head> Launch Sites
VIXEN, WHIFF, & HOUND. Last day on the Hudson River at Astor Point
Last day on the Hudson River at Astor Point, Barrytown, NY            photo Copyright Glen Burger
 
Connecticut New York
Maine Pennsylvania
Massachusetts Quebec
New Hampshire Rhode Island
New Jersey Vermont

Popular Northeastern Iceboating Destinations

This page is written primarily for iceboaters. The listings below catalog some of the more popular iceboating venues here in the Northeast. The tables are ordered first by state or province, then by body of water. Unless noted, the launch coordinates are public access points. I have no personal knowledge of many of these locations, so bear in mind that the data may not be completely accurate, but is based on a best effort to decode the information available to me. Should you find major discrepancies or errors, or would like me to add a new site to the list, please send me the data and I will quickly attend to the update.

Send Email to
John Sperr

The basic rules of ice safety apply -- ice is never safe, never go out alone, have your safety gear with you, and always get a scouting report from someone who knows the body of water before you go charging off on what looks to be a perfect sheet of ice. The Hudson River is a tidal estuary, so there is always broken ice and open water at the shoreline as demonstrated in the photo above. Large lakes will develop "reefs" or "pressure cracks" where the ice buckles to relieve the tremendous expansion forces as cold weather grows the sheet.

I will continue to develop and update these as time permits, but getting all the little details right and verifying the information has proven to be slow going. Your suggestions and assistance are always appreciated. If you have a GPS, collect the appropriate waypoint data when you go sailing, export it to a file, and email it to me. Send a photo along if you like, and I will add it as appropriate and credit you for your contribution.

Launch Coordinates & Street Map Links will bring up a street map. Some of these are served up by MapQuest and others by Google. When I first started this page, Google Maps did not exist and MapQuest seemed to be the best tool available. If you are a fan of  Google Maps,  you can cut and paste the latitude and longitude into the search bar and it will zoom you right in to the launch site and give you an easy link to get driving directions. Eventually, I will probably point all these links to Google Maps.

Driving Directions are easily obtained by clicking on the MapQuest links but they don't zero in on the launch site. They will get you close, but only in a few cases, will they put you on the ice.

Topographic Maps will give you the most accurate mapping of the launch sites and the surrounding terrain. One of the neat features of MapTech is that you can change the background map overlay with one click -- if you are dropping in with your J-3 for the afternoon, click on the Aeronautical Chart overlay, and you will have the information you need.

GPS Download Files contain GPS waypoint and route information to get to the site or navigate once you are on the ice. You can upload them to most modern GPS receivers using a free transfer utility such as USAPhotoMaps or EasyGPS, or graphically view the data with one of the Google API mapping programs such as Waypoint Visualizer or GPS Visualizer (elevation/speed profiles too!). As the data is developed, the GPX files may evolve to contain known geographic features such as islands or points of interest along the shore as well as the ever changing locations of ice features such as open water, pressure cracks, reefs, or a bottle of Champagne cached on one of the islands of Lake Winnipesaukee awaiting the "Hard Way" sailors. GPX has become the standard data file format for exchanging GPS data and is supported by popular software and hardware from Garmin, Magellan, and Trimble.

USAPhotoMaps is a very interesting and useful free program for mapping and getting data to and from your GPS -- it's fast, compact, and downloads aerial photographs and topographic maps while letting you set waypoints and routes by pointing and clicking. Find your favorite launch site, click on the waypoints to get there, and send me the resulting XML file -- I'll do the rest.

If you live near one of these locations and/or would like to serve as a contact person for a particular venue, please email me with your information and I will add it to this work in progress. Interesting photos are always appreciated.

