Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today
RequestRequest

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 3 routes on West Branch Ausable River

New York | Essex and Clinton Counties / Adirondack Park

West Branch Ausable River

Wilmington Route 86 access to Au Sable Forks Route 86 access

Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.

Route location

Loading the route coverage map.

Open access map
Distance11 river miles, point-to-point
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAbout 3–5 hours for a competent whitewater group
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Ausable River near Au Sable Forks, New York.
River contextAusable River near Au Sable Forks; route and gauge 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.
View Primary Source

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.

Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

------------

Weather

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

Route overview

Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

Quick facts

On-water distance11 river miles, point-to-pointWilmington Route 86 access to Au Sable Forks Route 86 access
DifficultyhardAmerican Whitewater rates the reach Class I–III+ and describes continuous Class II near Wilmington with later Class III features. NYSDEC separately cautions that much of the West Branch is rocky, shallow, inaccessible, and unsuitable for general paddling. Treat it as advanced whitewater requiring scouting, rescue competence, and a conservative withdrawal plan.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the confirmed Au Sable Forks endpoint, then drive to the confirmed Wilmington put-in. Allow time for access verification, river scouting, changing flow, and a conservative take-out before the branch joins the main Ausable system.
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. NYSDEC identifies nearby Wilmington Notch and Taylor Pond campgrounds and two primitive sites in the wider Wilmington Wild Forest; use only a separate current reservation or designated legal site, and do not camp at the put-in, take-out, dam, fishing-rights corridor, or private banks.
SeasonApr-OctAmerican Whitewater describes this reach as most dependable in spring and after heavy rain. Summer low water, cold water, changing debris, and the steep Adirondack gradient can make the route unsuitable; check the downstream gauge and scout the actual reach before committing.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

An advanced 11-mile West Branch Ausable whitewater route from Wilmington to Au Sable Forks. Lake Placid publishes the exact endpoint pins and Class I–III+ character; American Whitewater describes continuous Class II, later Class III features, spring/heavy-rain seasonality, and a named downstream USGS gauge. The card is planning-only because the gauge is downstream of the branch confluence and the public sources do not provide a numeric runnable band.

DirectionsApple MapsOpenStreetMap

Prepare this trip

Take the plan with you

Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.

Download GPXAdd to calendar

Start

Put-in

Lake Placid-published Wilmington West Branch access pin
Open map

The Lake Placid route listing supplies exact put-in and take-out coordinates, but the source does not identify a full-service ramp or guarantee current parking. Verify the carry and legal water entry with current local/DEC information before departure.

Finish

Take-out

Lake Placid-published Au Sable Forks Route 86 access pin
Open map

NYSDEC public fishing rights are for fishing and walking the bank only; they do not authorize paddling access, camping, or crossing private land. Do not substitute a PFR path or an unmarked shoulder for the published access without permission.

Plan this segment

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • The Lake Placid route listing supplies exact put-in and take-out coordinates, but the source does not identify a full-service ramp or guarantee current parking. Verify the carry and legal water entry with current local/DEC information before departure.
  • NYSDEC public fishing rights are for fishing and walking the bank only; they do not authorize paddling access, camping, or crossing private land. Do not substitute a PFR path or an unmarked shoulder for the published access without permission.
  • The route begins below Wilmington dam and ends at an Au Sable Forks boundary. Keep the dam, bridge features, downstream confluence, and any additional main-stem water outside this route card unless separately researched.
  • USGS 04275500 is a downstream proxy after the branches join. Use it for trend context together with American Whitewater status, recent rain, local inspection, and a group-specific skill decision; do not infer a numeric go/no-go band.

Watch for

  • USGS 04275500 unavailable, rapidly rising, or materially inconsistent with the local scout; no numeric runnable threshold is published
  • dam exclusion zone, Class II–III+ rapids, boulders, shallow rock, strainers, bridges, cold-water swims, and flash-rise debris
  • unmarked/private access, limited bailout options, nearby road traffic, daylight loss, failed shuttle, and the Au Sable Forks take-out boundary

Route gallery

See this route on the water

Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.

