Urban Kayaking: 7 Miles on One of NYC's Most Neglected Waterways 

It still amazes me to see a kayak unfolded from a bag. The Oru designer is a genius.

Lot of history in Newtown Creek. Revolutionary War -British General Warren had his headquarters along Newtown Creek during the war. The creek became a landing place for British supplies. The British hid their ships in the waterway to protect them from attack by the American army. The Civil War - Ironclad Monitor was built on Newtown Creek near a town called Greenpoint.

That spot that is bubbling up is actually an aeration system. It’s a network of pipes underneath the creek. You can see it on Google maps

That was my sailboat with the janky dock! Haha We do what we can without the ability to drill into bedrock. Serendipitous stumbling into this video

I’ve lived in New York my whole life and never have I once even thought about doing something like this. So cool to see somebody do it!

It’s interesting that businesses seem to have been allowed to hijack the public access to the water over the decades. I may be wrong, but I believe that most of the streets of the 5 boroughs were built right up to water’s edge so that the citizens had easy access to the water. Now many businesses seem to have gates there. (Maybe it’s “adverse possession”?) Not that I see the Gowanus or Newtown Creek as ideal swimming holes…😬 but, as you said, look at the little bit of peace and quiet you’ve been able to enjoy by just being off the streets. You have had to scramble to find some access. In a massive city, any little bit of respite can be gold. Thanks for interesting content! I ❤️NY!

I'd never thought that I'd see the creek from this point of view. Thanks for taking us on this trip!

The Newtown Creek sewage treatment facility is an engineering marvel.

I worked on a tugboat that would move scrap metal in and out of Newtown creek. This was cool to watch!

3:51, the word your looking for is moored. I hate it when I can't think of the right word. The interaction with Esaw at the scrapyard was wholesome. Thank you for this video, very interesting.

Great video. I'm headed over the Pulaski bridge tonight to get some gas in Greenpoint. I'd stay away from Gowanus for now. I'm sure you saw the recent headlines this week that they're testing for cancer causing fumes coming from the canal. Probably not a good idea to breathe that in, lol.

Thx for taking to a place I’ll probably never go great video!

Lol @ the conversation with the scrap metal guy 😂… this is my backyard… I got to know some of the boat people over the years. Definitely an interesting situation going on over there. Great video… keep padding 🤙🏻

31:48 The largest sewage treatment plant in New York City is located on Newtown Creek.

Its nice to run into Cool People out on your adventures!!! Awesome Video Matt!!

That was EPIC! So amazed how you are in one of the most densely populated areas and you only see a few people. Just surreal! Glad you didn’t encounter and black mayonnaise! 😢

Solar panels on those Sailboats are probably running the bilge pumps to keep them afloat.

"Amongst this........Urban Environment". Marvelous restraint!

Where boats go to die, except for the one with a dingy. It looked like it could almost go out for a sail.

Hey Matt, I know that feeling when you’re paddling a new place, those butterflies. Talking to us on cam helps I hope ! Great selection

A folding kayak, amazing! How does it seal it's self. Love watching u and hearing the water. Be safe.

Every once in a while I hang out at one of the dead end streets (overlooking the creek) on the Brooklyn side. It's pretty cool to see the creek from this perspective.

Was doing some research on the creek itself and the boats. Unfortunately due to massive dumping and raw sewage over the years while the creek looks clean it does not test that way. And there’s a whole history on the boats. Thanks for brining me along.

You can find the beauty of Nature everywhere. Sometimes you just have to look for it.

Another cool video, Tks. Clouds were a little dark that day

Thanks for showing us around Matt!

This channel is awesome. Found you a while ago, at a time when I wondered if people in big cities do what I do up here in Lanark township, Ontario. I felt sorry for them in a way, all hard, no soft ! These are very peaceful times out here on the water, no matter where you are in the world. Enjoy every minute that you offer my friend. Backdrops of the skyline is da rock ! But just in case you need a special special to add to these awesome adventures is a quick map like edited in for us folks not too familiar with the surroundings around you of which you speak of. Just a love in between us, keep on Kayaking !!, and I'll be watching when I get back from Kayaking !

What an awesome channel we get to see parts of the city that no one thinks about. Never heard of Western Beef , they,re all over NYC good supermarkets.

a bit depressing. all that shoreline and effort for independent business. Nobody uses the water much anymore.. the steel people are very smart. Way more tonnage across the waters. Thanks for the ride. We used to go to container docks in the 80s..sometimes smaller places than expected. These water ways made me wonder. It was much worse back then. I am up in northern half of maine with a ten foot kayak. I paddle alone all the tme. it is more dangerous there.. yelling for help where there is no people, let alone cellphone..I am a bit crazy like that. I visit islands in the big rivers that have no interference, straight oaks colonials could not cut..and bald eagles...lots of wildlife... and a deep breath that feeds the soul. New york city area had an even bigger habitat as a warmer welcome place...once upon a time.

