Oswegatchie River from Inlet to High Falls - Canoe/Kayak Trips on Waymarking.com

Long Description:
This trip requires that you put in at Inlet and paddle upstream for two days and return to your car on the third. This can be a day trip if you turn around soon enough, but you won't reach High Falls, so it's best experienced as a multi day trip.

After putting in you want to travel into the current. The river is slow at this point, so paddling upstream isn't that difficult. It is a very pretty section with stands of towering evergreens and a rocky shoreline.

This section soon gives way to a huge meadow where the Oswegatchie snakes through it, with numerous twists and turns, reminiscent of switchbacks on a steep hiking trail. In this section a mile of paddling will only bring you maybe a quarter mile further upriver as the crow flies. Unlike the wide open section in the beginning, this one is almost claustrophobia inducing, with seemingly endless stands of alder thicket hugging the banks of the river obscuring views of anything beyond the narrow river channel.

Shortly before this section ends, you will see the High Rock campsite on your left at a sharp bend. You will reach this too early to camp, but it's a great spot for lunch with an outstanding view of the river valley.

Soon after passing High Rock, the river enters the forest and the views open up again. After an hour or so, you will pass the lean-to at Griffin Rapids (there were no rapids here when we made the trip). As the day wears on it's time to start looking for a campsite. Some sites are beautiful, others less so, so if you don't like what you see, move on and the next one may be much better.

On the second day your destination is High Falls. You can camp at the falls, or if the sites are occupied, start back and camp farther downstream.

You will find numerous beaver dams along the way. Most of the time you will have to get out and drag your boat over them. I didn't encounter one that required a portage.

On the third day it's back to your car. You are now with the current and can move much faster. If the water is on the high side, you can paddle over most of the beaver dams with the current on your side, making the return trip even faster.

Parking/put-in/launching information: Northway (87) to Rt 28. Rt 28 to Rt 30N to Tupper Lake. From there take Rt 3 west through Wanakena. Continue to DEC Oswegatchie access site on Inlet Rd. Stay on dirt road, make right at bridge and road ends at parking area. You can pull your car right up to the river to load/unload. Paddling conditions to be expected: Slow moving stream with some riffles in spots. Class I is the highest rapids you will encounter. Difficulty of the trip: novice and up Length of trip: 3-4 days Portages: The only true portage is if you are going beyond High Falls. You will need to portage there. There are numerous beaver dams along the route but some can be paddled over. The rest you have to get out and drag your canoe over. No need to unpack your boat and portage though. Permits required: None needed Type of trip: Out and back. Other information: There are over 30 designated campsites between Inlet and High Falls. Some are well used, while others are somewhat overgrown. If you don't like one site, paddle a little farther and you may come to another that you like. The few sites around High Falls tend to fill up fast on holiday weekends. Take-out Coordinates: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
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