Hiawatha Island Experience

Climb aboard our pontoon boat and enjoy nature’s spectacular display of colors during a rustic cruise on the Susquehanna River! Boat Pilot Steve Brigode will point out interesting wildlife features against a backdrop of fall foliage while expertly navigating around Hiawatha Island. The cruise will last approximately 1 hour, depending on wildlife activity, river conditions, and interest level. The boat will stop on the beach of Hiawatha for a guided hike with one of our volunteer historians. Learn about the history of the island and its importance to the community and ecosystem. This is our first program on the island since 2022, and we are excited to share it with you!

Our boat is a 24-foot pontoon boat with a capacity of ten guests and two crew. Life preservers are stored under each seat and may be worn during the cruise if desired.

Unfortunately, our boat landing is not accessible from the perspective of those with limited mobility.  There is a concrete walkway that leads down to the riverbank and some traction aids across the muddy bank, ending in a boarding platform.  There is still a bit of a step up onto the boat, but there are handrails to help gain purchase.  We recommend dressing for the weather, bringing water, sunscreen/insect repellent (depending on the day), and comfortable shoes to negotiate the riverbank's incline. If needed water will be available for purchase on the boat.

The landing is on the western end of Marshland Road.  Our property's entrance is the next driveway on the left after the Town of Owego boat launch and has a "Waterman Center Hiawatha Island and River Front Park" signpost.  It can be easy to miss, so often the easiest way to get there is to copy these coordinates into your GPS choice: 42.083484, -76.202858 or search "Waterman Conservation Education Center Boat Launch" in google maps.