The North Country's Island of Adventure

There's an invisible line that spans the circumference of the globe. This line sits directly between the equator and the North Pole. To some, this line just sits quietly invisible on a map, easily overlooked by the untrained eye, but to the ones that know this line's secret know it’s a gateway….. A gateway to an island full of outdoor experiences like no other. It’s the gateway to the North Country’s Island of Adventure. Welcome to Barnhart Island in Massena, New York.

As we approach the tunnel under the Eisenhower Locks I wonder to myself, how many islands are out there that you have to drive under the water to get to? Then I dived deeper into my own thoughts by asking myself, I wonder if there are any islands out there that could require you to drive under a 100,000 ton ship floating in the water that you have to drive under to get to? As absurd as my thoughts were, it’s a real possibility when heading to Barnhart Island. Through the tunnel and over the green bridge we went on our way to the registration building at the Robert Moses State Park beach.

My son and I had been planning this camping trip for months and we were excited to get this adventure underway. Once we cleared registration we headed out to our campsite, lot 236 would be our home in the woods for the weekend. We started to unpack our stuff and get set up.

I took a quick look at my phone to see what time it was. “Well, I guess we are officially on island time” I said to my son since I had no cell service at this site so whatever was happening in the outside world no longer mattered for the next two days. We got our small tent pitched and started to explore the area around us. At the back of our site I noticed a trail off into the woods so we decided to investigate. Over the rocks and down the dirt path we wandered in hopes of finding something exciting at the end. Well we were in luck, as the path opened up we found ourselves quite the hidden gem, just 100 yards from our tent sat a secluded beach.

The warm sun kissed sand embraced our bare feet as we ambled our way to the weather bleached picnic table just inches from the water. The mighty St. Lawrence sat calmly as a light July breeze caressed her surface. Her distinct aromatic fragrance filled the air, as we took in our freshwater paradise. After a half hour of soaking in the view we decided it was time to have some dinner and go over our plan for the weekend. Sitting by the glow of our crackling campfire eating our hot dogs, we came up with our agenda. This trip wasn’t just a camping trip, our mission was to discover everything this Island of Adventure had to offer so I could share it with the world. As the stars began to shine in the night sky a marvelous fireside chat was had while sipping on a hoppy beverage.

Once the embers faded from a smokey orange to black it was time to hit the sleeping bag for a peaceful night's slumber.

Saturday morning started with a percolated cup of coffee and a quick breakfast. For me, a full summer weekend of outdoor adventures needs to have a few things, such as water-sports, hiking, biking, fishing, and I love to learn something new. If I can do just one, I'm happy, but to fill a weekend I need to have a few and this weekend I was out to find all of them. We decided to kick off the day with some mountain biking. We loaded the bike into the truck and went on the hunt for some trails to ride.

It didn’t take long to find some back roads and trails to explore. The winding two track dirt roads all over this island sprawl out for miles. Speeding over the gravel and through the trees I rode to unknown destinations. The sunlight through the trees created dancing shadows and I peddled on. Along these trails were spectacular views of the St. Lawrence River and the shipping channel of the St. Lawrence Seaway. After forty five minutes of exploring several trails I was satisfied that there were definitely enough trails around to consider this a great location for some mountain biking action.

Next on our agenda was to visit the Frank S. McCullough, Jr. Hawkins Point Visitors Center.

As soon as we rounded the curve in the road the massive power dam came into view. This man made wonder just across the river made an amazing backdrop for the state of the art visitors center we were getting ready to explore. Walking through the doors the cool air conditioning hit our skin, a nice reprieve from the hot July sun we had been in. Exhibit after exhibit demonstrated how water was turned into the electricity we have come to depend on in this modern era. Videos and displays showed how this monster dam was constructed and the engineering that was used to make this power project a reality. Stepping through the back doors onto the observation deck the hum of electricity being made filled the air. To stand there and witness such an amazing feat made me think about the years of hard work that had to have gone into such a project to make it a reality.

We decided to roam the lush green space that surrounds the building. Picnic tables and benches lined the river bank. This would make a magnificent location for an afternoon lunch date with family and friends, I thought to myself.

We wandered over to the large white tents that were set up in the parking lot. Inside there was a children's science fair. This was just one of the many free events that NYPA holds during the summer for families to enjoy. My son grabbed a free ice cream as we watched a man make thousands of bubbles float through the bright blue sky.

With lunch on our minds we decided to head back to our campsite for a quick bite to eat.

After a few sandwiches we decided to hit the water in our kayaks. With our personal beach just down the path we figured it would be the perfect place to launch. I decided to throw in my fishing pole just to see if anything was biting while we paddled the bay. A light breeze drifted across the water as we lazily paddled away.

It’s one thing to see the river from shore but it’s so much better when you are out on it. We took our time exploring the shore line as the motor boats zipped by pulling kids in tubes. The laughter and excitement of the kids was a wonderful addition to our relaxing float. Back at shore we looked over our itinerary and decided our next stop should be the beach.

