Yes, there are really a thousand islands in the western border of Northern New York. At latest count, there are 1,864 islands in the 1,000 Islands region, where the St. Lawrence River emerges from Lake Ontario and continues along the New York/Canadian border. It's no coincidence that water is a major influence for the people living in communities in this region. The trail also includes the city of Watertown and a handful of other towns more inland in what's known as the Tug Hill Plateau.