Hudson

Ran this at 4.5 ish feet recently. If your like us and going read and run for ur first run watch out for widowmaker a nasty keeper hole in the center left of the river at the top of the narrows. It has a really strong strong re circulation with almost no foam. There is a huge pillow in front of it it's easy to see just don't mistake it for a good boof like we did. I managed to get out but it was extremely difficult.

I have run this river many many times with levels from bone dry to 9ft on the gauge, and find this to be completely hyped up. In reality with the exception of Soup Strainer and Otter-Slide there is little above a III on this river. Most of this run is read and run relatively easy moves. The left side 'sneak' line on Grey Hound is huge, and the one on the right is easy if you eddy hop down or hug the shore. In many cases there are pools below the larger drops to collect swimers, but there are rapids that would be a bit more of a challenge especially as you are getting worn out towards the end of the day.

If you don't know where to go follow the rafts, otherwise enjoy a NY classic read and run III/IV with characteristic long flatwater stretches.

looking upstream at Chet running some typical Hudson rapids. continuous and wide. i don't know which rapid, but its between the Narrows and Givneys
looking downstream at Chet running the same rapid from another picture. this is a mild rapid, but the surroundings are what these 14 miles will generally look like.

this is what you'll see when approaching the Blue Ledges. the river then curves left (the inside corner may be a good lunch stop) and afterward the Narrows section begins.

this is the put-in (for this reach of Hudson) if you skip Otter Slide rapid on the Indian. not hard to find if you follow the rafts.

a sight like this means the Givneys rapid is close, i believe a couple rapids away. the day i took this we found out by running right down the middle (we soon remembered this wasn't the suggested line). the level was 5.25' with the release, 4.75' without.

I can confirm the river-right 'sneak' in Giveny's below 5 feet. The line hugs the right shore, way right of Soup Strainer. There are a few nice hits which are easily avoided or run, your choice. This line is definately easier than the center-left-center line and is probably advisable for newer paddlers. Above 5 feet the line is still there, but the hits become much bigger. Your choice where to go.

William G. Prime and members of the Kayak and Canoe Club of New York, an AW affiliate, led a trip on the Hudson River Gorge with Senator Kennedy, Interior Secretary Udall, and their families to dramatize river sports, water pollution control, and the pending Wild Rivers bill (passed the next fall as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act). Within 200 miles of New York City--crystal clear in its upper stretches but polluted as it passed through population centers--the Hudson River Gorge was an ideal choice. The story of this trip is detailed in the Autumn 1967 issue of the American Whitewater journal.
William G. Prime and members of the Kayak and Canoe Club of New York, an AW affiliate, led a trip on the Hudson River Gorge with Senator Kennedy, Interior Secretary Udall, and their families to dramatize river sports, water pollution control, and the pending Wild Rivers bill (passed the next fall as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act). Within 200 miles of New York City--crystal clear in its upper stretches but polluted as it passed through population centers--the Hudson River Gorge was an ideal choice. The story of this trip is detailed in the Autumn 1967 issue of the American Whitewater journal.
William G. Prime and members of the Kayak and Canoe Club of New York, an AW affiliate, led a trip on the Hudson River Gorge with Senator Kennedy, Interior Secretary Udall, and their families to dramatize river sports, water pollution control, and the pending Wild Rivers bill (passed the next fall as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act). Within 200 miles of New York City--crystal clear in its upper stretches but polluted as it passed through population centers--the Hudson River Gorge was an ideal choice. The story of this trip is detailed in the Autumn 1967 issue of the American Whitewater journal.
William G. Prime and members of the Kayak and Canoe Club of New York, an AW affiliate, led a trip on the Hudson River Gorge with Senator Kennedy, Interior Secretary Udall, and their families to dramatize river sports, water pollution control, and the pending Wild Rivers bill (passed the next fall as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act). Within 200 miles of New York City--crystal clear in its upper stretches but polluted as it passed through population centers--the Hudson River Gorge was an ideal choice. The story of this trip is detailed in the Autumn 1967 issue of the American Whitewater journal.

For the full-sized version of this photo, click here.

This is me on my 1st saftey boating expirience on the Hudson for Wild Waters Outdoor Center. No one swam lucky for me.

The Otter Slide