- American Whitewater

Difficulty	IV-V(V+)
Length	3.5 Miles
Gauge	RONDOUT CREEK AT ROSENDALE NY
Flow Range	11 - 16 FT
Flow Rate as of: 18 minutes ago	10.19 [FT]
Reach Info Last Updated	04/26/2016 1:03 pm

River Description

The Beer Kill flows through a steep, wooded gorge in the Southern Catskills. It is predominantly Class IV/IV+ ledge drop boating interspersed with some easier boogie water between the larger drops. Most people will want to portage three times. The portages, coupled with the depth and apparent remoteness of the gorge, create a wilderness feel that is unique to the region and seem to make the portages more tolerable, if not enjoyable.

The beginning of the run is slow-going with a likely portage of the second rapid, immediately below the put-in bridge. This one is a narrow toaster slot that has wood stuffed in an undercut on the right side. After a couple of notable drops, the most significant of which is a 5 foot boof onto a slide, you'll need to be heads up for a horizon line which indicates Hanging Rock Falls. Pull out on the left. Rumor has it that the first 20 footer has been run, but shortly below are two even bigger drops, of which the final one drops at least 30 feet onto rock. Walk on the left and take time to admire the spectacular three- tiered falls. The Beer Kill has a very intimate feel and Hanging Rock Falls, at a total height of close to 100 feet, adds significantly to the character of the river, despite being a rather cumbersome carry. To re-enter the river, it might be necessary to lower boats down because of the steepness of the gorge; the loose dirt and rock make finding sturdy footing somewhat difficult. But your efforts will be rewarded with a mile of excellent paddling. The drops are comfortably spaced, but there are a few places where you can feel a bit of tilt to the riverbed. Scout the horizon lines and be prepared for the very real possibility of a strainer in an inopportune place. Be VERY heads up on this run for wood. A final portage will probably be required towards the end of the gorge. This 20 footer has been run, but the landing is shallow and should be scouted carefully. The portage is on the left and is reasonably strenuous, but still seems to be the preferable mode of transportation. One other rapid deserves mention on this run. Shortly after the portage around Hanging Rock Falls is a rapid marked by a boulder in the center. The left side of this rapid has a dangerous sieve and the right side has an undercut. The rapid is not particularly difficult but warrants caution.

Shuttle Directions:

The Beer Kill can be found by heading west from the town of Ellenville on Rte. 52. Follow the river upstream and make a right onto County Road 53 and park in a small turn-out a few hundred feet downstream of the confluence with the West Branch of the Beer Kill (a short, roadside Class 4/5 section). From the take-out, follow 53 upstream along the West Branch until it rejoins Rte. 52. You will stay on 52 for a very short time before making a right back onto 53. Follow 53 uphill for a couple of miles and then make a right onto Marcus Road, which at the time of this writing is not denoted by a road sign, but will be the only right hand turn fitting the description. Go with your instincts and you will soon find yourself crossing a bridge over the Beer Kill which is the put- in.

Catskills Area Reaches

Basic Creek Batavia Kill Bear Kill

Beaver Kill (Delaware Trib) Beaver Kill (Hudson Trib) Beer Kill

Beer Kill, W. Branch Bowery Creek Bush Kill

Callicoon Creek, E. Branch Callicoon Creek, N. Branch Catskill Creek (1.)

Catskill Creek (2.) Catskill Creek (4.) Claverack Creek

Coxing Kill Delaware Delaware, E. Branch

Delaware, W. Branch Little Delaware Dry Brook

East Kill Esopus Creek (1) Esopus Creek (2)

Esopus Creek (3) Esopus Creek (4) Esopus Creek (5)

Hannacrois Creek Kaaterskill Creek (1.) Kaaterskill Creek (2.)

Kinderhook Creek (3.) Kiskatom Creek Mombaccus Creek

Mill Brook Neversink (1.) Neversink, E. Branch

Neversink, W. Branch Peters Kill Platte Kill

Plattekill Creek Potic Creek Roeliff Jansen Kill (1)

Roeliff Jansen Kill (2) Rochester Creek Rondout Creek (1)

Rondout Creek (2) Rondout Creek (3) Sandburg Creek

Saw Kill (1) Saw Kill (2) Saw Kill (3)

Schoharie Creek (1.) Schoharie Creek (2.) Shingle Kill Creek

Squirmer Creek Stony Clove Creek Ten Mile Creek

Thorp Creek Tremper Kill Wallkill

West Kill Woodland Creek Vly Creek

Downstate New York Area Reaches

Beer Kill Beer Kill, W. Branch

Callicoon Creek, E. Branch Callicoon Creek, N. Branch

Coxing Kill Croton

Delaware (1.) Delaware (2. Mongaup Wave)

Delaware (3.) Fishkill Creek

Mombaccus Creek Mongaup

Moodna Creek Neversink (1.)