Email John Sperr

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Connecticut

Name Launch Coordinates & Street Map Link 

Contact person

Driving Directions Topographic Map GPS Download File (GPX)
Bantam Lake 
117 North Shore Drive
Bantam CT 06750
41.712603  -73.227403

Scott Morris 860-567-9653

MapQuest

MapTech BANTAM.GPX
Candlewood Lake 
Lattins Cove
Forty Acres Road
Danbury CT
       
Candlewood Lake 
Squantz Pond State Park
New Fairfield CT
       
Lake Pocotopaug 
Sears Park
East Hampton CT  06424

Bob Kilpatrick 860-256-7527
Dave Burnham 860-267-8590

MapQuest MapTech POCOTOPA.GPX
Pauchaug Pond 

Griswold CT

       
Rogers Lake 
Haines Park
Laysville Center CT  06371
41.34915  -72.29843 MapQuest MapTech ROGERS.GPX


 

Maine
Herricks Ledge (near Walkers Pond) looking toward Camden
photo Copyright John Sperr

 

Name Launch Coordinates & Street Map Link 

Contact person

Driving Directions Topographic Map GPS Download File (GPX)

Chickawaukie Pond
Johnson Memorial Park
Route 17
Rockland ME 04841

44.136528  -69.121081

MapQuest MapTech CHICKA.GPX
Damariscotta Lake 
Damariscotta State Park
Jefferson ME 04348

44.196408   -69.454834

MapQuest

Yahoo

MapTech DAMARIS.GPX
Eagle Lake 

Fort Kent ME

       
Great Pond 

Belgrade ME  04917

44.519347  -69.873151

Google Maps

 

BELGRADE.GPX

Kennebunk Pond 

Lyman ME

       
Long Pond
Route 46
Bucksport ME 04416
       
Messalonskee Lake 

Oakland ME

       
Moosehead Lake 

Greenville ME

       
Plymouth Pond
Route 7
Plymouth ME 04969

44.761079  -69.203355

MapQuest

MapTech

PLYMTHPD.GPX
Saponac Lake 

Burlington ME

       
Sebago Lake 
Route 302
Raymond ME 04071
43.889248   -70.474238

MapQuest

MapTech RAYMOND.GPX
Sebago Lake
Lower Bay -- "Pump House"
Northeast Road Ext.
Sebago Lake (Standish) ME 04084
43.7636  -70.5226 MapQuest    
Taylor Pond 

Auburn ME

       
Toddy Pond
Route 1
East Orland ME 04413
44.565922  -68.672074 MapQuest MapTech TODDY.GPX

Walker Pond
Robin Hood Camp
Herrick Road
Brooksville ME 04617 


44.319795  -68.701939
Private Property -- No Public Access
Kevin Grindle 207-348-2749 Home
 207-266-0412 Cell
MapQuest MapTech WALKER.GPX


 

Massachusetts

Name Launch Coordinates & Street Map Link 

Contact person

Driving Directions Topographic Map GPS Download File (GPX)
Cedar Lake 

Sturbridge MA

       
Lake Quinsigamond 
Regatta Point State Park
Millbury MA
       

Long Pond (Cape Cod)
Public Access Area
Long Pond Drive
Brewster MA 02631

41.720223  -70.067276

MapQuest

MapTech

BRWSTRMA.GPX

Long Pond (Freetown / Lakeville)
Public Boat Ramp
Route 18 -- Middleboro Road
East Freetown MA 02717

41.783427  -70.928383

MapQuest

MapTech

LONGPOND.GPX

Long Pond (Freetown / Lakeville)
Town Beach
Long Pond Road
East Freetown MA 02717

41.776171  -70.950593

MapQuest

MapTech

LONGPOND.GPX

Norton Reservoir
Juniper Road
Norton MA
41.982022  -71.188088        primary     

41.989792  -71.195432        secondary

MapQuest  

MapTech

 

NORTON.GPX
Quaboag Pond
Quaboag Street / Shore Road
Brookfield MA
42.203325  -72.063073 MapQuest MapTech QUABOAG.GPX
South Watuppa Pond 
Jefferson Street Extension
Fall River MA 
41.673.717  -71.140548 MapQuest MapTech WATUPPA.GPX
Webster Lake 
230 Thompson Road
Webster MA 01570 
Lake Chaubunagungamaug 

42.038458   -71.857986

MapQuest

MapTech WEBSTER.GPX
West Monponsett Lake 

Halifax MA

       


 

New Hampshire

Name Launch Coordinates & Street Map Link 

Contact person

Driving Directions Topographic Map GPS Download File (GPX)
Canobie Lake 

 

