Hiawatha Island
Quick Bits
Main Activities - Hike, Kayak
Distance - 1.3 miles of trails
Quiet - fairly quiet
Surface - dirt trails
Elevation - relatively flat
Pets - no pets permitted
Address - 312 Marshland Rd, Apalachin, NY
Hiawatha Island Trails
In a Nutshell
Hiawatha Island and Riverfront Park is a fun place to explore if you have a kayak or canoe to get to this 112 acre island on the Susquehanna River. Hiawatha Island is between the towns of Apalachin and Owego.
Location and Parking
Parking doesn't necessarily apply to an island, but there are various places to put in your kayak or canoe to get to Hiawatha. There are three that I know.
From the north/west bank of the Susquehanna, there is the Town of Owego Hickories Park which has a very nice boat ramp.
On the south/east bank of the Susquehanna, there are two off of Marshland Road. Some refer to this as the Apalachin side. The Town of Owego Boat Ramp and the Waterman Hiawatha and River Front Park. You'll see signs for each at the driveways off Marshland Road. The ramp at the Town of Owego one is heavy duty, and the area has a lot of parking. When the water is lower, the Watrman ramp ends before you hit the water and so it can be pretty muddy compared to the Hickories or Town of Owego ramps.
More details
Hiawatha Island is really part of two parcels managed by the Waterman Conservation Education Center, which together is called the Hiawatha Island and Riverfront Park. The island is 112 acres and the mainland side adds 15 acres. Across from the Riverfront Park is an area that is easy to land your kayak and canoe and also trailhead for the island.
On Hiawatha, you'll find remains of the former farm and farm implements that were once used on the island. Back in the 1870s, a small hotel was built and parts of the foundation remain today. Later there was farming and camps on the island.
Because of the isolation of the island there is some fairly unique flora on the island such as wild flowers. These will often bloom at different times of the year. In general, it's just a fun place to explore. You can also see various birds in the area, including a pair of bald eagles.
In 1988, a group of concerned citizens came together to acquire the island at auction, saving it from potential development that would have be disasterous to the ecology there. In October of 1993, the property changed hands with Fred L. Waterman Conservation Education Center taking over management. The best source of history is Emma Sedore's book "Hiawatha Island: Jewel of the Susquehanna".
Wander & Ponder Videos Recorded Here
No Talk Tuesday
November 7, 2023
Conjecture or Fact? Rule 10 Explained
September 22, 2024
The Susquehanna River Surprises
September 24, 2024