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New York | Oneida County / Tug Hill and Old Forge area

Black RiverForestport Reservoir public launch to Hawkinsville public access

A bounded planning-only 6.6-mile Black River reach from the current Forestport Reservoir public launch to the Hawkinsville public access area. American Whitewater identifies the distinct Forestport Reservoir-to-Hawkinsville section, its opening Class II–III slides, scenic Class II character, powerhouse option, and direct Boonville gauge; NYSDEC identifies canoeing as good from Forestport to Hawkinsville and lists access at Hawkinsville and nearby river roads. The route stops at Hawkinsville before the separate Class III Hawkinsville-to-Norton Road section.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 6.6 river miles from the Forestport Reservoir launch to Hawkinsville
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 3–5 hours depending on stage
ShuttleCar shuttle
Black River near Boonville, New York, used as same-river context for the Forestport Reservoir to Hawkinsville route.
Route photoBlack River near Boonville; Forestport to Hawkinsville route contextPhoto by U.S. Geological Survey

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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 distanceAbout 6.6 river miles from the Forestport Reservoir launch to HawkinsvilleForestport Reservoir public launch to Hawkinsville public access
DifficultymoderateAmerican Whitewater rates this reach Class II with standout Class III opening slides. The route is regulated, cold, and narrow in places, with low-water rocks, wood, bridge features, dam hydraulics, and a mandatory boundary before the harder Hawkinsville section. It requires competent moving-water handling and self-rescue preparation.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the confirmed Hawkinsville access, then drive to the NYSDEC Forestport Reservoir launch. Confirm both parking areas, the current operator/DEC rules, release timing, carries, bridge traffic, and the Hawkinsville take-out before leaving a vehicle; allow a daylight margin for scouting and a mandatory exit.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is identified beyond current site/operator rules. Confirm the Forestport Reservoir launch and Algonquin Power/FERC access conditions, NYSDEC boating and PFD requirements, parking, seasonal gates, invasive-species procedures, and any temporary release or closure notice before launching.
CampingOptions nearbyNearby basecamp only. Nicks Lake Campground and other managed Adirondack facilities provide separate regional overnight context, but neither river access nor the intervening banks authorize camping. Reserve a legal campground or lodging and do not camp at the dam, powerhouse, bridge, or private shoreline.
SeasonApr-OctSpring through early fall is the practical season for this regulated upper-Black reach. Forestport releases, recent rain, cold water, low-water rocks, wood, and local bridge or dam conditions can change the run quickly; verify the live gauge and the actual river before launching.

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

A bounded planning-only 6.6-mile Black River reach from the current Forestport Reservoir public launch to the Hawkinsville public access area. American Whitewater identifies the distinct Forestport Reservoir-to-Hawkinsville section, its opening Class II–III slides, scenic Class II character, powerhouse option, and direct Boonville gauge; NYSDEC identifies canoeing as good from Forestport to Hawkinsville and lists access at Hawkinsville and nearby river roads. The route stops at Hawkinsville before the separate Class III Hawkinsville-to-Norton Road section.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

NYSDEC Forestport Reservoir public launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

The Forestport Reservoir site is a current public NYSDEC-listed launch but is maintained under an operator/FERC license. Confirm gate, parking, release, carry, waterline, and posted rules rather than assuming ordinary reservoir access includes every downstream river-side path.

Finish

Take-out

Hawkinsville Black River public access
Open mapDirections to take-out

NYSDEC describes canoe access at Hawkinsville and nearby Camp Road, Norton Road, and River Road locations. Only the Hawkinsville point bounds this route; the downstream Norton Road access belongs to the separate harder reach and is not an alternate finish here.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The Forestport Reservoir site is a current public NYSDEC-listed launch but is maintained under an operator/FERC license. Confirm gate, parking, release, carry, waterline, and posted rules rather than assuming ordinary reservoir access includes every downstream river-side path.
  • NYSDEC describes canoe access at Hawkinsville and nearby Camp Road, Norton Road, and River Road locations. Only the Hawkinsville point bounds this route; the downstream Norton Road access belongs to the separate harder reach and is not an alternate finish here.
  • The route uses public access-area anchors rather than claiming every intervening bank, bridge, powerhouse, utility corridor, or road shoulder. Withdraw to the last confirmed legal access if wood, release, weather, or daylight blocks progress.

Watch for

  • USGS 04252500 stage/trend, Forestport release or powerhouse operations, recent rain, low-water rock exposure, and cold water
  • Opening slides, strainers, bridge hydraulics, dam pools, changing channels, private/utility banks, and limited legal emergency exits
  • Forestport parking/gate/carry, Hawkinsville landing and parking, bridge traffic, shuttle vehicle, daylight, and the mandatory Hawkinsville 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

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Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

Black River near Boonville, New York, used as same-river context for the Forestport Reservoir to Hawkinsville route.
Black River near Boonville; Forestport to Hawkinsville route contextPhoto by U.S. Geological Survey
USGS public domain; same-river context

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.

