrian bridge connects Isle View Park to nearby Niawanda Park, creating a continuous waterfront experience.

796 Niagara St.
Tonawanda, NY 14150

Niawanda Park is a scenic waterfront park along the Niagara River, offering sweeping river views, open green space, and access to the Riverwalk Trail. A popular destination for walking, cycling, fishing, and community gatherings, the park connects to nearby Isle View Park, creating a continuous waterfront experience.

With playgrounds, picnic areas, and seasonal events, Niawanda Park serves as both a neighborhood gathering place and a gateway to the Niagara River’s natural beauty.

200 Niagara St.
Tonawanda, NY 14150

Niawanda Park lies within the Niagara River Important Bird Area, a globally recognized habitat that supports thousands of migratory, nesting, and wintering birds each year. The river corridor provides critical stopover and feeding grounds for waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and songbirds traveling along the Atlantic Flyway.

Bald eagles, gulls, terns, ducks, and geese are commonly seen throughout the seasons. The Niagara River’s swift currents, islands, and shoreline habitats create a rich ecosystem that supports fish, insects, and plant life essential to these birds.

200 Niagara St.
Tonawanda, NY 14150

Tow Path Park is a peaceful 5-acre pocket park located along the Niagara River. Once part of the historic Erie Canal corridor, the park takes its name from the towpath that once ran alongside the canal, where horses and mules pulled canal boats through the region.

Today, visitors can relax and enjoy the park’s westerly river views, fish from the shoreline, or pause for a picnic along the Riverwalk Trail. Tow Path Park offers a quiet connection to Western New York’s canal heritage and natural beauty, making it a perfect spot for reflection, recreation, and appreciation of the canal’s history.

Hertel Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14207

Woods Creek Kayak Launch sits at the north end of Grand Island and is part of Buckhorn Island State Park. Woods Creek is a tributary of the Niagara River, offering panoramic views and a peaceful waterfront setting. When paddling, meander through Buckhorn Marsh, which provides excellent opportunities for bird watching and wildlife observation, and is also one of the last remaining marshes on the Niagara River.

A short path leads from the parking area to the creek’s edge, where visitors can fish, launch a canoe or kayak, or explore the park on foot. The site is an accessible hidden gem to reconnect with nature and water.

Grand Island, NY 14072

Extending from the southern tip of Unity Island is a long, narrow stone pier called Bird Island Pier. It’s home to a 2.2-mile path with great views of the Niagara River, Lake Erie, the Peace Bridge and the Buffalo skyline.

Niagara River
Buffalo, NY 14213

389 Ganson St.
Buffalo, NY 14203

Website

Frank Lloyd Wright designed a symmetrical structure that featured his first perfectly flat roof. In 2007, Tony Puttnam, a Wright apprentice, was selected to make the Fontana Boathouse a reality.

1 Rotary Row
Buffalo, NY 14201

Website