Clayton, NY: A Great Loop Must Stop

Editor's Note:  AGLCA's Director, Kim Russo, shares one of her favorite stops on her own Great Loop. 

As this year’s fleet heads towards the Great Lakes, I thought I’d share one of my absolute favorite stops on the Great Loop: Clayton, NY.

Clayton is located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River just a few miles from Lake Ontario. Although we took the Erie Canal to the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario, which gave us the option to head directly into Trenton or Kingston, Ontario, a side trip to the scenic beauty of the Thousand Islands was on our must-do list. The Town of Clayton, however, was a fabulous surprise as I hadn’t heard much about it from other Loopers.

Navigation Tip: If you choose to head to Clayton from Lake Ontario, be sure to pass Carleton Island on the north side. Two of our three navigation resources routed us to the south side and we quickly found water shallower than we liked, so we turned around and took the island to our starboard side.

Marina Recommendation: We tied up at Clayton Harbor Municipal Marina (an AGLCA sponsor). The marina is well-protected, and its staff was friendly and helpful. Even better, there’s a path connecting it to the heart of the downtown area, which is only a short walk away. At about $2/foot, Clayton Harbor is a reasonably priced option to tie up for a few days while you explore Clayton and the Thousand Islands. The marina was built in 2016. The docks are in excellent condition and the water is crystal clear.

Typically when we arrive someplace new, I take a long walk to scout what’s around and see where we might like to eat and what we might like to do during our stay. Walking into Clayton, I was instantly charmed by the waterfront’s colorful Adirondack chairs and the restaurants and shops along Riverside Drive and beyond.

Restaurants: There are many, but if you are searching for breakfast, Bella’s has great food and an amazing view of the water. If you’re a burger lover like me, try The Hops Spot. This bed and breakfast has an outdoor restaurant that specializes in gourmet burgers. Lyric Coffee was a lovely spot to get your morning caffeine and The Scoop serves Hershey’s ice cream in some unique ways (like on a donut!). 

Shops: River Rats Cheese Store is a must-stop to stock up on docktails snacks. You can watch them making the cheese through a window at the back of the store. It doesn’t get much fresher! There’s also an Ace Hardware that was once a department store and has just about anything you might need in an old-timey atmosphere.  There are also many galleries and gift shops selling goods from local merchants. The Golden Cleat offers a collection of nautical-themed jewelry and gifts that are likely to tempt any Looper.

Antique Boat Museum: Don’t miss Clayton’s Antique Boat Museum, probably the finest on the Loop. When past Loopers talked about Clayton, this was what they mentioned, and rightfully so. The in-water and building-housed collection of antique boats is unsurpassed with many exhibits and tours. If your time in Clayton is limited, this is where you want to spend it!

The rest of the Thousand Islands: Clayton is a great jumping off point for further exploration of the Thousand Islands. The area straddles the U.S./Canadian border and is a popular tourist destination due to its scenic beauty and waterfront activities.

Boldt Castle on Heart Island is another must-see in the Thousand Islands. It was built by George Boldt, a hotelier, who was constructing it as a gift for his wife. When she suddenly died before the home’s completion, construction was halted and the structure was left to the elements and vandals, becoming more and more dilapidated for nearly 75 years. The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977 and began restoring it to the grandeur Boldt envisioned. You can tie up your own boat there to tour the castle and other structures on Heart Island. We were there on the busy July 4th weekend and there was still plenty of space available to dock private boats. But if you prefer not to take your own boat to Heart Island, you can tie up at the Thousand Island Club on Wellesley Island and walk or bike to the Boldt Castle Yacht House. The Yacht House is worth a tour as well, and from there, you can take a shuttle boat over to the castle.

Before heading back towards Lake Ontario, we also made a stop at Singer Castle. If Boldt Castle feels like a fairytale/love story, Singer Castle feels more like the villain’s lair. Complete with suits of armor, swords, and secret passageways, Singer Castle has a more ominous vibe, but the tour there is memorable and absolutely worth the stop.

Our route through the Thousand Islands kept us on the U.S. side of the border until we completed our tour of Singer Castle. When we left there, we rounded the northern end of the island which brought us to the Canadian side of the Waterway. From there, we stayed on the Canadian side and headed into Kingston.

Don’t forget that you’ll check in to Canada the first time you “touch soil” meaning when you tie up or drop anchor. Check out the article in the May Issue of the Great Loop Link for more details on the process of clearing customs.

AGLCA resources for cruising this area:

Cruising Info Video – Oswego, NY to Clayton, NY
Cruising Info Video – Clayton, NY to Wellesley Island, NY
Cruising Info Video – Wellesley Island, NY to Kingston, ON
Great Loop Lifestyle Video – Thousand Islands
Harbor Hosts
Harbor Guides

Join us today to gain access to these resources and begin planning your own cruise to Clayton!