Ramapo
Tuxedo to Suffern
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportWe ran the Ramapo during the Appalachian Mountain Club's annual trip. Our April 16 trip had lower water than our prior trips in March, making for a few scratchy sections to paddle over, but the warmer weather made it a great trip. There were many strainers on this trip, so expect to have a few portages. The trip started at the fisherman's parking lot in Tuxedo (GPS 41.195815, -74.183729). This lot fills quickly with hikers and fisherman, but the adjacent train station lot has plenty of parking. Our takeout was H. Pierson Mapes Flat Rock Park (GPS 41.135235, -74.163325), which currently has room for about 5 cars. At this level (2.9 feet at the Ramapo, NY gage), some of the rapids were an easy class 2. At higher levels, they're usually class 1+.
Rapids below tuxedo falls.
This is the first tier. The little low-head dam action at the top is about a 6 to 12 inches high, no a concern at this level. If I was standing on that be rock, I would not be able to see over. I guess the first drop is about seven feet. I guess at this level you could drop down, set up and run the secound half. I bet at higher levels you'll have to keep going but I'm just guessing.
Tuxedo Falls (behind Rino Construction)
A two tiered waterfall, CL5(?) in the background, the slide in the forground. AT 320 the river right was too shallow to run but at higher water it will be a sneak. Center, just left of the rock was runnable. Go right to avoid the hole, center you're running the hole left of that there's a rooster-tail, nature/cause unknown to me. All the way left was too shallow too run. I could not see what hazards lurked on river left but it looked like it was a # of small drops.
This is what you will be running if you drop down on river right. CL6? The left of center looks very doable, the right side, I donno. It reminded me of Dead Horse on Bulls Bridge. I took this shot from a rock I climbed up on.