Black
7. Watertown to Brownville(Black River Canyon)
| Difficulty | III-V |
| Length | 4 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Black River at Watertown Ny |
| Flow Rate as of 36 minutes | 5920 cfsIVhigh runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 23, 2020 |
Projects
Once Great Rivers Await Restoration The mighty rivers of the Adirondack Region have been dammed and dewatered for more than a century. Once vibrant and free flowing, dams have damaged the natural river ecosystems of the region, home to diverse aquatic and terrestrial life. The Adirondack Region is renowned [...]Read More
In 1984, American Whitewater (Pete Skinner) joined Ron Smith of Adirondack River Outfitters and his attorney Ron Wilson in working to block the construction and licensing of two dams on the Black River near Watertown. When AW got involved the Glen Park Dam was already under construction, but together [...]Read More
River Description
Video River Guide
The classic summer run for New York that has play spots almost every day!
Driving Directions: To the Put-in:
Take Interstate 81 North. Exit on Rte. 12-F, heading East toward Watertown.
Near the center of the town, take a Left at the lights onto City Center Drive.
Soon after that, turn left onto Whitewater Way.
Park at the parking lot there and play at Hole Brothers.
(Or you can walk up to the rafting shop, head through the gate, put in there, and get one more rapid with a couple of play waves...and then play at Hole Bros.)
To the Take-out:
Head out to Rte. 12-F, heading Right (back toward Rte. 81).
After about three miles or so, turn right onto Rte. 12-E toward Brownville.
Cross the bridge and grab the first Left. Park on the street. From the river, you'll see the takeout as a flatwater spot just after a large industrial plant on River Right.
Lat / Longitude data are verified by GPS.
Safety Warning and description of Knife's Edge Rapid
by Bridog, posted to the Northeast Paddlers' Message Board
Knife's Edge is the first significant rapid that you encounter as you paddle downriver from Hole Brothers. You will find it approximately 200 yards downstream from the Interstate-81 bridge. There are numerous eddies on both river left and river right, including a 'last chance' eddy on river left right at the top of the drop.
The rapid is basically a shallow fast section with a bit of gradient and 3 'ledges'. Depending on water level, boaters will choose different lines.
High Water (>5000 cfs): You can run 'Right-right-right' (river right side, all 3 drops. The last drop will have a large/powerful hole (Mary's Hole). Just hug the stone wall on river right and you'll have no problem. For more excitement start in the center and work right.
...River Features
ARO Putin
Paddlers can get a couple more bits of rapids by putting in at ARO, about a quarter of a mile upstream of Hole Bros. This requires climbing down a staircase and permission from the company. From this putin, you can paddle up to the waterfall (pictured).
Hole Brothers
This and Route 3 Wave are the two most famous Park-&-Play spots on the Black. Hole Brothers is best below 2000 cfs, but it can be played higher.
Knife Edge
This is the first rapid after the I-81 bridge; scout it left (or from the road on the right at high water). The 'True Path' is the usual line here; start center-left, avoid the first hole on the left, and power left to avoid the second hole (and Molly's Crack!) in the middle.
B-Line is run above 4500 Start Center, and then cut all the way right to the corner of the old factory.
Inner City Strife
This is a big-&-burly playspot when the Black is running really high (ca. 10,000 cfs or higher). Just downstream of Knife Edge, it is accessible by Rte. 12E, North of the river. Look for the big blue building (Torres Auto Repair); park on the road next to the river, head on out, and surf yer braims owwwt!
Update: Since spring 2011 ICS has not reappeared. The wave behind ICS does come in above 20,000cfs.
Glen Park Falls
Just below the Glen Park Dam.
Easily portaged by going to the right of the dam. There is an obvious path that the commercial rafting companies use. Follow the trail all the way down to the fish ladder or rock scramble back down to put in for Three Rocks.
If you choose to run Glen Park Falls you'll want to head left. Often you'll have to wait for the water to 'turn on,' which is a good opportunity to scout the last drop for debris that likes to collect there. Glen Park Falls can be run several ways but best to avoid being munched by the hole at the bottom.
Locals gauge the flow by checking out the square on the dam. When the square is 1/3 covered it is runnable but scrapy; 1/2 covered is ideal ; 2/3 covered it starts to get pushy. Generally a 1/2 covered square is about 2000 cfs going through the canyon.
Zig - Zag
This rapid zigs and then zags. Watch out for the giant rock at the bottom of Zag, which has pinning potential at low water.
Crumbling Dam (Rocket Ride/Poop Chute)
Below Cruncher is a crumbling dam that creates the rapids Rocket Ride/Poop Chute. It's worth noting that at medium to high flows a low head can form depending on the flow through the canyon and the level of the pool below. Scout if you have any concerns.
The dam in the past decade has also seen the effects of heavy erosion. Watch for rebar and undercuts forming just under the surface of the lip, especially closer to right (Poop Chute.)
Takeout
Just after the plant, take out on river right and climb up the hill with your boat to the cars, parked on the road in Brownville. Rafters take out at the dam, 2 miles of flatwater downstream in Dexter.
Another option is to climb up along the bridge on river left into the parking lot above.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportthe level water you can read here is good for the Hole Brothers until the Dam (glen park falls) after that you need a release from de dam for running the Gorge of the Black.
Bastien Bourassa-Dusseault
Knifes Edge from the top, ~22,000 cfs
View of the 'hole' at the bottom of Knifes Edge from the top of the RR building
Big and Little Brother surf waves at the former location of Hole Brothers
6,000 cfs is definitely too low as the max. runnable range. 8,000 is a more accurate level though it is entirely possible to run it higher. At these levels Knife's Edge's right side opens up on the bottom and is a very manageable move for capable boaters. The only major hazard is rocket-ride which becomes a low-head dam. Portage on river left or run Poop-Shoot.
Hudson River Rafting Company is probably the outfitter above Hole Brothers that they were referring to. I'm sure if you ask nicely (bring PBR) they'd let you put in. The outfitter further up is not as receptive to private boaters using their put-in, which in my opinion is a little cruel considering that is the only sane access point to run Club House Turn and Burn's Wall. It's also bogus that they told someone the Black River is not open to private rafts. Private boaters are not only welcome on the Black, but more should make their way up to paddle this gem that has reliable flows throughout the year.
It's impressive that you made it down Great Falls solo in a raft, I've never heard of anyone else doing that.
If ever you are in need of beta for the Black, stop by the rafting bases, the other ones I mean...
Cool river... don't drink the water
Not sure what unfriendly people you are refering to. These are companies that have been on the river going on close to 30 years. It is their property, and private at that. I am sure if you had called them prior to trying to go and do it yourself they you could have saved yourself a hard time. The people of Watertown and the business that are there are very appreciative of boaters and anyone who would like to boat on this gem of a river. The park the town was refering to was Glen Park Dam and that is open to anyone.
I would say 1000cfs for a minimum isn't entirely true. The Black is runnable to levels far below that. I don't think that a absolute bottom has been reached. Granted it's less challenging, but a creative boater could find ways to amuse oneself.
You can wuss out and run the Rocket Ride (a man-made slide, which covers most of the river)--or you can have some fun, hitting the Poop Chute far on river right. There's a huge hole (to the left and behind Matt here) which is chaotic as all getout. If you miss the hole, or only catch part of it, it's a schweeeet ride.