The recommended trip is to put in at Inlet and paddle upstream for two days and return to your car on the third. This can be a day trip for strong, fast paddlers and most paddlers can make it in two, but if you want to take the time to enjoy the scenery it's best experienced as a three day trip.
After putting in 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 a portion of that distance 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.
Visit Instructions:Logging waymarks in this category requires a picture of your boat and your GPS at the given parking/launching coordinates,and a brief description of your canoe/kayak trip.
Additional photos and information and/or suggestions for future waymarkers will be appreciated, but is not necessary.