I spend my weekends in the summer paddle boarding in the Hudson River from the Marina in Jersey City. I’ve enjoyed paddle boarding when I’ve done it on vacation in the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, and from doing SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) Yoga when I lived in Baltimore, and I keep thinking “man, I wish I lived by the water so that I could own a paddle board and go out any time that I want.” Suddenly, it hit me. I DO live by the water! I could just paddle in the Hudson… couldn’t I?

So, in the winter of 2018, I started devising a plan to make this happen. Every time I took the ferry into the city, I would scout out the water front and look for places that I could drop in. I started researching paddle board options, and I came up with a plan. And in the summer of 2018 I took the plunge and did it! I never ran into another paddle boarder that year, and I would get some weird looks from passer-bys, but this season, in 2019, I ran in to a few other boarders! Hopefully by sharing my tips, as well as suggestions I have for improving recreational water access in Jersey City, we can get more people out enjoying this natural resource we are so fortunate to have.

First, Is It Safe?

People are often incredulous when I tell them I paddle board in the Hudson River. “Is that SAFE?” is the usual question. Yes, the water in the Hudson is pretty clean these days, thanks to the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972. Since then, The Hudson has had a resurgence of aquatic life including whales and oysters. The New York Times says “the Hudson’s water quality the best it has been in a century.” You can always check the water safety levels, which are tested weekly during boating season, at this site or here. And here’s a handy poster of where it’s safe to swim in the Hudson River.

That said, it’s prudent not to enter the Hudson after a rainfall (or even a few days after) as the rain will wash street sludge and sewage overflow into the river. Also, I try very had to not fall off my paddle board and make contact with the water- just in case. I’ve only fallen off once in two seasons!

What Kind of Gear Do I Need?

I did a lot of research on paddle boards, and decided on the Supreme Life Inflatable Board. First, it’s inflatable, which is great because I just inflate it at the beginning of the season (and store it in my apartment’s bike storage area - but it fits in my house, too), and then at the end of the season I just deflate it pack it in my closet until next year. Don’t be alarmed at the idea of an inflatable- it’s extremely hard and sturdy when inflated- you wouldn’t know it was inflatable, honestly. It’s not like a dinky pool floaty- it’s very heavy duty. In terms of stability, inflatables are slightly less stable than non-inflatables, but I just think of that as a feature that gives me a better core workout. I also chose this model because it can hold up to 275 lbs, which means I can put a second person on it. I have done this, but honestly, it’s very hard to paddle with two adults on one board. Great with a kid or a pet, though. I also liked that it had D rings already attached, which are useful for adding accessories later, and that it had a bungee area to stash my dry bag safely.

I also bought:

This life vest (required by the coast guard). I got this one, because it was light-weight but would keep my head upright if I hit my head and blacked out (I ruled out inflatable ones, even though more stylish, as you have to manually inflate them upon hitting the water, and my #1 concern was a head injury.) Be smart here- plenty of people have died in the Hudson due to its strong currents!
This sling to carry my board from my house to the water. It worked OK but was pretty unwieldy if a gust of wind hit. In year two I upgraded to these wheels which easily attach to your board and makes it super easy to transport by towing it by hand or attaching it to a bike and biking it to the water- highly recommend you go straight to this option.
In year two, I added a kayak seat to my board so I could paddle sitting down. I find sitting to be preferable if the waves are rougher or if I am quickly paddling out of the way of some jet skis or a boat. I ended up with two types of paddles (single-ended and double-ended) as a result, but will probably switch to an accessory like this one, which you can use to convert your standard single-ended SUP paddle into a double-ended kayak paddle (carrying two paddles at all time is annoying).
You’ll also want a dry bag so you can store your phone, keys, and other things you don’t want to get wet (like duct tape in case that inflatable springs a leak!).

How Do I Get In The Water?

This is the hardest part. I live in Jersey City, so I only know about options in JC. And they are not great.

Option 1: Morris Canal Basin

Drop in at Morris Canal Basin. On the south side, you can drop in from pretty much anywhere. This is one of my preferred entry points. The down side is that you are in Morris Canal, which is great for kids or for learning (no boats, no wake), but it’s small and gets boring fast, and the water level can get very low here. If you want to explore more you have to paddle around the bend to the marina, but that’s an area where the waves come in pretty strong and they can wash you right up on to the rocky shore. You must take care to paddle strong, take a wide berth and stay alert (I always do this part sitting down so I don’t dump out. Making this crossing is the only place I have ever fallen off, and I washed up against some rocks and cut up my leg.)

You can also drop in on the north side, where there are some steps leading right into the water. However, the tide is often low at Morris Canal Basin, so you usually have to get your board into the water in some very shallow and rocky water which can bang up the fin of your board. For this reason I usually avoid this side.

Option Two: Near the Marina

Across from the shopping area that has Spa Nature, there is an area behind a billboard (circled in red in the image below) where you can access the water if you’re willing to hop a small fence and trudge down a slope into the mud. I used to drop in here a lot, because it’s closer to my house than Morris Canal, but eventually the copious amounts of geese poop I would have to wade through, and the garbage that would collect in this corner of the marina, turned me off. But if you want to get in the water on the marina side, this is the only reliable option.

Alternative Options

These other options I have listed under this heading because they are not reliable choices.

Manhattan Yacht Club. This is literally the best place to enter the water in all of Jersey City, HOWEVER, the Yacht club will not let you use their dock, unless you are a member of the club which costs several thousand dollars per year. I have once or twice convinced someone there to let me do it, and it’s heaven. I’ve also tried to convince them to let me pay them a more reasonable fee to just use the dock, but alas, they will not agree. Manhattan Yacht Club, if you’re reading, please help out the recreational paddlers of your community and create a dock share membership so we can use your dock!
Urban Paddle Kayak Tours. This a new SUP and Kayak rental place by the marina, and they use the dock to access the water. I have tried to ask them a few times if I can use the dock but whenever I go over there they are out. I’ll try again next summer! Renting from here is also a great way to test out paddleboarding in the Hudson before you commit to buying a board.
Friend with a boat. If you have a friend with a boat in the marina, lucky you! That would be a great way to get access to the docks to launch in. I have tried a few times to access but all of the doors require a pass code or key to open the door down the ramp to the dock. However, you can EXIT this way- the doors open without a key on the way out, so it’s a viable option for leaving the water at the end of your paddle. I have also tried talking to the Harbor Master (I think that’s what it’s called?) but they were completely confused about what I wanted to do and were of no help.
Liberty Park Boat Ramp. Not an option if you don’t have a car. If you do, check it out and let me know how it is!
There are also places within Liberty State Park that I’ve scouted out that seem viable to drop in, but I haven’t tried this yet.

Options I’ve Ruled Out

Surf City. They do have a private dock to the water, and they said I could use it, however the way the ramp is designed in and out of Surf City’s restaurant area basically makes it impossible to bring a board through here.
Ferry Docks. There’s no viable way to enter/exit the water from the ferry docks.

It would be amazing if the city would create a public dock or ramp that recreational kayakers and paddlers can use to access the marina. I’ve spoken to a few city council members about it, but it didn’t go anywhere. If anyone has any tips on how to make a formal proposal for such a thing, let me know!

I’ve really enjoyed my summers in the water, it’s peaceful, it’s a great workout and you just cannot beat the views! Next summer I hope to get brave enough to paddle out towards the Statue of Liberty or maybe to the Honorable William Wall for a drink!

Happy to answer any questions about paddle boarding in the Hudson- reach me through the contact page.

I Paddle Board in the Hudson - So Can You!