Beaver Meadow Creek

Beaver Meadow Creek is a solid class 4 with 5  steep creek run. The creek is only runnable during a heavy snowmelt or heavy rainfall. The window of opportunity is short as the feeder area is small. --usually never up for over a day.

Location: Located in Java Village (Rte. 78), Wyoming County, NY. The creek crosses Rte. 78 whereby you can examine the last falls prior to it going under Rte. 78.Tthe takeout is at the bridge on the extension of Welch Rd. on the West side of Rte. 78 (300 yards from Rte. 78). Park near the bridge. To the put-in, proceed East on Welch Rd (uphill) for over a mile till you cross a 6' culvert as it goes under the road. Park here.

The Run -  If the culvert is half full with water, it is a nice high level. Other indicators are if the falls in town looks runnable, it is OK. Also check the Gowanda gauge of Cattaraugus Creek. If that level is 4.75' and over, Beaver Meadow is usually paddleable.

Put-in at the culvert pipe on Welch Rd. You now paddle in a marshy area with beaver dams and thickets that meander for about a 45-minute paddle prior to the creek opening up to the gorge section. Watch for deadfalls and strainers in this section! Once in the mainstrean, you first encounter two 25', 30-degree slides for a warmup. The balance of the run is pool drop falls between 10' and 35' total height. The large falls is a series of 4 drops  (35' total height), not for the faint of heart!. Run the falls on river right and boof the last drop.

Some of the lower section resembles the lower section of the Independence as an example. Scouting is recommended on all drops unless you're with a local. Portaging the large falls is almost impossible but can be done, although dangerous.

Western New York Area Reaches

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