For even more good reasons than its name implies, the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run is the crown jewel of go-fast boating events in the Northeast. From its spectacular scenery to the primary charity—Make-A-Wish of Central New York—it serves, the Clayton, N.Y., happening delivers an experience like no other. This year’s event is set for July 17-19, and has more than 100 boats registered and 100-plus sponsors inked.
The 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run is the very definition of something to do before you die.
Yet there a couple of other fine, less-traveled events—both on pristine waterways—in the region that you also need to put on your to-do list.
Dubbed the HK Motorsports Land and Lake Poker Run and set for July 12, the first is on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. The event benefits the state’s Easter Seals program. Last year, it attracted 80-plus boats and raised more $175,000 for the charity. A pair of Super Stock-class racers who have homes on the shores of the forest-surrounded waterway, Chris Hopgood and Daren Kittredge rarely miss it.
“I have done a ton of poker runs since 2003,” Kittredge explained following the 2024 event. “This is one of the smaller ones, but the lake is beautiful and it’s for a great cause.
“And the pre-party and after-party are great, too,” he added.
Though the playground for the Lake Champlain Poker Run in Vermont is a lot larger than Lake Winnipesaukee, the event tends to attract a smaller group, mostly in the 50- to 60-boat range. But the jagged mountain scenery surrounding the 100-plus-mile long waterway is every bit as breathtaking as that of “Lake Winnie” and the event also supports a worthy local charity called Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. Set for August 14-16, the Lake Champlain Poker Run raised more than $60,000 for the charity in 2024.
Though both are slightly off the beaten path, the Lake Winnipesaukee Lake Champlain Poker Run are hidden gems. And both are more than more worthy of whatever detour you need to take—at least once in your boating life—to get there.—Matt Trulio
