Cattaraugus Creek, S. Branch
Otto to Gowanda
| Difficulty | II-IV |
| Length | 9.6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 40 fpm |
| Gauge | Cattaraugus Creek at Gowanda Ny |
| Flow Rate as of 27 minutes | 135 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 6, 2019 |
Lat/longitude coords verified from GPS.
It's five miles to the Main Branch Catt, and then 6 miles to the Gowanda takeout. Don Cochran adds:
'With an average gradient of 40 ft per mile, the South Branch is Class III at normal levels with a Class IV Falls and 3 Class III+ ledges. The 3rd ledge is about 3.5 miles from the put in, the Falls are 2 miles from the putin, or 6 left turns of the canyon after the first ledges. The first and last ledges are normally boat-scoutable, but be cautious with the drop after the Falls with the slot. At low levels the whole river twists through a 6-ft.-wide crack of riverbed with undercuts and potholes--fine for a canoe, but not low-volume kayaks.
'What an awesome canyon. In some sections the canyon walls soar 400 ft. almost straight up, and in some places the river is only 15 yds. wide. A New York version of paradise, there are trickle waterfalls spilling over the canyon walls all over, with many making 100-ft. freefalls--much like Letchworth Gorge on the Genesee, but the canyon is much narrower. Plenty of surfing spots like you would expect if you have been to Fish Creek or South Sandy, but the pools aren't as deep because of the shale rock.'
This reach has some significant access issues, as the preferred putin is on private property--most of the land is posted along both sides. Local clubs have worked out an agreement with the landowner which has resolved the issues, so far. If you're interested in this reach, which has great remoteness and scenery, and which has a great waterfall, you might want to join the Zoar Valley or F.L.O.W. club. If you don't want to join one of these groups in order to gain legal access to the preferred
...Park on the hill above the reach. Ask permission if you wish to cross any landowner's property to access the stream.
Take Skinner Hollow Rd. east of Broadway (CR 438). Have your papers in place if you want to access the river here!
The standard info is that these Falls appear directly after the sixth left turn. Keep count, and be ready to catch an eddy as soon as you hear the Falls approaching.
River Right is usually unrunnable. The normal line is center-left, with an auto-boof. Scout and/or portage on River Left; River Right has a sheer cliff.
The whole river channels through a 6-foot slot. At low levels, it can get pinny for kayaks--but not necessarily for open boats.
This putin, used by those who don't want to run the Upper section and by those who were denied access at Skinner Hollow Rd., is at the end of Forty Rd. Off Broadway (County Rte. 4) south of Gowanda, take Point Peter Rd. to get to Forty Rd.
Just after the Main Branch comes in from the right is a quarter-mile rapid with waves and holes and everything. Surf yer fool braims owt.
Under Aldrich St., accessible from Water St., is a good takeout. Stay away from the mud flats, though, or your brand-new Jeep might get stuck.
Sep 12, 2021
Not Forties:
Having grown up above Zoar Valley near Gowanda (our property adjoined the State Land that literally overlooked Valentine Flats and the confluence of the East and South Branches of Cattaraugus Creek), and lived in the area for 35 years, I can tell you the area below the falls on the South Branch near Skinner Hollow is known as Forty, not Forties. The old iron bridge, now long gone, was known as the Forty Bridge. Indeed, the road leading down into the gorge from the west, off Point Peter Road, is called Forty Road. I don't know where the moniker came from.
Nov 17, 2010
For those of you confused, as I was, the South Branch of the Cattaraugus is known as Forties (40's)... I have also never known Catt Falls by that name. Looking back at my teenage years when we used to hike the mile up from the Zoar parking lot to the Falls, I never remember seeing enough water on that slide (shown in the picture), but I am sure with enough water, that section would be sick. Has anyone taken the line down the falls on river left (where all the kids jump off the 15 ft ledge between the center rock and the shore?
Mar 12, 2006
Map created by Ratt Boy based on data ported to Garmin GPS, with mad props to GPSVisualizer.
It shows the three putins: Preferred (a couple miles above the Falls), Lower, and Otto (used when access is denied at the Preferred Putin).
Check out all the Ratt Boy Maps by clicking here.