       
Dublin Lake 

Dublin NH

       
Eastman Lake 

 

       
Kanasatka Lake 

 

       
Mascoma Lake 

Enfield NH

       
Massabesic Lake
Route 121
Auburn, NH 03032
42.999708  -71.345517 MapQuest MapTech MASSABESIC.GPX
Otter Pond 

New London NH

       
Potanipo Pond 

Brookline NH

       
Squam Lake
Squam Channel
Route 113 at Dirt Road
Holderness NH 03245 
       
Lake Sunapee 
Mt. Sunapee State Park Beach
99 Beach Road
Mount Sunapee NH  03255
43.342907   -72.061907

MapQuest

MapTech SUNAPEE.GPX
Lake Wentworth 
Wentworth State Park
Route 109
Wolfeboro NH 03894
43.612400   -71.146133

MapQuest

MapTech

WENTWRTH.GPX
Lake Winnipesaukee 
 Brewster Beach
Wolfeboro NH  03894
43.577646   -71.209636

MapQuest

MapTech

BREWSTER.GPX
Lake Winnipesaukee 
50 Leavitt Park Road
Meredith NH 03253
43.681198   -71.453978

MapQuest

MapTech

MEREDITH.GPX

Lake Winnipesaukee 
Ellacoya State Park
Route 11 Scenic Drive
Gilford NH 03246


43.5755  -71.3554

MapQuest
 
MapTech


 

New Jersey

NSIBYC Clubhouse in Red Bank
photo Copyright John Sperr


 

Name Launch Coordinates & Street Map Link 

Contact person

Driving Directions Topographic Map GPS Download File (GPX)
Budd Lake 

Budd Lake NJ 07828

40.86308   -74.75081 MapQuest MapTech  
Greenwood Lake 

 

  MapQuest MapTech  
Lake Hopatcong 
State Park
Lake Hopatcong NJ 08733
  MapQuest MapTech  
Lake Musconetcong 

Netcong NJ 07857

  MapQuest MapTech  
Navesink River 
Union Street
Red Bank NJ 07701
NSIBYC -- Private Property

40.353495   -74.066770

732 747-9845 Club House

732 747-5665 Ice Line

MapQuest

MapTech

NSIBYC.GPX
Shrewsbury River 

 

       


 

New York

Sarah and HOUND under the Rhinecliff Bridge
photo Copyright Glen Burger


 
 
 

Name Launch Coordinates & Street Map Link 

Contact person

Driving Directions Topographic Map GPS Download File (GPX)

Canadarago Lake
Route 28 & Dennison Road
Richfield Springs, NY 13439

42.8185 -75.0125

MapQuest

MapTech

 
Chippewa Bay 
Chippewa Bay NY  13623

44.441915  -75.763010

Bill Billings

315 323-3618 cell   315 324-6026 work

MapQuest

 

CHIPPEWA.GPX

Great South Bay, Long Island 
Bellport Lane
Bellport NY 11713

40.752000  -72.933000

MapQuest

MapTech

 
Hallock's Bay (Long Beach Bay)
Narrow River Road
Orient Point
Southold NY 11971

41.140802  -72.283030

MapQuest MapTech  
Hudson River 
DEC Fishing Access Area
Athens NY 12015

42.272798 -73.802185

MapQuest

 

ROKEBY.GPX

Hudson River 
Athens Village Park
Athens NY 12015

42.259205  -73.807971

MapQuest

 

ROKEBY.GPX

Hudson River 
The Anchorage
North Germantown NY  12526
42.158372  -73.886754 MapQuest MapTech ROKEBY.GPX
Hudson River 
Cheviot Landing
Cheviot NY 12526
42.125907  -73.904841 MapQuest MapTech ROKEBY.GPX
Hudson River 
Glasco Town Park
Glasco NY  12432
42.040653  -73.941393

Dock Shuter  845 247-0508

    ROKEBY.GPX
Hudson River 
South Tivoli Bay
Barrytown NY 12507
42.008319 -73.927631

Aerial Photo

John Sperr 845-331-0028

 

