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New York | Hamilton, Essex, and Warren Counties

Hudson RiverIndian River confluence / Old Outer Gooley access to North River Take-out

A distinct 15.4-mile Hudson Gorge whitewater route from the Indian River confluence/Old Outer Gooley access to the North River take-out. American Whitewater identifies the Class III–IV reach and release-dependent character; NYSDEC supplies the public access/carry anchors, wilderness camping context, expert-only warning, and the boundary between the upper-Hudson approach and the gorge.

Route location

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Plan this route

Distance15.4 whitewater miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeFull day
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Hudson River at the USGS Hadley monitoring station in New York.
River contextHudson River at Hadley; 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 distance15.4 whitewater milesIndian River confluence / Old Outer Gooley access to North River Take-out
DifficultyhardAmerican Whitewater rates the reach Class III–IV and describes serious rapids, narrow gorge features, limited egress, and release-dependent difficulty. This is expert whitewater with wilderness logistics, not a beginner extension of the upper-Hudson approach.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at the North River Take-out Parking Area, confirm the public river landing and shuttle staging, then drive the seasonal Chain Lakes Road South to Old Outer Gooley. Coordinate with local outfitters or a guide for release days, road status, and current access information.
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.
CampingOptions nearbyNYSDEC lists designated primitive tent sites on the Hudson River that are accessible by water only, including sites near Virgin Falls, Harris Rift, and the Boreas River. Use only marked sites and follow first-come state-land rules; nearby Lake Harris or Indian Lake campgrounds are separate basecamp options. Do not infer that a rapid-side beach or private bank is legal camping.
SeasonMay-OctAmerican Whitewater documents the release-dependent Hudson Gorge character, while NYSDEC describes Class III features, remote exits, and summer Indian Lake releases. Treat May–October as a research window only; the live stage, release schedule, weather, road status, and competent local guidance must all agree.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A distinct 15.4-mile Hudson Gorge whitewater route from the Indian River confluence/Old Outer Gooley access to the North River take-out. American Whitewater identifies the Class III–IV reach and release-dependent character; NYSDEC supplies the public access/carry anchors, wilderness camping context, expert-only warning, and the boundary between the upper-Hudson approach and the gorge.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Outer Gooley Parking Area / Hudson Gorge carry
Open mapDirections to put-in

The Outer Gooley coordinate is a parking/carry anchor about 0.1 mile from the Hudson River take-out, not a waterline coordinate. Follow the marked carry and verify current seasonal road access, parking, and the actual river entry.

Finish

Take-out

North River Take-out Parking Area / Hudson River take-out
Open mapDirections to take-out

NYSDEC identifies the North River take-out parking area, while American Whitewater cautions independent parties away from private rafter pullouts. Confirm the public landing and take-out boundary before the trip.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The Outer Gooley coordinate is a parking/carry anchor about 0.1 mile from the Hudson River take-out, not a waterline coordinate. Follow the marked carry and verify current seasonal road access, parking, and the actual river entry.
  • NYSDEC identifies the North River take-out parking area, while American Whitewater cautions independent parties away from private rafter pullouts. Confirm the public landing and take-out boundary before the trip.
  • The Hudson Gorge lies amid wilderness and private inholdings. Use designated access and camping only, respect posted boundaries, and carry offline navigation and emergency communication.

Watch for

  • USGS 01315500 stage, current Indian Lake release schedule, rapidly rising water, or any mismatch between the gauge and on-river conditions
  • Class III–IV gorge features, the Narrows, Givneys, undercuts, holes, strainers, cold water, limited egress, and missed take-outs
  • seasonal Chain Lakes Road status, Old Outer Gooley carry, North River public take-out, private rafter pullouts, weather, and shuttle timing

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

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Route gallery

Photos

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

The Hudson River at the USGS Hadley monitoring station in New York.
Hudson River at Hadley; 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 corridorIndian River confluence to North River; 15.4 miles; Class III–IV Hudson Gorge

    American Whitewater publishes the bounded reach, difficulty, length, named features, release dependence, and take-out warning.

    Source

  • Public access and boundaryOld Outer Gooley access to North River Take-out Parking Area

    NYSDEC publishes the Outer Gooley and North River access/carry anchors; American Whitewater describes how the Old Gooley path functions as the gorge put-in and cautions against private rafter pullouts.

    Source

  • Gauge and release postureNorth Creek stage is live context; Indian Lake release schedule is a separate required check

    The route is intentionally planning-only because gorge difficulty and start conditions depend on releases and local scouting rather than a single numeric band.

    Source

  • Water-only campingDesignated primitive tent sites along the Hudson River

    NYSDEC lists marked water-access-only sites in and around the gorge and requires state-land camping compliance.

    Source

  • Direct live gaugeUSGS 01315500, Hudson River at North Creek, NY

    USGS 01315500 supplies continuous North Creek stage/discharge context used by the route source; Indian Lake release timing and local gorge conditions can diverge, so it is not a complete go/no-go signal.

    Source

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

    American Whitewater / NYSDEC Hudson Gorge Wilderness / Town of Indian Lake 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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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.

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Nearby routes within 75 miles

Indian RiverAbanakee Dam / Rafters access to Outer Gooley / Hudson River · about 2 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 2.3 miles on the American Whitewater Abanakee Dam to Hudson reach; NYSDEC describes a roughly 3.5-mile Rafters-access section to the Hudson depending on the exact launch and boundary usedCedar RiverPelon Road to Outer Gooley / Hudson River · about 5 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 18 river miles from the Pelon/Benton Road access to the Outer Gooley Hudson take-outMarion RiverBlue Mountain Lake town beach through Eagle Lake, Utowana Lake, Marion River, and Raquette Lake to the village launch · about 12 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 12.5 water miles one way from Blue Mountain Lake to the Raquette Lake village launch; about 25 miles round trip if returned to Blue MountainFishing BrookPickwickett Pond Road Hand Launch to County Line Flow Hand Launch · about 12 straight-line mi awayModerate · Conservative 1.2 access-to-access planning miles for the published endpoint anchors and carry; DEC describes the core downstream river segment as approximately 0.9 miles

Quick answers

Hudson River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Indian River confluence / Old Outer Gooley access to North River Take-out route on the Hudson 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 Indian River confluence / Old Outer Gooley access to North River Take-out route on the Hudson River start and end?

This route starts at Outer Gooley Parking Area / Hudson Gorge carry and ends at North River Take-out Parking Area / Hudson River take-out, 15.4 whitewater miles on the water.

Is the Indian River confluence / Old Outer Gooley access to North River Take-out route on the Hudson 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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