Kayaker Set Up Shop On The Mill River

Here is some of what you see while gliding through lily pads on a kayak trip down the Mill River: Turtles dipping their heads out of the water. Deer wandering the shores. A roaring waterfall by Goose Dam.

The water is so clear that you can see fish darting beneath the surface.

John Pescatore wanted to share that experience with the rest of New Haven. So he has started up a kayak rental service Kingfisher Adventures.

Pescatore and his son Tom have kayaked the Mill River together for years. When people started spending time outdoors more during the pandemic, they didn’t see too many people paddling through the water near East Rock. John recognized that it was difficult for most people to have the space to own kayaks in the Elm City and wanted to change that.

“This river is as calm and as peaceful as possible,” said Tom. ​“We just wanted to share that with other people.”

After obtaining a permit from the city in mid-June, the Pescatores set up 13 kayaks at the Orange Street Canoe Launch. According to Tom, around 35 people come to rent the kayaks every day on the weekends. They offer reduced hours during the week because the business shares the space with the Parks Department, which runs programs on weekdays.

Tom said that Mill River is the perfect spot for beginners to learn. The water reaches a depth of only around five feet in the deeper areas. Staff at the canoe launch teach people how to paddle and turn before setting them off on their way down the river.

Towards the beginning of the river, uprooted trees make convenient perches for birds. Nearby, water lilies and pickerelweed poke their petals out of the water.

“At different times, I’ve seen ospreys, egrets, and a great blue heron,” said Tom, adding that his father has become much more interested in bird watching after starting the rental service.

Before the rental business, John led boating programs at the Canal Dock Boathouse.

There are nearly two miles of water to cover if one wants to traverse the entire river. It takes around an hour to go in either direction and back.

Leda Blaires Ciotti rented a kayak with friends this past Sunday afternoon. She said the waterfall was her favorite part of the river. The waterfall is right alongside the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop. Currents get stronger near the dam, so Tom advises renters not to go too close to it.

That said, one would need to be extremely determined in order to attempt it. Currents push kayakers back into the branches.

“I got attacked by the leaves!” said Seyma Kaya, Ciotti’s friend.

Kaya compared Mill River to her experience kayaking in Long Wharf: ​“This river is much calmer, softer, and prettier — less industrial.”

According to Tom, people in their 80s and children as young as 6 have paddled their own kayaks on Mill River. Some of the kayaks offered are equipped with tow ropes so that kids can tag along after their parents if they get tired. Although the Pescatores currently offer only single-person kayaks, they have put in an order for double kayaks.

The Pescatores also run guided tours down the Quinnipiac River, which has stronger currents given its proximity to the mouth of the harbor. According to Tom, one highlight is being able to paddle all the way under the I‑95 highway. At that site, they also offer paddleboards.

Tom recommends bringing a hat and water bottle. The business will continue to run through September and October until the water gets too cold.