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See all 3 routes on West Branch Ausable River

New York | Essex and Clinton Counties / Adirondack Park

West Branch Ausable RiverWilmington Route 86 access to Au Sable Forks Route 86 access

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.

Route location

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Plan this route

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.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
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

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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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.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Lake Placid-published Wilmington West Branch access pin
Open mapDirections to put-in

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 mapDirections to take-out

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.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

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

Plan this paddle

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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; route and gauge 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 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.

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Keep exploring

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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 within 75 miles

East Branch Ausable RiverKeene Route 86 access to Upper Jay Route 86 access · about 8 straight-line mi awayHard · 6.3 river miles, point-to-pointSaranac RiverNYSDEC Union Falls Dam hand launch to Casey Road canoe carry · about 10 straight-line 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 straight-line mi awayHard · 6.3 river miles, point-to-pointSaranac RiverMoose Pond Road Bridge to Permanent Rapids river-left take-out · about 12 straight-line 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 best for the Wilmington Route 86 access to Au Sable Forks Route 86 access route on the West 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 Wilmington Route 86 access to Au Sable Forks Route 86 access route on the West Branch Ausable River 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, 11 river miles, point-to-point on the water.

Is the Wilmington Route 86 access to Au Sable Forks Route 86 access route on the West 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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