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See all 2 routes on East Branch Ausable River

New York | Essex County / Adirondack Park

East Branch Ausable RiverKeene Route 86 access to Upper Jay Route 86 access

A 6.3-mile East Branch Ausable whitewater route from Keene to Upper Jay. Lake Placid publishes exact endpoint pins and Class II–III character dependent on water level; the APA describes the broader East Branch as shallow and slow in normal conditions but more challenging in spring. The card is planning-only because the available live gauge is downstream of the branch confluence and no numeric runnable band is published.

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-pointKeene Route 86 access to Upper Jay Route 86 access
DifficultyhardThe route source rates the rapids Class II–III depending on water level, and the APA describes a shallow East Branch that becomes more challenging during spring high water. Treat the route as advanced whitewater requiring scouting, rescue competence, and a conservative withdrawal plan.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the confirmed Upper Jay endpoint, then drive to the confirmed Keene put-in. Allow time for access verification, feature scouting, and an early withdrawal before the route reaches the downstream confluence corridor.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is identified by the route source. Follow current New York boating, PFD, DEC access, parking, park, and posted rules; verify any event-day or seasonal restrictions before launching.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is documented for this point-to-point whitewater reach. Arrange separate lodging or a legal campground in the Keene/Upper Jay area; do not camp at either access, bridge, fishing-rights corridor, island, or private riverbank without explicit authorization.
SeasonApr-OctThe Lake Placid and Adirondack sources describe water-level-dependent Class II–III rapids. Spring and rainy periods provide the strongest moving-water opportunity; summer low water can expose rock and shallow channels. Check the downstream gauge only as watershed context and make a feature-level visual decision.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

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 Keene to Upper Jay. Lake Placid publishes exact endpoint pins and Class II–III character dependent on water level; the APA describes the broader East Branch as shallow and slow in normal conditions but more challenging in spring. The card is planning-only because the available live gauge is downstream of the branch confluence and no numeric runnable band is published.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

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Start

Put-in

Lake Placid-published Keene East Branch access pin
Open mapDirections to put-in

The Lake Placid route page provides exact endpoint coordinates but not a full-service ramp description. Confirm the carry, parking, legal water entry, and current signage before bringing a boat.

Finish

Take-out

Lake Placid-published Upper Jay East Branch access pin
Open mapDirections to take-out

NYSDEC public fishing rights are for fishing and walking the bank only; they do not authorize paddling access or camping. Never substitute a PFR path or highway shoulder for the published access without permission.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The Lake Placid route page provides exact endpoint coordinates but not a full-service ramp description. Confirm the carry, parking, legal water entry, and current signage before bringing a boat.
  • NYSDEC public fishing rights are for fishing and walking the bank only; they do not authorize paddling access or camping. Never substitute a PFR path or highway shoulder for the published access without permission.
  • The route ends at the Upper Jay pin. Keep downstream East Branch and main-stem Ausable water outside this card unless separately researched and accessed.
  • USGS 04275500 is downstream after both 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 scout; no numeric runnable threshold is published
  • Class II–III rapids, shallow rock, strainers, bridges, cold-water swims, flash-rise debris, and private banks
  • unmarked access, limited bailout options, road traffic, daylight loss, failed shuttle, and the Upper Jay take-out boundary

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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Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

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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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

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 corridorKeene to Upper Jay; 6.3 miles; Class II–III

    Lake Placid publishes the named reach, exact put-in and take-out coordinates, 6.3-mile distance, and water-level-dependent Class II–III character.

    Source

  • Public water access posturePublished Keene and Upper Jay water-entry pins with conditional field verification

    The route listing supplies endpoint coordinates; the APA guide supplies the broader East Branch entry and paddling context. The stored points remain route-source access anchors requiring current confirmation.

    Source

  • Whitewater and flow postureClass II–III depending on water level; no numeric band

    Lake Placid supplies the route class and water-level dependence, while the APA describes shallow normal conditions and stronger spring character. No numeric threshold is published.

    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 as a planning proxy rather than a route-local East Branch gauge.

    Source

  • Safety and camping contextShallow rocky East Branch, spring high-water challenge, no on-route camping documented

    APA paddling guidance and local Adirondack rules support the guarded safety and no-camping posture.

    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 as a same-system proxy rather than a local East Branch gauge; the route source gives class and water-level dependence but no numeric runnable threshold.

    Source

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

    Lake Placid / 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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More on East Branch Ausable River

All 2
Hulls Falls Road access pin to Keene East Branch Ausable access pinEssex County / Adirondack ParkHard · 6.3 river miles, point-to-point

Nearby routes within 75 miles

West Branch Ausable RiverMonument Falls Route 86 access pin to High Falls Gorge access pin · about 7 straight-line mi awayHard · 3.5 river miles per the current Lake Placid route pageWest Branch Ausable RiverWilmington Route 86 access to Au Sable Forks Route 86 access · about 8 straight-line mi awayHard · 11 river miles, point-to-pointWest Branch Ausable RiverAdirondak Loj Road West Branch access pin to Route 73 West Branch access pin · about 10 straight-line mi awayHard · 6.6 river miles per American Whitewater; Lake Placid presents the route as approximately 6.5 milesBoquet RiverBeaver Meadow Brook to Northway · about 12 straight-line mi awayHard · 17.6 river miles, point-to-point per current Lake Placid route listing

Quick answers

East Branch Ausable River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Keene Route 86 access to Upper Jay Route 86 access 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 Keene Route 86 access to Upper Jay Route 86 access route on the East Branch Ausable River start and end?

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

Is the Keene Route 86 access to Upper Jay Route 86 access 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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