  • Distinct American Whitewater corridorForestport Reservoir to Hawkinsville; 6.6 miles; Class II with standout Class III slides

    American Whitewater publishes this as a distinct upper Black River reach with the Forestport start, Hawkinsville finish, opening slides, scenic moving water, powerhouse option, and direct Boonville gauge.

    Source

  • Current public upstream launchNYSDEC Forestport Reservoir unimproved trailer launch; approximately 30 cars and trailers

    The current Oneida County launch directory lists the Forestport Reservoir site and identifies its operator/FERC-license maintenance context.

    Source

  • Public downstream access and canoeing contextNYSDEC identifies canoeing as good from Forestport to Hawkinsville and additional access at Hawkinsville

    The current NYSDEC Black River guidance names the Forestport-to-Hawkinsville canoeing section and lists access at Hawkinsville, Camp Road, Norton Road, and River Road.

    Source

  • Direct live gauge and route-specific rangeUSGS 04252500; American Whitewater approximately 4.5 ft low runnable to 14 ft upper context

    American Whitewater supplies the station-specific planning range; releases, local wood, depth, and visual scouting remain controlling.

    Source

  • Camping postureNearby managed basecamp only; no riverbank or dam-area camping claim

    Regional DEC campground context is separate from the river access and does not authorize overnight use at the route endpoints or private/utility shoreline.

    Source

  • Approved same-river imageUSGS Black River near Boonville station photograph

    The public-domain image is same-river gauge context and does not certify the Forestport launch, Hawkinsville landing, release, wood, or runnable conditions.

    Source

  • Direct live gaugeUSGS 04252500, Black River near Boonville, NY

    USGS 04252500 is a direct Black River stage station near Boonville for this upper reach. Forestport operations, local tributary timing, recent rain, low-water exposure, wood, and bridge or dam conditions can diverge from the reading; use the live trend as context rather than a stand-alone safety certification.

    Source

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

    American Whitewater / NYSDEC Black River canoeing guidance and its linked safety material warn that conditions change rapidly and require local inspection.

    Source

  • Image decisionApproved same-river context image used for route presentation

    The image is labeled as river-level context when it depicts the named river elsewhere, not this exact reach.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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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

All 282 routes
New York route guideBrowse every tracked New York route.Oneida County / Tug Hill and Old Forge areaJump to routes in this region.

More on Black River

All 4
Hawkinsville public access to Norton Road public accessOneida County / Boonville and HawkinsvilleHard · About 5.6 river miles from Hawkinsville to the Norton Road accessLyons Falls lower public canoe launch to Turning Point Park / Carthage public launchLewis and Jefferson CountiesModerate · 41 river miles across the Lyons Falls-to-Carthage canoe-trail corridor; split into day segments around portagesWatertown to Dexter / Brownville canyonJefferson County / Watertown, Brownville, and DexterHard · Approximately 7.4 river miles from the public Watertown/Route 3 access through the canyon and downstream to the public Dexter/Fish Island access; the American Whitewater canyon segment itself is about 4 miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

West Canada CreekPartridge Hill Road to Route 28 overlook · about 12 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 3 river miles from the NYSDEC Partridge Hill Road access to the Route 28 overlook access, matching the West Canada Creek access-study upper-reach screenMoose RiverMcKeever to Iron Bridge / Above Tannery · about 13 straight-line mi awayHard · 3.5 whitewater river milesSouth Branch Black RiverNYSDEC South Lake hand launch down the South Branch Black River to the Black River confluence and back · about 16 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 10.4 water miles round trip from the DEC South Lake hand launch to the South Branch Black River confluence and back; American Whitewater lists the one-way South Lake-to-confluence reach at about 5.2 milesMoose RiverNelson Lake Hand Launch to Middle Branch Moose River and Nelson Lake out-and-back · about 16 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 3.6 paddling miles out and back from the Nelson Lake Hand Launch through the Middle Branch and Nelson Lake

Quick answers

Black River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Forestport Reservoir public launch to Hawkinsville public access route on the Black 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 Forestport Reservoir public launch to Hawkinsville public access route on the Black River start and end?

This route starts at NYSDEC Forestport Reservoir public launch and ends at Hawkinsville Black River public access, about 6.6 river miles from the Forestport Reservoir launch to Hawkinsville on the water.

Is the Forestport Reservoir public launch to Hawkinsville public access route on the Black River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate 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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