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New York | Clinton County / Keeseville and Ausable

Ausable RiverAusable Chasm to US Route 9

A planning-only 3.3-mile Class IV+ Ausable River reach through the committing Ausable Chasm from the designated NYSEG whitewater put-in context to the designated US Route 9 take-out. American Whitewater publishes the named canyon, feature sequence, low-water context, and hazards; NYSEG publishes the seasonal gate, parking, trail, and powerhouse-stair access. This is advanced water with no on-route camping claim and a same-system upstream proxy gauge.

Route location

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Plan this route

Distance3.3 whitewater river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeHalf-day advanced whitewater outing including shuttle
ShuttleCar shuttle
Ausable Chasm on the Ausable River in New York, shown in American Whitewater route context.
Route photoAusable Chasm; route-specific Class IV+ contextPhoto by American Whitewater

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 distance3.3 whitewater river milesAusable Chasm to US Route 9
DifficultyhardAmerican Whitewater rates the reach Class IV+ and describes a committing vertical-walled canyon with multiple Class IV rapids, metal/wood debris, and a named Mike’s Hole hazard. Rescue, scouting, portage, and exit options are limited; this is for experienced whitewater teams with appropriate equipment and local knowledge.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the shuttle at the confirmed Route 9 public take-out and the NYSEG four-car put-in parking area only. Leave room for emergency access, keep vehicles out of the bar lot and private/utility areas, and build in daylight for the gate window, scouting, and a failed-shuttle contingency.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current NYSEG access hours and closure notices, designated parking and trail rules, American Whitewater access limits, New York boating/PFD requirements, and all posted private/utility restrictions. Confirm that the Route 9 take-out and gate are available before launching.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is claimed. Use a separately confirmed legal campground, state-park site, or lodging basecamp in the Ausable/Champlain area; do not camp at the powerhouse, canyon, bridge, utility road, or private shoreline.
SeasonMay-OctAmerican Whitewater describes a natural-flow Class IV+ canyon reach that can run low, while NYSEG controls the designated public whitewater access window: sunrise to sunset from Memorial Day Saturday through October 31, subject to closure. Check the upstream proxy gauge, recent rain, gate status, local visual, debris, and daylight before every launch.

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 planning-only 3.3-mile Class IV+ Ausable River reach through the committing Ausable Chasm from the designated NYSEG whitewater put-in context to the designated US Route 9 take-out. American Whitewater publishes the named canyon, feature sequence, low-water context, and hazards; NYSEG publishes the seasonal gate, parking, trail, and powerhouse-stair access. This is advanced water with no on-route camping claim and a same-system upstream proxy gauge.

Access map

Skip map

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Start

Put-in

NYSEG Rainbow Falls whitewater access / powerhouse stairs
Open mapDirections to put-in

NYSEG’s current page publishes a four-car parking area, pedestrian gate, access-road trail, and powerhouse stairs, but the gate can be restricted for safety, construction, or emergencies. Verify current status and signs in the field.

Finish

Take-out

US Route 9 designated public take-out
Open mapDirections to take-out

American Whitewater’s designated public access update supersedes informal historic practices: use the NYSEG put-in and Route 9 take-out only; do not park in the bar lot or use the Ausable Chasm Company rope, walkway, or private landing.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • NYSEG’s current page publishes a four-car parking area, pedestrian gate, access-road trail, and powerhouse stairs, but the gate can be restricted for safety, construction, or emergencies. Verify current status and signs in the field.
  • American Whitewater’s designated public access update supersedes informal historic practices: use the NYSEG put-in and Route 9 take-out only; do not park in the bar lot or use the Ausable Chasm Company rope, walkway, or private landing.
  • The stored endpoints are route-source water/access anchors, not surveyed ramps. Confirm the carry, stairs, landing, bridge traffic, debris, and a safe exit before committing to the canyon.

Watch for

  • 04275500 proxy trend, recent rain, low water, sudden rise, cold water, metal/wood debris, and a local visual that does not match the proxy gauge
  • Committing vertical walls, Class IV rapids, Horseshoe Falls, Mike’s Hole, Pinch, bridge/exit hydraulics, and limited rescue or portage options
  • NYSEG gate hours/closures, four-car parking, Route 9 traffic and landing, private/utility boundaries, and the mandatory Route 9 take-out

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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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.

Ausable Chasm on the Ausable River in New York, shown in American Whitewater route context.
Ausable Chasm; route-specific Class IV+ contextPhoto by American Whitewater
American Whitewater route image

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 moving-water corridorAusable Chasm to US Route 9; 3.3 miles; Class IV+

    American Whitewater publishes the distinct reach, distance, Class IV+ rating, feature sequence, and boundary to the Route 9 take-out.

    Source

  • Official public put-inNYSEG Rainbow Falls whitewater access gate, parking, trail, and powerhouse stairs

    NYSEG publishes the seasonal gate hours and designated access facilities; closures and current signs control.

    Source

  • Designated public take-outUS Route 9 bridge landing

    American Whitewater’s access update identifies Route 9 as the public take-out and warns against the Ausable Chasm Company rope, walkways, and private landings.

    Source

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

    The upstream station is useful for trend and rainfall context but is not route-local; inspect the downstream Chasm in person.

    Source

  • Route-specific flow and hazard guidanceLow-runnable context around 244 cfs; metal/wood debris and Mike’s Hole

    American Whitewater observations and feature descriptions are planning context, not a safety certification or universal threshold.

    Source

  • Route imageAmerican Whitewater Ausable Chasm image used as route-specific feature context

    The image is sourced from the named reach and presented as route context; it does not certify current flow, debris, access, or a runnable line.

    Source

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

    USGS 04275500 is an upstream same-system proxy near Au Sable Forks rather than a route-local gauge for the downstream Chasm reach. Use its live trend with recent rain and local visual inspection; canyon flow, debris, and depth can differ materially at the route.

    Source

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

    American Whitewater / NYSEG Ausable River whitewater access 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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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in New York

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New York route guideBrowse every tracked New York route.Clinton County / Keeseville and AusableJump to routes in this region.

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Quick answers

Ausable River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Ausable Chasm to US Route 9 route on the 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 Ausable Chasm to US Route 9 route on the Ausable River start and end?

This route starts at NYSEG Rainbow Falls whitewater access / powerhouse stairs and ends at US Route 9 designated public take-out, 3.3 whitewater river miles on the water.

Is the Ausable Chasm to US Route 9 route on the 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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