Saranac
4. Foot of Kent Falls to Lake Champlain
| Difficulty | II-III |
| Length | 12 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 25 fpm |
| Gauge | Saranac River at Plattsburgh Ny |
| Flow Rate as of 46 minutes | 4.54 ftrunnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 7, 2022 |
River Description
The picture posted on this page by John Gangemi of AW is of the Kent's Falls section, which is immediately upstream of this section. Currently, there is no legal access to Kent's Falls, a 1/2 mile class 4 bypass reach. The dam is currently being re-licensed, and access is under negotiation.
This stretch of the river can be broken into three distinct pieces:
1. Foot of Kent's Falls to Military Turnpike - 7 miles - Class I
Put in at the Fisherman's parking area, just downstream of the Kent's Falls Powerhouse. Class I water with no real obstructions down through Morrisonville, then to the dam at the Military Turnpike. Flatwater last mile to the dam. Take out at the parking lot between the dam and the water intake for the power plant.
2. Military Turnpike (Route 190) to Imperial Mill - 2.5 miles - Class II/III
Park at the parking lot at the dam. This section generally needs more water, but the level is dependent on dam operations so the gauge may not be a good indicator. Generally, we like the gauge to be at least 5 feet. To put in, carry across the bridge to the river left, then follow the ATV/Mt. Bike trail down to the river below the first drop. This first drop may be runnable with alot of water, but it is shallow at the base so beware.
Paddle easy water (class I-II) until the Interstate comes into sight. There is an old wood crib dam to be run here (class II-III). Scout on the right. Can run either the small drop on the right, or the slot on the left. Small slide immediately after the drop.
At this point, the water diverted by the power plant comes back in. Easy rapids, then flatwater to a broken dam. Carry on the right. This may be runnable by someone with alot more guts than we have. 15 foot drop into a nasty hrdraulic. Remember, there is broken cement (sharp!) in here, too. Put in immediately below the dam. Rapids soon die out to a flatwater for 3/4 mile to the Imperial Mill Dam. Take out and carry on the left.
3
...River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a report15 ft broken dam drop is definately runnable......just have to chuck and duck.....avoid the hole after it if possible since a swim or slow roll would push you into a submerged broken piece of the dam.....otherwise the drop is a blast
~JC
First paddle of the season I could feel the rust but a good roll gave me the courage and wow it was worth it.
Great feeling, come join me email tmhglass at yahoo dot com!
Nice at this level!
Several waves follow the big one all with some eddy service to the paddler who is quick to ferry to the eddy and work a little to attain!
I would get tired, go down stream to the take out and take a very short shuttle to the put in and do it again!
come enjoy
I'd be surfing now if I had a local buddy.
A nice drop below the turnpike dam off 190. This is the beginning of a great run.
Eddy service at first bend on river left to a couple good waves, in this pic waves are actually kinda washed out.
This ledge is usually not a big deal, just another interesting part of the local geology. It is on river left just after the first bend. Kinda looks like a slanted low head dam at this level though.
Nice wave train always at levels above 5ft with eddy service on river left However you can't see in this pic but the hole after the dam today at 6.5 ft seems intimidating!
Run on river right is best and widest unless the BIG hole has formed at the end of the slide. In that case either portage or go far right through more narrow slot and hit the drop then eddy out immidately on river left to avoid big hole. From this eddy access nice waves!
This is what you go over if you opt for the river left slot, then on the slide attempt to break acrossed the eddy line on left to avoid hole at high flows and access wave train. At 4ft and below the first hole at end of slide is a great surf but shallow.
When it looks like this i portage. I know i am a wuss but i swam here before lol..
This is the best wave on the run, it is right after the crib dam drop instantly eddy out river left and catch it! beware of just a little under cut on some of river right wall here.
I decided from scouting today that this is the side you take when water is high and hole is a keeper. It seems it would not be hard to eddy out on river left before the hole. Than catch some waves! I will let you know how this line works out for me in the future. So far I have only run the drop on river right.
Around four and a half ft run the old crib dam drop then surf nice hole at the end of the slide! It's the best feature on the 190 turnpike to imperial dam section! I'd run it just for that, you can portage and do it over and over. Great novice drop too it's consists of two consecutive three foot drops to the slide, beware at high water the hole at the end of the slide gets pretty munchie! At your own risk enjoy.
~todd
Good novice wave, better bigger green wave forms at levels above 5ft on guage.
Lil bros first surf.
This is the reach typically dewatered by
the hydropower project. Although short
it contains some large bedrock ledges.
This is the downstream end of the gorge
like geology of the Saranac.
Fun.
This is the drop just below the military turnpike. It’s good fun and a line can be found at most levels. At high quarter go river right at lower water go river left. Beware of strainers just below the drop, easily avoidable.
running it baby
slip slide then to the right of the hole!
nice stuff. hard to imagine why anyone would run the imperial dam section when this is running????
well formed and quite wide...
The sun didn't cooperate, but squint and you will see me on the brink of the drop!
surf
this is the second good wave on this section. it's on the second bend hence the name 2nd bend wave.