Moose,

Knife Boof

Knife Boof
Photo of Hot shot by Neil Cowley taken 10/00

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Updated	Level
MOOSE RIVER AT MCKEEVER NY	2.50 - 5.50 ft	01h13m	3.25 ft (rc= 0.2 )

River Description

Getcher Moose Fest Newspaper here! (pdf file, 10.9 MB)

SAFETY WARNING: Beware of logs and stumps with huge root balls, specifically at Agers Falls and the Alpine Line at Crystal. You can scout both prior to the release. Alpine Lumber can only be detected from downstream (a short walk up from the takeout). Agers Lumber can be seen from river left by the fence. There is wood throughout, which can be easily missed but would be dangerous for a swimmer. (Thanks to AW Safety Chair Tim Kelley for this warning.)

All boaters planning to paddle the Bottom Moose are required to sign-in at the Fortis Hydro office (located between Agers Falls and the take-out overlooking the right left side of Crystal) before accessing the river. On release days a sign reading "Whitewater recreation sign-in" is placed by the side of the road at the entrance to the office. Click here for the details.

The Bottom Moose is perhaps the most famous, biggest, most important whitewater run in New York state--the Gauley of the North. Despite occasionally frosty or downright snowy weather, MooseFest always attracts a large crowd of boaters for the great whitewater with unique drops and the waycool indoor festival with a small-town feel.

Pool-drop? Try lake-drop! Aside from the nine rapids described below, it's all flatwater. All the gradient on this reach takes place on the nine rapids. That means that those rapids are huge.

Generally speaking, paddlers should have Class-V skills if they want to have fun on the Bottom Moose. A creek boat is recommended, especially at high water, and especially for a paddler's intro runs on the Bottom. Truth is, there's not much play on this reach anyway.

Releases occur on weekends in October and April. Check out Moose Fest on October 17-19!

From the West:
From the NY Thruway, take Exit 33 (Rome). Head right from the ramp, taking Rte. 365 East, toward Rome.
In Rome, follow the signs for Rte. 26 North.
Follow 26 for about 31 miles into Collinsville.
In Collinsville, you'll come to an intersection where Rte. 26 bangs Left. Don't follow 26 here; instead, head Straight onto Rte. 12D.
You'll cross Rte. 12 and follow the road you're on through town. You're now on Center St.; follow it as it curves to the Right.
After you curve around, take your first Left. Cross the Black River and bear right onto Laura St.
After about half a mile, bear Left onto Lyonsdale Rd.
To get to the takeout from here, simply take a left after about 0.3 miles onto Shibley Rd.; after crossing the Moose River, take your first Right onto the dirt road. Follow it around and park in the parking areas on River Right.
To get to the putin from Lyonsdale Rd., click on the Map or Directions tab in this page. Follow Lyonsdale Rd., bear Left onto Hunkins Rd., and take a Left at the T-intersection onto Fowlersville Rd.
You can park in the sandy parking area on River Left or cross the bridge and take the funky sandy road to putin on River Right.

If you're coming up via Rte. 12, zoom in on Port Leyden to see the roads in that area; if you're coming via Rte. 26 and 12D, zoom in on Lyons Falls. Then click on the Map tab in this page to get to the putin.

Latitude/longitude data are verified by GPS.

And now for something completely different: ZoneDoggyDogg runs Lyon's Falls!

Click here for Karl Gesslein's view of the Bottom Moose. (Clicking will open up a new browser window.)
If you like that, check out some more drawings here.

Click here for a good virtual tour.

Check out Karl Gesslein's Nealy-inspired Moose Drawings by clicking here!

Lower Moose (Class III-IV)
Middle Moose (Class III)
Black (Class III)
Independence (Class II-V+)
Otter Creek (Class III-IV[V+])