The beautiful sand filled bay was a comforting sight for our warm bodies. After spending a good part of the day in the sun a cool dip in the St.Lawrence River always feels good.

With plenty of space on this large beach we laid out our beach towels and hit the water. Once we crossed the shallow water line we dove right in. Submerging ourselves in the refreshing North Country water was just what we needed. We talked about our day as we sat on the sandy bottom with just our heads bobbing with the waves. With a half an hour to cool down we set our sights on the Nicandri Nature Center.

Since we had been to the Nicandri Nature Center several times before we decided to take a different approach this time. We took a few minutes to say hi to the turtles, fish, and bees, then checked out a few of our favorite exhibits. After that we decided to take on their Nature Explorer challenge. This is just one of the many activities that the nature center has to offer. To partake in the challenge you must get their activity book, complete all the activities to earn their patch.

One of the activities was to join one of their friendly staff members on a guided nature walk. We were in luck as they were getting ready to take a hike over to a beaver pond. Through the tall grass and over the down trees we walked as our guide told us about beavers and the life they live. It was a great little journey and we learned all about the ecosystem these fascinating little creatures live in. After completing our hike we set off to fulfill the rest of the requirements so my son could get that patch. It took some time but we pulled it off while we were there.

Satisfied with our latest excursion and the day quickly turning to evening we headed over to the Eisenhower Locks to see if we could catch a ship coming in before our day was over.

The smell of diesel fuel lingered in the air as the massive ship passed through the giant gates. We were close enough to feel the vibration of the ship's powerful engines as it settled into the lock.

As soon as the Sloman Dispatcher came to a complete stop it started its 40’ descent to the water level on the other side of the lock. No matter how many times I’ve watched this it still amazes me. To be able to raise or drop an entire ship in such a short amount of time for safe passage to and from the ocean is something everyone needs to see at least once in their life. Once she had departed the locks we decided to check out the visitor center where the displays tell the story of the St. Lawrence Seaway from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. With our mission complete we headed back to our campsite to take a much needed break.

With the sun setting I decided to head back to my favorite picnic table in the sand. The final minutes of daylight brought us a sky full of pinks, oranges, and purples. It was a perfect ending to a day full of adventure.

About this Location:

Barnhart Island is located in the three river community of Massena NY. This island is all government owned property from Federal agencies, State agencies, and there's even a parcel that is owned by the Town of Massena. If you are an outdoor recreation guru like myself you will love this place. Home to Robert Moses State park, this state park has 2,322 acres of amazing camping, a beach, and a marina. The campground has two sections consisting of 225 sites. Sites range from basic tent sites, full electric hook up sites, and several lovely cabins.

The staff at the campground keeps the property beautifully manicured and the bathhouses clean at all times. The very spacious beach is open daily from sunup to sundown all summer long. With a shallow and deep swimming area and multiple lifeguards on site you can relax peacefully while enjoying the picturesque St. Lawrence River.

The beach also has many grills, a large playground and a pavilion. It is set up to offer you a full day of fun in the sun. If boating is your thing, their marina has a boat launch, many slips, and fuel available right on site.

From here your nautical adventures are only limited by your own imagination. Launch your watercraft here and you could set sail to anywhere from the Great Lakes all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) owns several tourist attractions on the island. My favorites are the Nature Center that is full of interactive exhibits and miles of well groomed trails to explore the great outdoors.

They also have the Frank S. McCullough, Jr. Hawkins Point Visitors Center. This place has amazing views of the power dam, displays that explain the rich history of the power project and if you need another place to launch your boat, well you are in luck because just outback is another boat launch. Throughout the year they also offer many events that are free to the public.

The Eisenhower lock is part of the St. Lawrence Seaway system. It is just one of many locks that allows shipping from the Great Lakes to the rest of the world.

The observation decks on the south side offer an up close encounter with the massive ships as they journey the globe. The north side has a drive up area where you can sit in your car and enjoy watching the ships come through in the comfort of your vehicle.

This trip for me was very fast, bouncing from place to place so I could share with you the unlimited opportunities it has to offer. To truly enjoy everything I would recommend a 3-5 day stay. The peaceful laid back vibe of the island is really meant to be enjoyed on island time not our traditional fast paced New York time.

I shared the majority of my time here with the guys from Explore Massena. I dragged Jason Hendricks and Nate Lashomb all over the island in hopes of helping them get some great photos and footage to help them promote this amazing place. These guys do a phenomenal job promoting all that Massena has to offer. Their commitment to showing the world that Massena has everything needed to be a true vacation destination is endless. I suggest checking out the Explore Massena Website or download the Explore Massena app, so you are always connected to the great things happening in this wonderful little community. As they say, Massena is “Always In Season” and a great place for a Northern NY Adventure.

Aaron Hardy

Northern NY Adventures