2026 Reservoir Paddle Series: Lake Tappan

More summer Reservoir fun! Paddle with us at LaTaPaDa on Saturday August 1, 2026

Brought to you through a partnership between Hackensack Riverkeeper and Veolia, Lake Tappan Paddle Day is a family-friendly day of paddling on Lake Tappan in Old Tappan, NJ. The event supports Hackensack Riverkeeper’s mission to protect, preserve, and restore the Hackensack River.

Lake Tappan Paddle Day consists of three paddling sessions. Paddlers are encouraged to bring their own boat or rent one from Hackensack Riverkeeper’s fleet. You can choose a single-person kayak, a tandem (two-person) kayak, or canoe. Be sure to register early, as rentals are limited!
Sorry no SUPs.

Address and Parking: The entrance drive is off of Washington Ave. North, near the intersection of Little Mountain Rd., Old Tappan, NJ. Parking will be inside the gate, along the access road. The access road is one way, and all paddlers will exit onto Ogle Road. Signs will guide you. For apple maps click here. Click here for Google maps.

Cost:

Rent a Riverkeeper kayak/canoe: $30 per paddler.

Bring your own kayak/canoe: $30 per vessel.

Schedule:

Check-in begins 30 min. prior to each session. Please plan to arrive early to allow enough time to park and check-in.

Rental Session A: 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Rental Session B: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Rental Session C: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Bringing your own boat? Anytime between 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

*All boats must be off water by 3:30 p.m. Sorry we cannot extend for late arrivals!

All registrants will receive lunch – beginning at 11:30 a.m. – courtesy of Inserra ShopRite!

Catch-and-release fishing is permitted during the open paddle sessions, with a valid fishing license.

NEW!
CLICK HERE to fill out your waiver in advance online!

AGE RESTRICTIONS:
• Children 7-11 years can paddle the front of a canoe or tandem kayak with an adult in back.
• Children 12-17 years old can paddle a single kayak when accompanied on the water by an adult.
• Ages 5-6 can ride FREE as canoe passengers with two paddlers: one of whom must be an adult, and the other age 12 or older.
• No children under 5 years old.

Canoes hold a maximum of 2 adults + 2 children, or 3 adults.

GUIDELINES:

1. For security reasons, NO cameras or drones are allowed beyond the gates into the reservoir area. Pets are prohibited inside the fence.

2. All boats must be washed at our wash station before entering the reservoir, to ensure the prevention of bio-invasive hitchhikers. A washing station will be provided for participants bringing their own boats.

3. All paddlers must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD), in good and serviceable condition and of appropriate size for the intended user for the duration of the Races or Open Paddles. Paddles, PFDs and whistles will be provided to those who rent a boat. Anyone bringing their own boat must provide their own paddle, PFD and whistle.

4. Safety boats will be on the water to provide assistance, however paddlers must stop to provide assistance to any other paddler who appears to be in distress.

Sorry, no SUP's.

NO REFUNDS: This event is a fundraiser, with all proceeds going directly to Hackensack Riverkeeper, a clean water advocacy organization, to help continue our mission to protect, preserve, and restore the Hackensack River. Your registration is a donation to the organization and is non-refundable. Space is limited– in the event you are unable to attend, please cancel in Eventbrite to open your spot for someone else.

FOUL WEATHER: This event is rain or shine except for thunder storms and lightning. In the unlikely event the day is canceled due to extremely inclement weather, the cancellation will be communicated via email through Eventbrite no later than 2 hours before the event starts. The safety and well-being of our employees, supporters, and the broader community remain our utmost priority.

CANCELLATIONS: If you must cancel your ticket, keep in mind there are no refunds. If the event is cancelled due to weather, you will receive a voucher for use at any of our paddling centers, or towards one of our weekend morning guided tours at Laurel Hill. We cannot guarantee a request to transfer your ticket to a future event – if available, transfers will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to: events@hackensackriverkeeper.org.

In the event of a weather related cancellation, we are grateful to our supporters who donated to help cover the costs of our three special Reservoir Paddle Series events and will use those funds to support future programming. Stay tuned for updates on future events and initiatives as we continue our mission to make a positive impact on our environment and communities.

Lake Tappan Day is one of the few opportunities the public has to paddle Lake Tappan, one of its most important and picturesque natural resources. Thank you to Veolia Water NJ and the Town of Old Tappan for giving us the opportunity to enjoy this jewel of the Hackensack River Watershed. For more information, visit www.hackensackriverkeeper.org or call our office at 201-968-0808.