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New York | Warren County

Hudson RiverNorth River / Thirteenth Brook to Riparius Bridge

A distinct 13-mile Hudson River moving-water route from the North River/Thirteenth Brook access corridor to the public Bridge at Riparius hand launch and take-out area. American Whitewater rates the section Class II–III and describes a quieter but committed reach below the Hudson Gorge, with boulder rapids near the start, limited bailout options through the North Creek-to-Riparius section, and a final ledge before the bridge. NYSDEC supplies the public Riparius launch listing and North River access context.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 13 Hudson River miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeFull day
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Hudson River at the USGS North Creek monitoring station in New York, used as same-river context for the North River to Riparius route.
Route photoHudson River at North Creek; North River–Riparius route contextPhoto 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 distanceAbout 13 Hudson River milesNorth River / Thirteenth Brook to Riparius Bridge
DifficultyhardAmerican Whitewater rates the reach Class II–III. The first rapids are boulder-strewn, Perry Ehlers is a named challenge with a possible carry, and the section below North Creek becomes more committed before the final ledge at Riparius. Treat cold water, changing lines, wood, traffic, and limited exits as material hazards.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the Bridge at Riparius launch after confirming parking and the landing, then coordinate the upstream carry and shuttle with the North River outfitters or another current local access contact. The upstream trail access is conditional; do not block Route 28 or use outfitter property without permission.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific permit is identified for the listed hand launch, but confirm current NYSDEC, municipal, outfitter, parking, bridge, and seasonal access rules. Upstream trail access may require permission or shuttle coordination even though the river is publicly navigable.
CampingDay tripNo on-route primitive campsite is claimed for this corridor. Use a nearby legal campground, outfitter basecamp, or lodging in North River, North Creek, Chestertown, or the Riparius area after confirming current rules. The designated water-only Hudson Gorge campsites are upstream on a separate route and should not be treated as camping along this section.
SeasonApr-OctAmerican Whitewater describes a natural-flow Class II–III section with changing boulder lines and a final ledge near Riparius. Treat spring and rain events as the primary moving-water window, but verify the North Creek stage, recent rainfall, dam-release effects, daylight, cold-water conditions, and current access before launching.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A distinct 13-mile Hudson River moving-water route from the North River/Thirteenth Brook access corridor to the public Bridge at Riparius hand launch and take-out area. American Whitewater rates the section Class II–III and describes a quieter but committed reach below the Hudson Gorge, with boulder rapids near the start, limited bailout options through the North Creek-to-Riparius section, and a final ledge before the bridge. NYSDEC supplies the public Riparius launch listing and North River access context.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

North River / Thirteenth Brook Hudson River trail access
Open mapDirections to put-in

The North River start is described by American Whitewater as a steep trail across from the outfitters, not as a DEC-maintained launch. Confirm lawful current use, safe carry, parking, and the exact river landing before advertising or staging the trip.

Finish

Take-out

Bridge at Riparius Canoe Launch and Hudson River take-out
Open mapDirections to take-out

NYSDEC lists Riparius as a hand launch, while American Whitewater places the take-out immediately after the bridge. Confirm the river-right landing, vehicle staging, bridge visibility, and any seasonal or local restrictions.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The North River start is described by American Whitewater as a steep trail across from the outfitters, not as a DEC-maintained launch. Confirm lawful current use, safe carry, parking, and the exact river landing before advertising or staging the trip.
  • NYSDEC lists Riparius as a hand launch, while American Whitewater places the take-out immediately after the bridge. Confirm the river-right landing, vehicle staging, bridge visibility, and any seasonal or local restrictions.
  • River Road, railroad-side banks, private shorelines, and outfitter facilities are not automatic public exits. Keep the route bounded by the named endpoints and use only permission-backed bailouts.

Watch for

  • USGS 01315500 stage and trend, recent rain, tributary inflow, dam-release timing, low-water rock exposure, and debris
  • Mouse/Mousetail Rapids, Perry Ehlers Rapids, boulder lines, wood, undercuts, cold water, and limited exits below North Creek
  • North River start permission and carry, outfitters coordination, Route 28 traffic, railroad/private-bank boundaries, and River Road access assumptions
  • Riparius Bridge traffic, final ledge, public hand-launch parking, take-out landing, daylight, and downstream boundary

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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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

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Gauge

Recent 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 Hudson River at the USGS North Creek monitoring station in New York, used as same-river context for the North River to Riparius route.
Hudson River at North Creek; North River–Riparius route contextPhoto by U.S. Geological Survey
USGS public-domain station image

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 New York corridorNorth River to Riparius; 13 miles; Class II–III

    American Whitewater publishes this as a separate Hudson reach below the gorge, with its own access sequence, named rapids, commitment notes, and take-out.

    Source

  • Public downstream hand launchBridge at Riparius on Route 8

    NYSDEC’s current Boat Launching Sites Directory lists the Bridge at Riparius as a canoe/kayak hand launch; the stored point follows the river-side take-out corridor described by American Whitewater.

    Source

  • North River access contextNYSDEC North River take-out/landing area and local outfitter access corridor

    NYSDEC publishes a public North River take-out/landing coordinate in the adjacent Hudson Gorge access chain; American Whitewater separately describes the below-gorge start across from the outfitters. The start remains conditional pending current permission and field verification.

    Source

  • Live gauge contextUSGS 01315500, Hudson River at North Creek

    American Whitewater names the North Creek gauge for this reach. Use its live stage as context with recent reports, rainfall, releases, and visual scouting rather than a universal numeric rule.

    Source

  • Route imageHudson River at North Creek; same-river route and gauge context

    The public-domain USGS station image is labeled as river context and does not claim to depict the North River–Riparius endpoint or current conditions.

    Source

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

    USGS 01315500 is the route source's named Hudson gauge and provides useful live stage context. Dam releases, local tributary inflow, boulder exposure, and the downstream Riparius reach can diverge from the reading, so it is not a standalone go/no-go decision.

    Source

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

    American Whitewater / NYSDEC Boat Launching Sites Directory / Hudson Gorge Wilderness 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

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

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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 9 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 12 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 18 river miles from the Pelon/Benton Road access to the Outer Gooley Hudson take-outSchroon RiverStarbuckville Dam to Riverbank / Warren County Canoe and Kayak Access · about 15 straight-line mi awayHard · 6.7 river miles from Starbuckville Dam to RiverbankSchroon RiverSouth Horicon Bridge hand launch to Starbuckville Dam hand launch · about 16 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 2.6 planning river miles from South Horicon Bridge to the Starbuckville Dam hand launch

Quick answers

Hudson River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the North River / Thirteenth Brook to Riparius Bridge 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 North River / Thirteenth Brook to Riparius Bridge route on the Hudson River start and end?

This route starts at North River / Thirteenth Brook Hudson River trail access and ends at Bridge at Riparius Canoe Launch and Hudson River take-out, about 13 Hudson River miles on the water.

Is the North River / Thirteenth Brook to Riparius Bridge 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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