Hyde Lake
Location: Hyde Lake (Theresa, NY, USA)
Explorer: Patrick D.
Board Used: Waterwalker 126
Date Logged: June 23, 2022
Website: dec.ny.gov/outdoor/87681.html
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A great quiet lake with some great scenery. Not many people come to this lake, if they do it is in a small fishing boat and they don't stick around. It is calm (unless the weather is not so nice) and a nice area to launch from. This is my first lake to SUP and it is only about 10 minutes from my home. Worth visiting! I have never had issues with boats or other people. Nice open lake with some rock cliffs nearby. You can see osprey, turkey vultures, crows and other birds in the area. Near the launch you can see plenty of fish hanging out. You won't get loud music and parties happening either. Lake also warms up towards the end of June. If you want to hang on shore that is a little harder as this is mostly a boat launch area with a small parking lot.
SUP Explorer Photos from Hyde Lake
What You'll Find at Hyde Lake
Patrick called it a quiet lake, and the numbers back that up. Hyde Lake covers roughly 185 acres and stays shallow - under 20 feet even at its deepest - just northwest of Theresa, New York, per the New York State DEC. The state caps motors at 10 horsepower here, so you're not dodging wakes. That's the kind of calm, low-traffic water that's easy to read when you're still finding your balance.
Patrick put in at the Route 26 launch on a near-windless morning, and the flat water is where an all-around board earns its keep. He was on the Waterwalker 126, our 10'6 all-around - 31 inches wide for stability while you settle in, 24.3 pounds to carry from the car, and rated to hold up to 300 pounds so you can bring a cooler or a dog along. On glassy water like this it tracked straight without a lot of correction, which is exactly what you want when balance is still new.
Fishing is what brings out most of the boats you'll see. The DEC stocks Hyde Lake for tiger muskellunge, and you'll also find largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, bluegill, and black crappie in it. Watch the shoreline while you paddle, too - loons, ospreys, herons, and the odd bald eagle work this lake, and the quiet means you'll often have them to yourself. Bring a dry bag for your phone; a morning out here is worth the photos.
One Thing to Check Before You Launch
Hyde Lake is calm, but calm and clean aren't the same thing. It sits among New York's nutrient-rich, impaired waters, which means blue-green algae blooms can turn up on warm, still days - often late summer, right when the paddling's best. The New York State DEC is blunt about it: these blooms can carry toxins that aren't safe to touch, swallow, or let your dog near.
You don't need a test kit to spot one. If the water looks like spilled paint or pea soup, or wears a thick surface scum, don't launch into it - pick another cove or another day. Rinse off with clean water when you get out, and keep pets away from anything discolored. When we're unsure, we'd rather skip a session than gamble on it.
The other easy call is your life jacket. New York wants a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD aboard for every paddler, and from November 1 through May 1 you have to wear it - a stand up paddle board counts as a vessel under state law. It's tempting to leave it strapped to the deck on flat water, but this far north the water stays cold well into spring.
SUP Explorer Tips For Your Visit to Hyde Lake
- Parking is free and the boat ramp makes it easy to launch.
- Never crowded and calm waters, so a great lake to practice on.
- Good for fishing as it's a well stocked fishery. (see the website for more details)
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