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See all 2 routes on East Branch Ausable River

New York | Essex County / Adirondack Park

East Branch Ausable RiverHulls Falls Road access pin to Keene East Branch Ausable access pin

A 6.3-mile East Branch Ausable whitewater route from the Hulls Falls Road access pin to the Keene access pin. Lake Placid publishes the exact endpoint coordinates and Class II–V+ water-level-dependent character, while American Whitewater indexes the distinct reach as IV(V). The route is planning-only because the current endpoint listing does not provide a full ramp description and the available live gauge is downstream of the branch confluence.

Route location

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Plan this route

Distance6.3 river miles, point-to-point
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAbout 2–4 hours for an advanced whitewater group
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Ausable River near Au Sable Forks, New York.
River contextAusable River near Au Sable Forks; East Branch route context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Geological Survey

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distance6.3 river miles, point-to-pointHulls Falls Road access pin to Keene East Branch Ausable access pin
DifficultyhardAmerican Whitewater indexes the reach as Class IV(V), while Lake Placid publishes a broad Class II–V+ water-level-dependent description. Treat the route as advanced whitewater requiring scouting, rescue competence, cold-water protection, and a conservative withdrawal plan.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the confirmed Keene access pin, then drive to the Hulls Falls Road access. Allow time to verify the below-falls landing, inspect the route from legal viewpoints, and arrange an early withdrawal before committing to the whitewater.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is identified by the route source. Follow current NYSDEC access, PFD, boating, invasive-species, parking, road, and private-property rules, and verify any seasonal or event restrictions before arrival.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is documented for this point-to-point whitewater reach. Arrange separate lodging or a legal campground in the Keene area; do not camp at Hulls Falls, the Keene access, bridge areas, fishing-rights corridors, or private East Branch banks without explicit authorization.
SeasonApr-OctThe route is water-level dependent and carries an American Whitewater IV(V) index classification. Favor spring or rain-fed periods only when the local visual and group skill match the features; summer low water can expose rock and wood. Check the downstream gauge only as same-system context and make a feature-level decision at the route access.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A 6.3-mile East Branch Ausable whitewater route from the Hulls Falls Road access pin to the Keene access pin. Lake Placid publishes the exact endpoint coordinates and Class II–V+ water-level-dependent character, while American Whitewater indexes the distinct reach as IV(V). The route is planning-only because the current endpoint listing does not provide a full ramp description and the available live gauge is downstream of the branch confluence.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

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Start

Put-in

Lake Placid-published Hulls Falls Road East Branch Ausable access pin
Open mapDirections to put-in

Lake Placid publishes exact route pins but not a full-service ramp description. Confirm the carry, parking, legal below-falls water entry, current signage, and safe vehicle staging at Hulls Falls before bringing a boat.

Finish

Take-out

Lake Placid-published Keene East Branch Ausable access pin
Open mapDirections to take-out

The Keene pin is also the start boundary for the separate Keene-to-Upper-Jay card. Treat it as a mandatory take-out for this route and do not assume the two cards form one uninterrupted public access chain.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Lake Placid publishes exact route pins but not a full-service ramp description. Confirm the carry, parking, legal below-falls water entry, current signage, and safe vehicle staging at Hulls Falls before bringing a boat.
  • The Keene pin is also the start boundary for the separate Keene-to-Upper-Jay card. Treat it as a mandatory take-out for this route and do not assume the two cards form one uninterrupted public access chain.
  • NYSDEC fishing-rights or roadside viewing areas are not interchangeable with a general-use boat launch. Never cross private land or unload on a highway shoulder without permission.
  • USGS 04275500 is downstream after the branches join. Use it with recent rain, local visual inspection, and a group-specific skill decision; do not infer a numeric go/no-go band.

Watch for

  • USGS 04275500 unavailable, rapidly rising, or inconsistent with the local branch; no numeric runnable threshold is published
  • Class IV(V) whitewater, Hulls Falls, shallow rock, strainers, bridges, cold-water swims, flash-rise debris, and limited bailout options
  • unmarked or private access, road traffic, daylight loss, failed shuttle, and the Keene boundary before the separate downstream route

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Checking trend.

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Ausable River near Au Sable Forks, New York.
Ausable River near Au Sable Forks; East Branch route context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Geological Survey
USGS public domain

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named New York corridorHulls Falls to Keene; 6.3 miles; Class II–V+ on Lake Placid, IV(V) in the American Whitewater index

    Lake Placid publishes the matching route, endpoint coordinates, distance, and water-level-dependent whitewater character; American Whitewater indexes the distinct reach as IV(V).

    Source

  • Route-source water accessHulls Falls Road and Keene East Branch Ausable route pins

    The route source provides exact endpoint coordinates. The pins remain conditional access-area anchors requiring current public carry, landing, parking, and below-falls verification.

    Source

  • Whitewater classificationAmerican Whitewater New York index: East Branch Ausable, Hulls Falls to Keene, IV(V)

    The index confirms this is a distinct high-consequence whitewater reach separate from the downstream Keene-to-Upper-Jay section.

    Source

  • Same-system proxy gaugeUSGS 04275500, Ausable River near Au Sable Forks, NY

    USGS provides live stage and discharge downstream of the East/West Branch confluence; it is retained only as trend context and does not establish a local runnable threshold.

    Source

  • Safety and access contextAusable branch paddling, cold-water, private-bank, and road-access safeguards

    The APA guide and NYSDEC paddling guidance support conservative access, cold-water, and local-inspection controls; neither converts a bridge or fishing-rights area into a launch.

    Source

  • Same-river proxy gaugeUSGS 04275500, Ausable River near Au Sable Forks, NY

    USGS 04275500 provides live stage and discharge downstream of the East and West Branch confluence, about 1.8 miles east of Au Sable Forks. It is retained only as same-system proxy context; the Hulls Falls-to-Keene route has no local numeric runnable threshold, and branch flow, wood, bridge hydraulics, and access conditions can diverge materially.

    Source

  • Safety and river conditionsCheck live gauge, recent rainfall, trend, debris, bridges, and access conditions before launch

    Lake Placid / American Whitewater / Adirondack Park Agency / NYSDEC Ausable sources and its linked safety material warn that conditions change rapidly and require local inspection.

    Source

  • Image decisionApproved watershed/proxy-gauge context image used for route presentation

    The image is clearly labeled as watershed/proxy-gauge context and does not claim to depict this exact reach.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Quick answers

East Branch Ausable River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Hulls Falls Road access pin to Keene East Branch Ausable access pin route on the East Branch Ausable River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Hulls Falls Road access pin to Keene East Branch Ausable access pin route on the East Branch Ausable River start and end?

This route starts at Lake Placid-published Hulls Falls Road East Branch Ausable access pin and ends at Lake Placid-published Keene East Branch Ausable access pin, 6.3 river miles, point-to-point on the water.

Is the Hulls Falls Road access pin to Keene East Branch Ausable access pin route on the East Branch Ausable River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a hard route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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