Grass, Lower S. Branch
Twin Falls(State Put-in to Degrasse)
| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 6.9 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 60 fpm |
| Gauge | West Branch Oswegatchie River Near Harrisville Ny |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 379 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 8, 2021 |
River Description
This is the best section of the Grass! The character of the run is classic Adirondack 'Pool-Big Drop' with sticky holes at high flows. Rainbow Falls, a.k.a. 'Large Marge'5.1+ (Bigger than Magilla) and 'Twin Falls' IV+ (Beefed up Fowlersville Falls w/o the hole) are the 'Big Drops' of note. They are spectacular! There are six other distinctive CL IV-IV+ rapids that are separated by some CL III+ rapids and a few stretches of flatwater. The area is very scenic so relax and enjoy until you approach the next horizon line. The run is essentially roadside, but the road is seldom visible. The road is always river right.
Directions
Take Out: (Degrasse)
From Watertown take the Ft Drum/RT 342 exit off I-81. Drive Past Ft. Drum on 342 to Rt 3. Turn Left (NE) on RT 3 and go 14mi past Harrisville.
From Harrisville drive 14 miles to County Rd 27A (2.2 mi past Fine & County Rd 58). Turn Left (N) on County Rd 27A. (You cross the East Branch of the Oswegatchie just after you make the turn on to 27A.) After 3/4mi on 27A you intersect County Rd 27, turn right (N) on CR 27 which takes you to Degrasse. Turn R. at the Intersection in Degrasse and cross the bridge. This is the take out. Check the visual gauge and scout the last rapid from the bridge.
From I-90 Albany/Utica take RT 12 in Utica N. to Lowville. Take 812 from Lowville which intersects RT 3 just S. of Harrisville. (Follow directions above from Harrisville.)
From Canada drive to Canton, NY. Take 68 SE (7.9mi) to Pierrepont and turn right (SW)on County RD 24. Take CR 24 for 5.5mi to CR 27 and turn left(S). Drive 9.75mi S. on CR 27 to Degrasse and the take out bridge. Check the visual gauge and scout the last rapid from the bridge.
Put-in: From Degrasse take Toole Pond Rd 5.9mi SE to the State Parking area (Brown and Yellow signs) which is on the right (south) side
...River Features
Put In
Large Marge (Rainbow Falls)
This is the first tree top horizon line you come to. Scout right side then left if you consider running this. It is normally portaged left. Safety is difficult. The hole at the bottom of the falls can be bad at high flows and the wall on the right below the drop is a magnet for flipped paddlers and makes rolling tough.
Lat/longitude coords are approximate, from online maps.
Whip-it Good
The river narrows down and makes a nice continuous set of rapids for about 0.3mi that is punctuated with a river wide hole 'Whip-it Good' near the end. At higher flows this hole can be real sticky. Stay left.
Flat Rock Falls
Ledge slide drop with multiple lines and a sticky hole at the bottom.
Adrenaline Falls (Stewart Rapid)
Scout Left.
Twin Falls
This 30'(+)ledge slide is a rocket launching pad! Scout right. If you don't see the line think about walking. Hint try and finish between the two Rooster Tails at the bottom right. Getting off-line or flipping can be ugly.
Iron Bridge (Sinclair Falls)
The Iron Bridge crossing the river marks this drop (bridge connects Lake George Rd to Tooley Pd Rd). Watch the hole at the bottom, it can/will eat your lunch, especially at high water. Scout right at Med and low flows, high flows scout left. Portage is easiest left I'm told.
Basford Falls
Multiple lines. Left side slide is easier. The center ledges and holes offer a tricky CL V option. Scout the center and right lines from the right. Scout Left line from the left. -
Degrasse Graffiti
This rapid looks intimidating, but a great finish to great run. The hole can be sticky at high water.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportThe river wide log in the rapid under the Degrasse takeout bridge has flushed out and is no longer in play.
This is in the last rapid on the South Branch of the Grasse near the Degrasse takeout bridge.
Sinclair Falls at low levels
Adrenaline Falls @ 1500+CFS
kayaker- Will Mook Photo- Conor Peterson
Twin Falls Running at 1500+cfs on the Harrisville gauge
Kayaker- Will Mook Photo- Conor Peterson
This is a class V run. Scouting, Portaging and evacuation may be easy, but the drops are big and consequential. Scenery is sick beautiful.
We took a low water run on this section on 10/21/2007. The log is no longer blocking the left channel.
There is a river wide log between Large Marge (Rainbow Falls) and 'Whip it'. It was in the left channel about 100 yds above whip it. You have to portage it when Harrisville gage is below 900. The water is at the bottom of the heart on the Degrasse Graffiti
More of my photos can be found on my NEW kayakingphotos.com page and my American Whitewater page.
More of my photos can be found on my NEW kayakingphotos.com page and my American Whitewater page.
See the full-sized version of this great photo by clicking here.
Centerline
That hole looks bigger from here...
In the guts of the Center line