Ausable
7. Ausable Chasm to US Route 9(Ausable Chasm)
| Difficulty | IV+ |
| Length | 3.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Ausable River Near Au Sable Forks Ny |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 924 cfsmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | February 15, 2018 |
Projects
New York State Electric and Gas blocked access to the Ausable River downstream of their Rainbow Falls project for many years. AW worked through the dam relicensing process for over 6 years to force the power company to allow public access. Every step was a challenge. Even though federal [...]Read More
River Description
The Ausable Chasm is a committing Class IV/IV+ river in a vertical walled canyon. Paddling high quality rapids through an east coast slot canyon provides an extraordinary and unique experience for advanced whitewater paddlers. The river offers 6 to 8 high quality class IV rapids ranging from vertical ledges to long slides, to rapids laced with waves and holes. After paddling the Chasm, paddlers must paddle out over a couple miles of swiftly moving but shallow flatwater. Suitable natural flows are common throughout the year, including summer and fall, which is a regional rarity. The river can be run quite low. 3
Wood and metal debris are present in the Chasm, and metal debris has specifically been noted above and immediately below Mike's Hole. The debris pose the largest threat to paddlers in the Chasm, and shifts regularly between seasons from ice action.
NOTE: In 2017 a house-sized rock fell from the wall into the water upstream of Mikes Hole. It has had little effect on the run at regular flows but at 1000+ cfs Mikes hole has become a river wide keeper hole where before it flushed on the left.
Federal regulators allow the power company to close their access area to prevent river access between halloween and memorial day weeked, so the Chasm is open June-October. The Ausable Chasm Company provides hiking, viewing, and scouting opportunities on numerous decks and walkways in the gorge (for a fee). Once on the river, scout and portage only below the high water mark to avoid trespassing on Ausable Chasm Company lands. Do not park in the bar's parking lot at the put in - stick to the provided spaces or park legally elsewhere. There is a public lot near the bridge that you can park in after dropping off your gear. Please recognize that we are new visitors to the area, so respectful behavior is critical.
Historically the power company blocked all public access. American Whitewater negotiated a whitewater flow study and led adv
...River Features
Put In Pool
The put in for the Ausable Chasm is owned by the power company and has historically been closed to paddlers. In Spring 2010, based on years of work by AW and local volunteers, the FERC granted paddlers access.
Put In Parking (rough estimate)
Please add the precise location. Look for signs in this area for where to park.
2nd Rapid
This rapid is a fun little slide with a wave-hole to crash through. This is a good warm up rapid for the slides that follow.
Left Side Elephant Head
The left line through Elephant Head is a good sneak route that avoids the more difficult right line. You can see the big rock in the middle of the river that splits the flow. The left line is right next to, and wrapping around this rock.
Elephant Head
The line is far river right, a short boof onto a ledge, before eventually dropping off the ledge 20-30 yards downstream.
The picture is the Hero Line through Elephant Head Rapid and that line is the toughest challenge on the run.
Note: as of June, 2010, the Hero Line is even tougher, and paddlers are warned away from it.
Long One
This long class IV rapid has the excitement of a fairly blind start and big holes and waves all the way down. At the bottom a rock spire splits the current and most paddlers eddy out on the right and then ferry back across the current to exit on the left.
Mike's Hole (lead-in)
Mike's hole is a solid Class IV rapid with multiple hazards. First and foremost is the debris left in the river by the Chasm Company. There is a large I-beam in the lead-in on river left, as well as some other metal debris. There is also metal gates and debris just under the surface below the hole and debris in the right side of the hole. Obviously something must be done about this. The debris also moves around so scout and be careful!The line, however, is to stay right through the lead-in and then skitter left into the eddy next to Mike's Hole. The wall on the right, next to the hole, is undercut.
Mike's Hole Itself
Mike's Hole itself is relatively easy to avoid by boofing left at medium flows. NOTE: In 2017 a house-sized rock fell from the wall into the water upstream of Mikes Hole. It has had little effect on the run at regular flows but at 1000+ cfs Mikes hole has become a river wide keeper hole where before it flushed on the left.
The Pinch of the Chasm
This part of the gorge is serene and very beautiful. With the rapids behind you, it is a great place to sit back and admire the scenery.
Exit Canal
The last little rapid has been altered to promote safe passage of innertubes. It is a straight shot.
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportPut in is:
37 Old State Rd, Keeseville, NY 12911
Just before the bridge on the left there are four spots. Access to the the water is directly to the right of the power company gates
D. Brucas runs right line at 257 cfs
257 cfs
At 257 cfs
Paddled the chasm on 8/31/2012 at 257 cfs. We did not encounter wood or beams in play; but saw beams on the side of the chasm so its probably best to scout if in doubt or after heavy rain. The rapids are boatable at this level (not deserving of the IV+ ratings though). The paddle out was boney (a few parts we did need to portage), but from our groups perspective, worth it for the experience of the chasm if you are not usually in the area.
There is a large steel I-beam extending across the river just before the put-in for the Chasm raft rides. It is hard or impossible to eddy out before it and would advise not running it below 800 as it creates an undercut. At higher levels you go right over it but I would highly advise using serious caution at this section of the river and scout it first.
At 450cfs we had 5 runs of Elephant though the meat. A center line in the chute driving hard right and tight to the right wall. We had one swim and there was another swim by another group. The reported hazardous pin rock in the right of elephant was undetected by our boaters and was frankly reported by the chasm mgmt and not a class 4-5 boater (to my knowledge) take it for what it's worth and use your own best judgement. The 2nd rapid under the bridge is the most deceiving and so far sees the most swims outside of the rare running of Elephant.
The Chasm is finally Open for boaters on Friday 6-18-2010 barring any last minute issues with access. It should be available every day through October. The Chasm owners have made it known not to scout above the Medium High water mark or legal action may be taken. They have mentioned that they think Elephant rock has a New Significant Pinning rock in the right line...Hero Line if you will. Look for the River Left channel at Elephant Rock for a first run.
This is the entrance to the last rapid. This I-beam is visable at highler levels, but would prove difficult to get around at low levels as shown here.
At this low level the I-beam would prove difficult to navigate around
This I-beam is on the left hand bank. At higher levels (300 CFS)it is partially submerged.
This gave me concern. When I run it at higher level this steel bar is not visable (it is hard to see in the picture but look towards the tongue).
AT lower levels it is clear the bar goes straight in to the run out. I have concern it may connect to the pile of steel further down.
If a paddler flips here, it is highly possible that they could become entangled on the bar.
Look carefully at the tongue and to the right of it you can just see the steel bar.
My concern at higher levels this bar is submerged and if a paddler flips it is highly possible they could become tangled with it.
A concern is that it may also be joined up with the steel further down
At higher levels it was percieved the Steel carnage was just in the Eddy and was easy avoidable. At lower levels, you can see the steel extends in to the rapid run out.
I have raised concern that this maybe attached to another piece (see other pictures) which raises a concern that if a paddler was to flip here. There is a high chance they may become entangled with the steel wreckage.
Jennifer Laslovich has now taken over for Yvonne as the coordinator of the flow study. So email or call her
716-679-7909