Hi All - I am interested in this trip: Oswegatchie River from Inlet to High Falls. Quick Description: An outstanding three day wilderness paddling trip in NY's scenic Adirondack Park. I am just curious if anyone has made this trip, and what time of year is best for it?
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Oswegatchie River from Inlet to High Falls
- Thread starter Patchfly
- Start date
Nice paddle. A few beaver dames ti deal with. Not sure the best time of year as all seasons have their charm. But I esoecially enjoyed the section upstream of high falls. Many beaver dams and blowdown to deal witth, but very secluded.
Many times for me. It is a true wilderness trip. The river is an easy paddle upstream from Inlet, not a fast current in most places. In mid-summer there may be one section with shallows over gravel near Griffin Rapids (just riffles, not rapids), but easily negotiated. Note that this is a very winding river with many sharp turns, so depending on your paddling skill in such, your time to High Falls is variable, but easily done in a full day up, half day down. You will encounter more beaver dams than you can count and some log jams.
A few years ago a paddler drowned when attempting to cross over a difficult log/debris jam in a narrow deep section. I remember seeing that particular jam a few weeks earlier. He slipped into a slot between two parallel logs into deep water, and even though the current was slight, he was trapped in debris underneath.
A few years ago a paddler drowned when attempting to cross over a difficult log/debris jam in a narrow deep section. I remember seeing that particular jam a few weeks earlier. He slipped into a slot between two parallel logs into deep water, and even though the current was slight, he was trapped in debris underneath.
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I have done it twice, once up past high falls, very nice paddle and great camping along the river. I avoid the lean to's and prefer to camp in primitive spots, and there are some nice ones. My son and I where exploring behind one site we stayed at and found an old hunters camp. They had used saplings for a frame and black plastic for walls, and made bunks with hardware cloth for mattresses.
Unfortunately, They never took it down after the hunting season and it was now an eyesore. I have seen pictures of hunt camps up there with wall tents. Canoes and wall tents with wood stoves, nice.
Unfortunately, They never took it down after the hunting season and it was now an eyesore. I have seen pictures of hunt camps up there with wall tents. Canoes and wall tents with wood stoves, nice.
G
Guest
Guest
When have you decided to make your trip. I am planning on doing the same trip in the middle of August. I was thinking of hiking up to the top of Cat Mountain while we were there. Has anyone tried that hike from High Falls?
Toby
Toby
Toby,
Never specifically on a paddling trip, but I have hiked many of the trails in that area. The trail around Glasby Pond on the way to the Cat Mt trail can be muddy as it skirts the edge of the pond and the beavers are quite active. Not that big of a deal though.
Never specifically on a paddling trip, but I have hiked many of the trails in that area. The trail around Glasby Pond on the way to the Cat Mt trail can be muddy as it skirts the edge of the pond and the beavers are quite active. Not that big of a deal though.
Its about a 9 hour round trip unless you are a bank whacker. You can easily stretch it to three days by doing some hiking. I have done it four or five times..forget which. The first time was in the fall of 1963 with an outing club from college.. We were bankwhackers. I had just started canoeing..
The fall has lower flow but more beaver dams. The spring has higher flow and the winter has eradicated a few dams.
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