WOW what a fascinating voyage this is the coolest thing. Brings back memories. Thanks for making the trip out there

you always find some great places to kayak, really great tour of the city you give us

it's amazing how things change with time. Paddling on the old highway etc....

I like to follow kayak adventures on RU-vid. Your's has become a favorite. Personality and quality of content are the most important things. It's pretty clear you've put a lot into improving your equipment and skill. I find myself looking forward to the next video.

Hidden debris just under the surface is always an unwelcomed surprise!

20 something years I used to troop over the Pulaski BR. From Greenpoint to LIC to catch the 7 train. Good ol’ days !!! People live on these boats, since the late early 2000’s

Another great video! If you were contemplating doing the Gowanus Canal, your bravery is commendable (it is anyway). I read things about how polluted these waterways are-things like 14' of "Black Mayonnaise" on the bottom. Interestingly, the two people you spoke to were very friendly. There is a club called "Liquid Sky" who periodically circumnavigate Manhattan. You seem to have strong paddle skills, and you could make the best Urban Kayaking video ever on that trip!

Another great video. Despite the clean-up efforts, not sure I would venture into the Gowanus Canal -- there are still days it stinks to high heaven -- probably a good thing you were unable to find an access point.

Wow! Thank you for sharing your journey through this creek. My goodness, so much new highrises along the way. Those sailing boats....

LOLL the triple parked boats, the girls climbing the bridge, is the most NY sh** ever

Great and long row.. interesting to see an industrial urban environment creek like this.. I been waiting for this video!

Those fancy new apartments get a nice water view of Newtown Creek

Nothing much to say, just appreciate your videos and showing another side of nyc!

I live in the area and have driven over those bridges multiple times. It's nice to see it from another perspective.

Thanks for another awesome video, I binge watched all the nyc ones. and was waiting for a new one. Keep on the good work, you rock.

Awesome!

Man your brave for doing this 😅😬😆 I love how the people were interacting with you. New Yorkers are the best.

Another cool vid. Thanks 🎉🎉🎉

Picking up my Eddyline Kayak Saturday. Spoke with lady who is Kayak instructor today. She will give my wife and I lessons. All we need to do is hit the water.

don't be surprised if in like a few months there are like 20 folding kayaks in some little NYC stream, looks like great fun

Great video Matt! That creek looks clean to me. Cleaner than some other areas you have been in. I was amazed by the Bronx River. That creek would be a river in my part of Texas!

Awesome video, really interesting but man you have guts to kayak in that creek.

Thanks for sharing your adventure !

Awesome. Thanks for the video.

I would be so afraid that I'd touch that water, or worse, fall in! Especially when you pointed out whatever that was that was bubbling in the water. This was a fascinating video and thank you so much for bringing it to us. I'm glad I found your channel!

How do you clean you Kayak after a day in water?

great stuff as always! who knew the newtown creek could access so many locations in northern bk

Matt I've totally fallen in love with your videos I've seen every one. The best one was Bronx and those water falls.

Another great video! Probably need to sanitize that kayak and possibly yourself!

Really cool thanks for sharing.😎👍

I wish you have a little image to show where you are approximately on a small map on the corner of the video. Kind of like how racing is televised. Keep it up man! Bronx River one was great.

I advise that you do not paddle Gowanus Canal!! That is actually 1 of the most polluted waterways in America! I've lived near it my entire life.

Wow, I can't believe you actually did it!! I grew up in Middle Village not too far from there. Definitely looks a lot cleaner than back when I was a kid

Matt my good friend NYC tourism board should hire you as NYC ambassador because you make any NYC waterway into an amazing kayaking ride . Your videos are a feast for the eyes specially for those of us that been living in NYC and take our waterways for granted . 🫡🫡

Thanks for the video. I like to follow you along on the map.

Great tour!

Great video

I love these videos you're doing. You're passing through places I've lived... although I'm more of a land-lover so you're showing me a new viewpoint..... LOL Western Beef. Yeah, that is a small chain that I'd never heard of until moving to that area. It's uh.... unfancy. Keep up the good work.

You're a much braver man than I, Matt. Cool video.

Thanks for sharing this adventure.

