Hoosic

The Tube Rapids begin short after passing under a set of white tubes (not shown in the photo but impossible to miss). Probably class III, probably the biggest water on this section, but nothing to get worried about.

Put-in on river-right at 'The Big Eddy' just below 'What About Bob?' Access is via a trail through the woods, the last clamber down the bank is steep. This picture is looking upstream from the opposite shore of the put-in.

The first little rapid is river-left as you leave The Big Eddy. Easily skipped, but seems like a nice little play spot at some levels. Could probably attain and rerun but there's isn't much there.

After the tube rapids will be some more choppy class II type water that ends with a fairly significant ledge. There are a lot of strange cross currents here and the water is generally squirrely.

After passing under Powerhouse Rd bridge you'll hit a short section of class I-II water. If you've made it this far this section should be no problem, but it is shallow and rocky so you might lose some paint.

Put-in is just above the bridge rapid, river-right shore.

A picture showing the runout of The Big Drop. Right of the island brings you through a narrow and difficult chute seen in the foreground of the picture. Left of the island is an easier but longer run.

Below The Big Drop, left of the island. An alternative to trying to run the difficult rapids right of the island.

The start of the 'What About Bob?' Rapids. There are two paths. River-left is easier, but the current forces many into the harder river-right line.

Some of the rapid above the Big Drop

First stretch of rapids is around a left bend shortly after leaving The Big Eddy. A short section of class II with a couple small ledges towards the end.

Middle slot of the rapid below the Big Drop

View from below 'What About Bob?' The river-left path is a fairly easy drop, the river-right path funnels you through a small and difficult chute. The current above is strong and can push you right even if it isn't where you wanted to go.

Take-out is at the powerhouse at the end of Powerhouse Road. Road is dirt, bumpy, has a one-lane bridge, and only enough parking for 5 cars. Alternative takeout is 5.5 miles down flat water and class I to Lock 4 state park, a pretty fun paddle for canoes or longboats, not so much for playboats.

Due to recent construction on the bridge, the rapid below the bridge is no longer runnable. They dammed up above the normal line and the rest of the river flows right through lots of metal. Because there is a significant amount of construction at the bridge, any attempt to put in above the big drop will likely involve trespassing.

This is the Big Drop on the Hoosic river at high water. The level was probably too high to run this drop.

2010 Release: We're aiming for the Wed of April 21. (If not possible, release will be postponed until each next Wednesday until flows permit.) But we're shooting for the 21st if at all possible.

As anyone who's been watching the Eagle Bridge gage might have guessed (flow was a paltry 685 cfs this morning), tomorrow's whitewater release at the Hoosic River Project is officially postponed. We'll try again for approximately 1,200 cfs in the Schaghticoke bypass next Wednesday, April 26 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This year's (2006) release at the Schaghticoke Development of the Hoosic River Project will occur on April 19th.

Erie is currently shooting for a flow of 1,200 cfs in the Schaghticoke bypass reach on Wednesday, April 19th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The release is contingent on weather and river conditions and will be postponed for 7 calendar days (to the following Wednesday) if necessary.

For now please mark your calendars for the 19th, and, as the release date gets closer, Erie will be in contact with American Whitewater on a regular basis to communicate river conditions and provide additional details about the release.

We'll Keep You Posted!

1st scheduled hoosic release!!!!

This photo was taken on the first day of the flow study, so it was one of the two intermediate flow levels which may have been either 800 or 1200 cfs.

This photo is interesting because it shows water in the region under the bridge that was dry during the flow studies of June 2003.
This view of the big drop at a natural flow shows that the center island option for portaging will go away at high levels. Scout carefully at these levels.