No approved route photos yet

Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.

Share photos or report conditions

Score & sources

Data and sources

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

Waiting on the gauge read.

Weather inputChecking

Waiting on weather.

Next stepChecking

Waiting on enough data to give the next step.

Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking

Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteAusable River near Au Sable Forks, NY
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Ideal rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floorNot calibrated yet
High thresholdNot calibrated yet
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreNo numeric runnable range published; American Whitewater uses USGS 04275500 recommended-level status and spring/heavy-rain guidance for this advanced reach
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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 corridorWilmington to Au Sable Forks; 11 miles; Class I–III+

    Lake Placid publishes the named reach, exact put-in and take-out coordinates, 11-mile distance, and Class I–III+ whitewater designation.

    Source

  • Public water access posturePublished Wilmington and Au Sable Forks water-entry pins with conditional field verification

    The route listing supplies endpoint coordinates; the APA Wilmington guide identifies Route 86/River Road entry context, while NYSDEC warns that much of the branch is inaccessible or unsuitable for general paddling.

    Source

  • Whitewater and flow postureAmerican Whitewater Class I–III+ reach; spring/heavy-rain guidance; no numeric band

    American Whitewater describes the gradient, feature progression, recommended-level status, and seasonal flow posture, but does not publish a defensible numeric threshold in the route record.

    Source

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

    USGS provides live stage and discharge downstream of the West/East Branch confluence; it is retained as a proxy rather than a route-local West Branch gauge.

    Source

  • DEC hazard and camping contextLimited West Branch paddling; boulders, shallow water, inaccessibility; nearby campgrounds and primitive sites

    NYSDEC describes the branch limitations and the wider Wilmington Wild Forest camping options; these do not create permission for route access or dispersed camping.

    Source

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

    USGS 04275500 provides live stage and discharge downstream of the West and East Branch confluence, about 1.8 miles east of Au Sable Forks. It is a same-system downstream proxy rather than a local West Branch gauge; American Whitewater supplies relative recommended-level status but no defensible numeric threshold in the route source.

    Source

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

    Lake Placid / American Whitewater / 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

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Share your trip

Help build the route page

Add photos or send a quick condition report.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in New York

All 296 routes
New York route guideBrowse every tracked New York route.Essex and Clinton Counties / Adirondack ParkJump to routes in this region.

More on West Branch Ausable River

All 3
Adirondak Loj Road West Branch access pin to Route 73 West Branch access pinEssex County / Adirondack ParkHard · 6.6 river miles per American Whitewater; Lake Placid presents the route as approximately 6.5 milesMonument Falls Route 86 access pin to High Falls Gorge access pinEssex County / Adirondack ParkHard · 3.5 river miles per the current Lake Placid route page

Nearby routes by distance

East Branch Ausable RiverKeene Route 86 access to Upper Jay Route 86 access · about 8 mi awayHard · 6.3 river miles, point-to-pointSaranac RiverNYSDEC Union Falls Dam hand launch to Casey Road canoe carry · about 10 mi awayHard · Approximately 4.2 river miles from Union Falls to the Casey Road carry boundaryEast Branch Ausable RiverHulls Falls Road access pin to Keene East Branch Ausable access pin · about 11 mi awayHard · 6.3 river miles, point-to-pointSaranac RiverMoose Pond Road Bridge to Permanent Rapids river-left take-out · about 12 mi awayModerate · Approximately 2.5 planning river miles from Moose Pond Road Bridge to the take-out before Permanent Rapids

Quick answers

West Branch Ausable River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling West Branch Ausable River?

Paddle Today watches Ausable River near Au Sable Forks, NY and uses Not calibrated yet as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does this West Branch Ausable River route start and end?

This route starts at Lake Placid-published Wilmington West Branch access pin and ends at Lake Placid-published Au Sable Forks Route 86 access pin, about 11 river miles, point-to-point on the water.

Is this West Branch Ausable River route good for beginners?

This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.

Flag a change

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.

Report a changeEmail update