Wallkill

Lat/longitude coords and mileage are approximate, from TopoZone.

The Wallkill is a long, and mostly calm river flowing through suburban and farm areas. As a result of flowing through farms in northern New Jersey and Orange County New York the river will be less than pristine by the time it reaches Walden. It would be possible to put in considerably further upstream if one wanted. This river is much more suited to canoes or other boats that will reduce the paddler's intimacy with the water.

Put in is located at the bottom of a long, sloping grass yard at the shopping plaza in Walden with Hannaford and Orange County Bagel just below a significant dam. The river here is mostly calm with a few, very minor rapids.

Paddle to Wallkill and look for a river access via a boat launch on the east side of the river at Popp Memorial Park. This is the takeout for the mandatory portage around a low head dam. From Popp Memorial Park, head North on Route 208 and continue to Wallkill Ave. You'll make a left onto Bruyn Turnpike (Route 18) and cross a bridge from which you can see the dam. Continue North until you reach Lippincort Rd. On the right you'll find river access in the form of a DEC Fishing Access site.

The river from here is mostly calm with the occassional short stretch of rapids (using the term loosely). The most challenging feature on this route is a rapid section about 3.5 miles below the route 44/55 bridge in Gardiner. There are large boulders in this area and runnable lines are very limited when water levels are low. This section probably determines the lower range at which this whole section could be paddled, though it would likely be possible to portage along the road or line your boat. It may be worth scouting this section via an easy bushwack off of Libertyville Road.

The river from the rapids off Libertyvill road to New Paltz is calm. For those wishing to shorten the trip, there is river access via the Sojourner Truth Park on Plains

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