Grass, Upper South Branch

Spruce Mountain to New Bridge(Copper Rock Falls)

Reach banner
DifficultyII-IV+(V)
Length1.8 mi
Avg Gradient25 fpm
GaugeWest Branch Oswegatchie River Near Harrisville Ny
Flow Rate as of 1 hour
379 cfsbelow recommended
Reach Info Last UpdatedApril 27, 2026

River Description

This is a very scenic section of the Grass river and  is a great place to enjoy the natural beauty of the Grass river. Perfect for intermediate kayakers and open boaters, who want to be work on their skills before moving to the larger sections the Grass has to offer.

Canton - Cranberry Lake Area Reaches

Boland Creek Elm Creek

Grass (1. Lampsons Falls to Downerville) Grass (2. Downerville to Russell)

Grass (3. Morley to Massena)Grass (4.Woods Bridge Road to Route 47)

Grass, Middle BranchGrass, North Branch

Grass, Upper South BranchGrass, Lower South Branch (Twin Falls)

Oswegatchie, E. Branch (2.)Oswegatchie, E. Branch (3.)

Oswegatchie, W. BranchPlumb Brook

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River Features

Put In

Distance: 0 mi

Copper Rock Falls

Class: III+Distance: 1.2 mi
Access Point
Portage
Waterfall / Large Drop
Copper Rock Falls

Copper Rock falls consists of three drops. The first two are big class IV/V drops followed by the river splitting and a nice Class III slide on the left channel. Portaging this rapid is very easy due to a path along the left side of the river, with a nice big eddy and beach to pull out on.

This rapid can also be accessed from Toole Pond Road. There is a small path marked by a sign saying Copper Rock Falls is 0.5 miles from Newbridge.

Take Out

Distance: 2 mi
Take Out

River had no good acess to the start of the rapids due to large gates blocking the roads and no tresspassing signs, so we ended up walking up the copper rock falls trail as fas as possible. there is for sure class II and III above this but the copper rock falls part of this consists of class IV and V, the slide on the left hand side that is marked as class III has some particularly diffcult moves and there is tons of wood also there is a strainer in the main flow on the right. On top of this there is a relativly large hole in the middle of the slide that is above some relativly techinical moves, I would say this is class IV. elswwise there is a class V drop instead of the slide on the left. overall I would say if the rapids way above could be acessesed slightly better that would make this run class II-III with class V at the bottom. our group had more fun checking out the rapids on the section below this that are between the waterfalls partically above twin falls. these rapids had more water, less trees and were road side.

GM
Gregory Miller

May 8, 2013


The First Drop of Copper Rock Falls

GM
Gregory Miller

May 8, 2013


Second Drop of Copper Rock Falls

GM
Gregory Miller

May 8, 2013


The Slide Section of Copper Rock Falls