Kaaterskill Creek
Along Rte. 23A to Palenville
| Difficulty | V |
| Length | 4.5 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 205 fpm |
| Gauge | Esopus Creek at Coldbrook Ny |
| Flow Rate as of 26 minutes | 480 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 21, 2016 |
River Description
Kaaterskill Creek is the crown jewel of Catskill creek boating. It has everything an expert paddler could hope for: read and run boulder gardens, several waterfalls, a tight gorge with overhanging walls and a couple of optional rapids for 'big dogs' who don't mind potentially terminal consequences for a blown line.
We've always put in at the pull out on the left (as you drive upstream along 23) before the hairpin turn and Kaaterskill Falls, a tourist attaction, which is on a tributary of the Kaaterskill. There is potentially another mile or two of difficult whitewater further upstream of the standard three mile run, if you're willing to explore and the water level is right. The gradient for this upper section, which begins below Haines Falls, looks to be about 280 feet/mile. The standard run can be described in three parts, each about a mile in length.
To run the first part, you'll need to park at the aforementioned pull out and bushwhack you're way down to the creek. From there, you'll have consistent maneuvering through read-and-run Class IV boulder gardens. There is some wood to be weary of and you'll want to be on the look out for Fawn's Leap, a 25 footer that several very good boaters I know have passed on. After Fawn's Leap, there is a great boulder garden rapid that culminates in an 8 foot boof on the left. After the boof, there is about twenty feet of fast moving flat water before Red Rock Falls. Get out on the right and have a look at this sliding waterfall. It is probably the easiest of the three 'big' drops, but the landing is very shallow, and it should be reserved for those who have rubber spines and/or very good health insurance. Walk on the right, under the bridge, but be careful not to stub your toe on some of the rusty rebar that blends in so well with the red rock.
Upon re-entering the river you will shortly enter the gorge, the second part of the run, and the most beautiful. The road disappears pretty quickly and several water
...River Features
Put In
Driving out of Palenville, look for the gravel turn off on
the left, then bushwack your way down to the creek.
Class IV Boogie
From the put in to Fawn's Leap is Class IV/IV+ boulder
gardens. Keep an eye out for strainers and enjoy some
quality boogie water. When you see the road reappear
and a waterfall coming in on your right, catch an eddy
and get out to scout/portage Fawn's Leap.
Fawn's Leap
This comes immediately below a beautiful
cascading waterfall coming into the Kaaterskill on
river right. The cautious will want to get out above
this on the left and walk the quarter mile or so to
Red Rock Falls using the shoulder of the road.
Otherwise, portage on the right for a great series of
rapids leading up to Red Rock or if you're feeling
REALLY good, set safety, let the cameras roll, and
fire up this impressive waterfall.
Red Rock Falls
Broken vertebrae? Hmmm......
Gorge Section
This is the first rapid in the Gorge section and is
immediately downstream of Red Rock Falls. The Gorge
is fun Class IV+ boulder garden action with the
exception of Atom Bomb Falls.
Atom Bomb Falls
Ugly undercut on the left. Typically portaged or 'run'
by scraping over the ledge on the right. Scout on the
right.
Triple Drop
This one's mandatory. The third hole is terminal at
high water, so exit the gorge at Atom Bomb Falls if the
level is high. At low flows, the first drop is the
stickiest, but if you've made it this far, there's nothing
to worry about.
End of Gorge
If you want to skip the run through town, you can
take out at the bridge just outside of Palenville. The
drops through town are all pool drop and of a very
different character than up above. The first drop,
which comes immediately downstream of the
bridge, is split by an island. The left side is
unrunnable and the right is very junky, but
scouting needs to be done very stealthily; the
landowners on either side of the river do not like
visitors and have numerous 'no trespassing' signs
posted. There are 5 or 6 other good drops between
here and the take out.
Take Out
Take out at the bridge on 32A as you are coming into
Palenville from Saugerties. Multiple runs of the 15
footer at the take out are the norm.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportA bolder rapid or two above the power line hazard.
Hazard on creek about 1/2 a mile down.
Fawns Leap is rated a 5.3 This has been run quite a number of times over the years which means my crew is likely to give it a go. My buddy who had fired it up 5 years ago dropped in on it in Aug/2009. We knew the drop had changed since the historic highwater event and we were warned. the level was not high that day. The unexpected action on the boater about half way down Fawns was to just get uncontrollably thrown over on the right and he snapped the right blade right off his paddle in the action. He didn't hit any rock hard with his body while falling upsidedown. He Rolled up offside, ran back to the truck for a new paddled and we fired up all the rest of the drops at what I thought was a very managable flow. (btw we all walked fawns after that) Just look out for this one and post successful Fawns Leaping. Remember he stuck the line and got wrecked maybe a medium high healthy flow is what we need there?
As of June 29, 2006, flood damage has closed Route 23a from Palenville to Haines Falls. You can still put in at the bridge above town (below the gorge and triple-drop) and run the mile or so through town, but access upstream, even on foot, will likely not happen for several months. As of now (July 1) it is closed to car, foot, and bike traffic above the bridge.
The flooding also changed the first rapid below the bridge. The gravel bar that separated the left (evil) and right (not so evil) channels has eroded, sending more water left. So, higher levels will be needed to make the right side go. The left side has some new wood as well.
Apparently the flood damage upstream is very significant, washing out big chunks of road. The first boaters who venture back should be wary.
A riverside homeowner in town said he'd never seen the river this high. He told me that his house interior was pretty torn up from the flood. Looking at the high water line, I'm sure other homes were damaged too.
Jeff contemplates the line at Red Rock.
At this level, there is a nasty recirculating eddy at the
base of the drop, but at least the undercut is covered.
This would still be a great level for the Gorge section,
but you will need to get out above Atom Bomb Falls,
which is the last (relatively easy) point of egress before
Triple Drop, which is unrunnable at this level.
This is the drop immediately upstream of Red Rock
Falls. At this level, it is less steep and feeds straight
into Red Rock with no chance to eddy out. At lower
flows, it is a pronounced boof followed by a short pool
so you can get out and scout/portage Red Rock.
This is the last drop in triple drop at a high flow. If
you're running the gorge at this level, be sure to exit
the Gorge above Atom Bomb Falls, or you will have a
very challenging portage around this terminal hole.
Finding the right level for this waterfall is tricky. Too
low and there's a scary undercut on river left midway
through the drop. Too high and the eddies at the base
of the falls are extremely turbulent.
No one wanted anything to do with this one today. If
you
slide off the left side of the flake at the entrance of
the drop, there is about a 99% chance that you would
be fatally stuffed into an undercut halfway down the
drop.
This view gives you a much better look at the two
bottom drops. This is a pretty straightforward rapid at
this level. At low flows, the trouble maker is the first
drop. Get some speed and hit it with
conviction on the right side and you should be fine.
Ted runs a nice line through Triple Drop.