New York | Herkimer and Lewis Counties / Adirondack Park
Beaver River
Moshier Falls Powerhouse to High Falls Pond / Old State Road access
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
Loading the route coverage map.
Need to know
Why this call
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.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
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
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A planning-only approximately 14-mile Beaver River Canoe Route from the Moshier Falls powerhouse put-in through a series of regulated reservoirs and channels to the High Falls Pond access near Old State Road. NYSDEC lists numerous canoe/kayak launch sites across this route, the Adirondack Region identifies the Moshier-to-High-Falls corridor, and the route guide documents six portages, primitive island campsites, a formal Soft Maple campground, and no need for whitewater skills on the main route.
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.
Put-in
Moshier Falls powerhouse downstream put-inNYSDEC confirms the route-wide canoe/kayak launch network, while the detailed route guide supplies the Moshier powerhouse and High Falls Pond shuttle points. Both endpoints remain access-area anchors requiring current operator/DEC confirmation.
Take-out
High Falls Pond Old State Road carry accessThe stored High Falls coordinate follows the Old State Road north-shore carry area rather than a surveyed dock. Confirm exact water entry, parking, road condition, and the dam boundary before relying on it as a take-out.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- NYSDEC confirms the route-wide canoe/kayak launch network, while the detailed route guide supplies the Moshier powerhouse and High Falls Pond shuttle points. Both endpoints remain access-area anchors requiring current operator/DEC confirmation.
- The stored High Falls coordinate follows the Old State Road north-shore carry area rather than a surveyed dock. Confirm exact water entry, parking, road condition, and the dam boundary before relying on it as a take-out.
- The route includes regulated reservoirs and hydropower facilities. Public launch or portage access does not authorize entry into powerhouse grounds, intakes, bypassed reaches, or private shoreline.
- Distance excludes repeated portage carries and may vary with reservoir operations, channel routing, and campsite or take-out choice.
Watch for
- USGS 04258000 unavailable or inconsistent with current operator/reservoir information and local water levels
- hydropower dams, intakes, safety cables, bypassed reaches, cold water, wind waves, shallow channels, strainers, and remote portage conditions
- Moshier parking/carry, High Falls Old State Road access, route signs, campsite availability, road gates, daylight, and weather
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.
Score & sources
Data and sources
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
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.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Beaver River at Croghan, NY |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | Not calibrated yet |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | No universal paddling cutoff published; use USGS 04258000 as downstream regulated-flow context with local reservoir levels, operator notices, wind, and portage inspection |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 canoe routeMoshier Reservoir to High Falls Reservoir / Black River; approximately 14 miles
The Adirondack Region identifies the Beaver River Canoe Route and its Moshier-to-High-Falls setting; the route guide supplies distance and multi-day planning context.
- Current public launch networkNYSDEC lists numerous canoe/kayak launch sites from High Falls Reservoir to Moshier Reservoir
The state launch directory confirms this is a designated route-wide canoe/kayak access network rather than an improvised roadside float.
- Portage and camping guidanceSix portages; primitive Soft Maple/High Falls campsites; formal Soft Maple campground
The route guide documents the portage count, reservoir sequence, campsite posture, and Moshier/High Falls shuttle logistics.
- Regulated live gaugeUSGS 04258000 Beaver River at Croghan
The station is same-river but downstream and regulated by Stillwater Reservoir and powerplant ponds; use it as proxy flow context only.
- Camping postureDesignated route campsites and formal Soft Maple campground; no unrestricted bank camping claim
Use only marked/designated sites and verify current availability and rules before departure.
- Approved route imageUSGS Beaver River station photograph used as clearly labeled same-river context
The public-domain image does not certify current reservoir levels, portages, campsites, hydropower access, or a runnable line.
- Same-river proxy gaugeUSGS 04258000, Beaver River at Croghan, NY
USGS 04258000 at Croghan is downstream of the route and records a Beaver River whose flow is regulated by Stillwater Reservoir and several powerplant ponds. Use it with current operator information, reservoir levels, wind, weather, and local inspection; it cannot certify any portage, campsite, or bypassed reach.
- Safety and river conditionsCheck live gauge, recent rainfall, trend, debris, bridges, and access conditions before launch
NYSDEC Lewis County launch directory / Adirondack Region / Beaver River Canoe Route guide and its linked safety material warn that conditions change rapidly and require local inspection.
- 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.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- NYSDEC Lewis County launch directory / Adirondack Region / Beaver River Canoe Route guide route record
- Beaver River Canoe Route access and reservoir sequence
- USGS 04258000 Beaver River at Croghan current stage and discharge
- Beaver River Canoe Route portage and camping guidance
- USGS 04258000 monitoring location
- USGS 04258000 current conditions
- Beaver River context image
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Quick answers
Beaver River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Beaver River?
Paddle Today watches Beaver River at Croghan, 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 Beaver River route start and end?
This route starts at Moshier Falls powerhouse downstream put-in and ends at High Falls Pond Old State Road carry access, about About 14 route miles through the Beaver River reservoir and channel sequence on the water.
Is this Beaver River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.