That hat makes you look like a city official lol

I also fly my drone here often, nice to see this perspective

Mooring. They are moored. ❤ the videos!

Welcome back

I LIVE HERE OMG MATTTTTTTTTTT I MISSED YOU haha

Pretty cool to see city from that vantage point. Those kids climbing the bridge reminds me of the dumb stuff I did as a kid 😂. I'm Kinda glad to see them out exploring and pushing limits rather than at home on a device though :). Keep up your great adventures and videos and I'll keep watching them.

So cool !

Nice like watching you do what I wanted to but never did 😢 stay safe.

Beautiful video

Awesome video

Thanks for the views! There's another older Kosciuszko Bridge up here just north of Albany (locally called the Twin Bridges).

I started watching this after lunch. I thought why am I just watching? Got my rowboat out and rowed out to a sand bar and back about 5 miles. Then watched the rest. I tracked along with google earth very interesting

Good video. None of those boat moorings looked official and all of the boats looked well used. In-city waterways are interesting, usually polluted, but also now frequently being cleaned and re-wilded. That bubbling is dangerous, most boaters know, but bubbling means gas in water meaning lower density water that may not maintain buoyancy. Trivia: Newtown en Français is Villeneuve, a common name of towns or areas in large cities, recognizable to Formula 1 fans, Jacques Villeneuve had a popular bar restaurant in Montréal called Newtown.

Gowanus Canal might be more polluted!!

Matt this was an awesome video..I wish you would have explore those sail boats more...see if they are empty and one can take them..

Wow! Another Great video!! I just watched a Video "New York's Dangerous Gowanus Canal Situation" that was some nasty water.

I enjoy your videos keep up the great work

Matt that city is so huge one can find a little hole and live for free...rent free..

Ewww .....those dead rats 🤢 You are brave my friend, hope you had Purell after touching that rope! Have you paddled Sherman Creek? I'm making a list of all the places I want to go

How do you maneuver the view on your camera while paddling? Another cool video. That little park you were wondering about was the remnants of an old toll bridge from the 1800's called Plank Rd Public Shoreline. You paddle right past some of the remaining wooden piling structure.

I’m happy you corrected from Hunts point to Hunters Point. Because Hunts Point is in the Bronx area

Just started watching your videos - they are great! If you haven’t done it, i heard that there are some spots to kayak in the Meadowlands (NJ)

Moored is the right word.

There was an animal fat and bone rendering plant on the Creek...years ago. It stunk so bad it took 10 years for the stink to clear.

Thank you so much for the video- we have inflatable standup paddleboards and live in the area, where New town Creek is the closest waterway. I've been a little nervous to try paddling around the creek because of pollution concerns, but your adventure has inspired me to give it a shot :)

work at the exxon site and waste management (green building at 14:45) doing environmental remediation work.. the barge at 14:15 is for the asphalt plant. it alot cleaner then years past but its still a super fund site and very polluted. we have shower onsite incase we get the water on us. i would plenty of wildlife surprisingly. talked to a homeless guy that caught a three eyed catfish and still ate it... we did some bulkhead repair and hit a cast iron truck at around 50 feet down. the mud bottom swallows anything that sinks so there prob so much uncovered history in the ground well never find. i used to have to change the boom at 24:50. they are to catch petroleum contamination thats in all in the ground water in the area and in certain areas like that where it leaches under and into the creek . another reason they tend to not let the public in these areas are you have the potential to stir up or disturb or release more of the containment. along with the obvious health concerns ..

Just came home on my dinner break, turned on my TV and launched RU-vid and first thing I see is a brand new video from Matt Two Feet Outdoors!! Yeah buddy! In my neck of the woods! I was thinking about going to Newton Creek but wasn't sure because I read it's very polluted and smells just like The Gowanus Canal which I would also like to check out. I see you paddling in Newtown Creek and it looks ok to me! Thank you Matt!! Love watching your videos! I'm considering a solo excursion through the Pine Barrens in NJ, have you been there and if so what do you think? Any advice? Thank you!

It was always between the newtown creek and gowanus canal to which was more polluted.

Brave man right here, to go through that disgusting water takes some balls… you might grow a few new ones after breathing the fumes coming off the creek 😂

Awesome video are you ever worried about the cleanliness of the water We are planning magnet fishing on the gowanus canal and Newton Creek soon. I don't know if you seen a videos couple that finds a safe with almost $100,000 in it that is my wife and I maybe you want to try magnet fishing one day off of these bridges! I do hear they're extremely polluted though lol

Matt what's up eith those sail boats??Matt you have a lot of guts foing that bro..