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Adirondack River Outfitters |
800-525-7238 |
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Adirondack Wildwaters |
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Hudson River Rafting Company |
800-888-7238 |
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Whitewater Challengers |
800-443-7238 |
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Adirondac Rafting Company |
800-510-7238 |
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| Section |
Watertown
to Brownville |
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Location |
Jefferson County, Thousand
Islands Region, near Watertown, northern New York |
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Driving Time |
Albany—3
hours; Syracuse—1.25 hours |
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Difficulty |
Class
III-IV+ |
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Trip Length |
7
miles (11 km) |
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Trip Options |
Paddle
raft; one day |
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Season |
May-September |
 The Black River Canyon in
the industrial city of Watertown offers one of the more interesting
and exciting urban whitewater rafting opportunities in the eastern
United States. Between Watertown and Brownville near the Thousand
Islands Region, the Black cuts through a dramatic, 140-foot-deep
limestone and shale canyon featuring old dam sites,
nineteenth-century factory and mill ruins, spectacular natural
scenery, and challenging whitewater.
After
several Class II rapids and fast moving flatwater, rafters must
skillfully navigate Class IV+ Knife's Edge, the Black's most
technically difficult rapids. Big waves and three ledge-type drops
with hydraulics demand the coordinated paddling support of every
rafter. Below Knife's Edge, a Class II rapids and nearly a mile of
fast-moving water precede a short carry around Glen Park Falls.
Immediately below the falls, the canyon's cliffside beauty and
whitewater action excel. During the river's final descent to Lake
Ontario, Class III-IV rapids—Three Rocks, Zig Zag, Panic Rock,
Cruncher, Rocket Ride, Ontario Pitch, Square Rock,
Shave-and-a-Haircut, and Swimming Rapids—follow in quick
succession.
Scheduled
releases from a network of Niagara-Mohawk water-control dams permit
daily rafting from May through Columbus Day. This predictable and
relatively warm summer water flow and the Black's proximity to
northeastern United States and Canadian summer vacation resorts are
important reasons for the Black's rafting popularity.
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