Kinderhook Lake — Attraction in Town of Kinderhook

Beautiful lake that is buzzing year round. Boats and jet skis in the spring/summer. Ice fishing in the winter. Full history below!

Kinderhook Lake is controlled by a dam of the Valatie Kill and its tributaries in Niverville. The dam originally supplied water to generate power for mills located there in the mid-1900s. The Lake gained popularity in the early 1900s with the construction of an “Electric Park” at the north east end (in the vicinity of Electric Park Road). The park became a destination along the Albany Hudson electric railroad. As one of the first amusement parks powered by electricity, patrons of Electric Park enjoyed carousels, a Ferris wheel, a water slide into the lake, boat rentals, and a bridge spanning the lake to access taverns located on Hawley Point and House Island.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Lake has a water quality classification “B” and is suitable for recreational water activities, swimming, and supports an environment for fish propagation and survival. In accordance with DEC guidelines, the Kinderhook Lake Corporation (KLC) monitors the water quality of the Lake periodically throughout the summer and has DEC approval to treat the water with copper sulfate to control blue-green algae bloom. DEC approved treatments of copper sulfate are for the sole purpose of algae control during the months of June, July, and August only.

The Lake is irregular in shape with several bays and coves. The Lake is 288 feet above sea-level, covers 350 acres, is approximately 1.6 miles long, has an mean depth of about 15 feet (32 feet at its deepest), and has approximately 8.1 miles of shore line. Kinderhook Lake is fed by the Valatie Kill (Creek), which is in turn fed by a 41 square mile watershed that extends as far north as the southern edge of Crooked Lake in the Town of Sand Lake in Rensselaer County. The outflow from the Kinderhook Lake dam flows to the Kinderhook Creek, which eventually winds its way to the Hudson River. Several islands can be found on the Lake, with two of particular interest. House Island contains a single residence which was the location of a tavern in the early 1900s. One Tree Island, appropriately named for its single tree, is a favorite location for mooring boats and swimming in the surrounding gravel-bottom shallow waters.

Kinderhook Lake contains a variety of pan fish, small and large mouth bass, northern pike and tiger musky, a hybrid species developed by combining northern pike and muskellunge pike. The tiger musky is stocked by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as a means of controlling the extensive white perch population (considered an invasive species) and to provide a better environment for game fish survival. Anglers are encouraged to practice catch and release. Ice fishing is also a...

Decent size lake but the downfall is how expensive it is for the boat launch. At over $100 per season you have to use it alot. Although there is a dock for canoeing next to the power boat dock, nobody cares and makes you wait while they pack up. Annoying that people park wherever and leave little room for cars with boat trailers. The bridge is low so don't plan on a bigger boat. There isn't really a place to ancor and get out except Onetree Island but its super small and covered in goose poop. If you have a small boat, don't mind annoying people around while you put your boat in and take it out, it is actually an OK lake when you get out...

Nice lake, we kayaked the 8 mile perimeter. We saw 2 beautiful, what we believe are, gardenias (wild) along the shoreline. They were both about 15 to 20' tall and in bloom with their beautiful perfume in the air. The water was a bit murky, but apparently clean, as there are slides off docks into the water. Not as clear as an Adirondack pond/lake or the...