Deerfield

After launching from Wilcox Hollow, there is a 1.7 mile stretch of flat water above the No. 2 station dam. The flat water area is frequented by fishermen in canoes. This section is peaceful and undeveloped with the exception of a rail road line on river right. There is a nice waterfall on river left after the 1 mile mark where the power lines cross over the river. Keep to the right of the small grassy island after going under the power lines. The take-out for the portage around the No. 2 station is on river right just before the power company’s ropes across the river. It is a small, rather steep, but short gully in an area of pine trees.

At the top of the portage take out, the paved power company road (private) crosses over the rail road tracks. Walk your gear down the road about 800 feet. If you have a canoe, a set of wheels will come in handy for this part.

At the end of the road, keep to the right and stay away from the No. 2 station facility. Carry your gear up over a low concrete wall around the right end of the fence. This is where the portage gets interesting. Once around the fence, there is a steep, 90 foot long path back down to the river, which descends about 50 feet in elevation. The top of the path is soil, which changes to gravel and finally boulders as you descend to the bottom. Watch out for the poison ivy patch about ¾ of the way down. A rope is handy to have for lowering larger boats down over the path. Well fitting, non-slip foot ware is also highly recommended.

As you push off the bank into the water, there is about 75 feet of swift flat water before the first rapid. No. 2 station rapid is a strong Class II and the biggest rapid in this reach of the river. It is a breaking wave train 200-300 feet long. The breaking wave after the first hole can swamp an open boat if you are not careful. Below these rapids, there are about 2 miles or so of swift water to Class II.

At the 2 mile mark below No. 2 Station, the river flows un

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