Neversink (2.) Neversink, E. Branch

Peters Kill Pocantico

Popolopen Brook Ramapo

Rochester Creek Rondout Creek (1.)

Rondout Creek (2.) Rondout Creek (3.)

Sandburg Creek Stony Brook (1.)

Stony Brook (2.) Wallkill

Wappinger Creek

Google Map of New York Whitewater

New York Whitewater Paddlers Facebook Group

Rapid Descriptions

Put In

Class - Mile - 0

Put in at the Bridge on Marcus Rd.

Toaster Slot

Class - 5.3 Mile - 0.1

Get out on the left after running the rapid under the bridge to portage this nasty, undercut slot.

Assmaster

Class - 5.0 Mile - 0.2

This is the unfortunately named Assmaster. There is a fair amount of abuse on your backside, so I suppose it's a fitting name. You can hit the boof just about anywhere; the left is not as high, but go to far left and you'll be peeling yourself off the rocks along the bank.

Hanging Rock Falls (First Drop)

Class - 5.3 Mile - 0.4

The first drop might actually be runnable if your day job involves leaping tall buildings in a single bound. Ted left his cape at home on this day unfortunately.

Hanging Rock Falls (Final Drops)

Class - 5.3 Mile - 0.5

The last two land on rocks. Portage on the left. Lowering boats is strongly recommended to get back to river level.

Sieve Rapid

Class - IV Mile - 0.7

It's not really too visible in this shot, but the moss covered rock forms an ugly sieve. I've run the left to right move above the sieve, but the better line is right of the boulder in the center. It does get a little bony at lower flows though.

First Big Drop after the Carry

Class - 5.0 Mile - 0.8

This is the first big rapid below the portage at Hanging Rock Falls. The key is to have a little right angle as you come off the vertical drop, because most of the flow wants to push you left into an undercut.

Lots of Great Boogie Water

Class - IV+ Mile - 0.9

The next mile or so is all more or less boat scoutable, depending on your comfort level of doing so. You'll want to look at a couple of horizon lines unless you're with someone who knows the run, but otherwise everthing is good to go until you get to a funnelled, sliding drop with a boof in the center. Call this one a class V. It comes about 3/4 of a mile into the gorge.

Ignorance is Bliss

Class - 5.2 Mile - 2

This is big waterfall with a tough approach. The drop lands on a shelf and has a small sweet spot. It has been run, but is more often portaged on the left.

Slot Boof

Class - IV+ Mile - 2.2

This is the last drop on the run. It's a pretty straightforward boof, but the cave on the right and the wood on the left make it interesting.

Take out

Class - Mile - 2.5

After a nice stretch of Class 3 boogie, the West Branch of the Beerkill will come in on the right. Take out shortly thereafter on the right alongside County Road 53. A longer run can be had by running down to the ballfield in Ellenville if so desired. This will add a few interesting ledge drops to the day.

Comments

James Dougherty

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12 years ago

Marcus Rd has a sign but it's bent. If you go slow and look for it, you'll see it. It's a small Rd with a house on the corner on the far side of the road. I made a right turn after the bridge which will take you back to 209 hoping to do some scouting but you cant see anything from the Rd and the climb down would have been very difficult at best.

Travis Robie

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12 years ago

Here is the full list of drop names, and some notes on their current condition as of 10/30/06

1. Toaster - Has been run.. slot has a rock in the landing ( according to Paul Einfeldt ). Also has the potential of catching wood.

2. Assmaster - Note: River wide strainer immediately after this rapid.

3. Hanging Rock Falls

4. Tree Drop / Sieve Rapid - Used to be a tree across the entire rapid, which forced one to run hard right, far away from the sieve.
Note: There is currently wood in the right side so run left.. closer to the sieve.

4. Double Drop - Double boof drop.

5. Fifty-Fifty - First Big Drop after Carry

6. Mushroom - Similar to fifty fify, a steep funnel with a large boil / boof in the top and a flushy hole at the bottom.

7. Ignorance is Bliss

8. Coffin - Named after large slab of rock that sticks up on the right side of the final boof.

Also, those who run the Beer Kill may now enjoy some new scenery.. a two person paddle boat seems to have attempted the run.

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Summary of Gauge Readings

This stays up longer than other Catskill creeks, because of the lake above it. The Rondout will need to be 11 feet, but look for it to peak over 12.5 ft before coming down if there hasnÂt been any recent precipitation or the lake may not fill before spilling over.

If this is high (>16 ft.), head somewhere else, because of the possibility of flushing into a new strainer or one of the normally portaged rapids. I usually like to hit the Beer Kill a couple of days after a rain when everything else has dropped too low in the area.

Gauge Name	Reading	Time	Comment
RONDOUT CREEK AT ROSENDALE NY AW Gauge Info	10.19 ft	00h18m	n/a

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