Beaver
1. Moshier Section
| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 7, 2021 |
River Description
This is the jewel of the Beaver. It begins with a couple of easy waterfalls, followed by some technical rapids; the last rapid, Moshier Falls, is a long, technical Class V. Moshier Falls is easily accessible from the takeout, which yields quite a number of spectators with cameras and video cameras. It's a serious rapid, with body-beating rocks and an undercut cave. The trail on the right does double-duty as a portage route and an attainment trail for those who want to rerun it.
Also see the Taylorville Section (Class III), and the Eagle Section (Class V), both of which run on weekends in September. See also the Raquette (Stone Valley) Section(Class V), which has two releases on Labor Day weekend.
The Beaver River originates from Stillwater Reservoir in the western section of the Adirondack Park northeast of the village of Lowville. The area is undeveloped and camping is available throughout the area.
Terrific campsites are available at the Soft Maple Campground centrally located between the Taylorville and Eagle runs. Boaters also often crash at the Moshier put-in. However, camping at the Taylorville put-in is no longer permitted after reports of public nudity and midnight low-water descents of the drops at Taylorville were brought to the attention of Orion.
Hazard Warning!
Moshier Falls, the last rapid on this reach, has a very nasty sieve on River Left. Just downstream of the boater in the photo above, a paddler got sucked under a rock on Aug. 31, 2003. Quick action by boaters with ropes helped stabilize him and get him out of the hazard. Moshier Falls is no place to swim!
Posted by Chris Koll:
The releases are a product of negot
...River Features
Put-in slide
This one's optional; you have to paddle upstream and then hike your boat uphill to run this steep, rock-infested slide; most boaters don't. But more seem to be running it each year.
Put In
First Falls
After the pool at the putin, you'll see a huge mass of boaters, waiting, scouting, taking photos...for the First Falls. This is about the easiest waterfall you'll ever run. Just don't find yourself a little too far right, as you'll find yourself in a nasty crease that's separated some good paddlers from their boats.
After you've run it, paddle over to the right side and walk back up for a cool drop that's not as vertical as this one.
Second Falls
This one has a nice auto-boof feature. It can wash you up on the rocks about 10 feet away from the landing zone, so be careful. After this drop, head right for some rocky gnar.
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportTaken during Beaver Fest (Sunday)
YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVDvTggih3w
Don't be fooled, the last section of four drops is solid Class 5 at release levels. There are easier drops upstream, one of which in particular gets run multiple times by athletic boaters willing to carry back to the top; it's about a 10-12 footer. If your mortality is never in doubt, feel free to portage the final four drops on the right, a common strategy.
The first drop, upstream of the putin. Thanks to photographer Kenny Unser, who graciously shared this photo.
Ted DeVoe running the slide upstream of the putin. Thanks to photographer Kenny Unser, who graciously shared this photo.
Ted DeVoe scouts the put-in slide as the water ramps up to the full release level. Thanks to photographer Kenny Unser, who graciously shared this photo.
This is a cool perspective of the right side of the first falls. Tim is about to launch off the ledge and land in the eddy below.
Took forever for her to screw up the courage to run her first waterfall. She had a great line.
The rock at the left edge of the major boof in this rapid is badly undercut. This boater crawled his way out of there, whereupon the others could scramble to the spot and help haul him out. If you gotta swim...swim to the right!
More of my photos can be found on my NEW kayakingphotos.com page and my American Whitewater page.
More of my photos can be found on my NEW kayakingphotos.com page and my American Whitewater page.
More of my photos can be found on my NEW kayakingphotos.com page and my American Whitewater page.
More of my photos can be found on my NEW kayakingphotos.com page and my American Whitewater page.