MapQuest MapTech ROKEBY.GPX
Hudson River 
Astor Point
Barrytown NY 12507

41.992157  -73.933021

Private Property

Ricky Aldrich 845-758-8693

MapQuest

MapTech

ROKEBY.GPX

Hudson River 
Long Dock
Rhinecliff NY  12574
41.9312  -73.9460 

Bob Wills  845-876-2298

    ROKEBY.GPX
Hudson River 
Town Dock
Rhinecliff NY  12574
41.9200   -73.9531

Bob Wills  845-876-2298

    ROKEBY.GPX

Keuka Lake
Penn Yan NY

       
Lake Mahopac 
Putnam County
Mahopac NY 10541
Private Property 

Bob Strohm

MapQuest

MapTech

MAHOPAC.GPX
Lake Ronkonkoma 

Lake Ronkonkoma NY

       
Nicholl Bay / Connequot River 

 

       
Otsego Lake 

Cooperstown NY

       
Peach Lake 

 

       
Round Lake 
Route 9
Round Lake NY  12151
42.937148  -73.790421

Saratoga Lake Ice Report

MapQuest MapTech ROUND.GPX
Saratoga Lake 
South Shore Marina
Saratoga Lake NY
Closed -- Property Sold

Saratoga Lake Ice Report

SRBM.NET

SLIR

MapTech SARATOGA.GPX
Schroon Lake 

Schroon Lake NY

       
Sodus Bay 
South Shore Road
Sodus Point NY 14555
43.258533  -76.988730

Sodus Bay Ice Boat Club 585-234-2030

Commodore Bill VanEe DN US 4835

MapQuest   SODUS.GPX
White Lake 
State Boat Launch, Route 55
Bethel NY 12786
41.685786  -74.831682 MapQuest    
Youngs Lake 

Richfield Springs NY

       


 
 
 

Pennsylvania

Name Launch Coordinates & Street Map Link 

Contact person

Driving Directions Topographic Map GPS Download File (GPX)
Pecks Pond 
Route 402
Pecks Pond PA 18328
41.284200   -75.081000 MapQuest

MapTech

PECKS.GPX
Lake Wallenpaupack 
Wilsonville Boat Launch
Hawley PA 18428
41.449306   -75.182536 MapQuest

MapTech

WALLEN.GPX
Presque Isle Bay 
Erie Yacht Club
Erie PA
42.121134  -80.129912

Private Property

Chris Wolford  814-833-1960

MapQuest MapTech ERIE.GPX
Presque Isle Bay 
Presque Isle State Park
Erie PA
42.114393  -80.153423

814-833-7424

MapQuest MapTech ERIE.GPX


 

Quebec

Name Launch Coordinates & Street Map Link 

Contact person

Driving Directions Topographic Map GPS Download File (GPX)
Lac Saint-Louis 
Rue Lakeshore 
Beaconsfield QC
45.4145   -73.8950

André Baby

MapQuest

 

STLOUIS.GPX


 

Rhode Island

Name Launch Coordinates & Street Map Link 

Contact person

Driving Directions Topographic Map GPS Download File (GPX)
Ninigret Pond 
East Beach Road
Charleston RI
41.344655  -71.690523 MapQuest MapTech NINIGRET.GPX


 

Vermont

Lake Champlain at Crown Point
photo Copyright John Sperr


 

Name Launch Coordinates & Street Map Link 

Contact person

Driving Directions Topographic Map GPS Download File (GPX)

Lake Champlain
USCG Station
Burlington VT

       
Lake Champlain 
Button Bay
Shelburne VT
       

Lake Champlain
Converse Bay
Charlotte VT  05445

44.295238  -73.291762

MapQuest

MapTech

CONVERSE.GPX

Lake Champlain 
Malletts Bay
Colchester VT  05446

44.553333  -73.231967

Google Maps

MALLETTS.GPX

Lake Morey 

Fairlee VT

43.921182  -72.159836

MapQuest

MapTech

Shelburne Pond 
Irish Hill Road
Shelburne VT 05482
44.376700  -73.160700 MapQuest MapTech

TopoZone

SHELBURNE.GPX


 

Barrytown NY Post Office at sunset
photo Copyright John Sperr

Email John Sperr

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©John A. Sperr MMVII