New York | Essex County / Ticonderoga
La Chute River
Bicentennial Park canoe launch to Ticonderoga Lake Champlain Boat Launch
Check current paddling conditions for this La Chute River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
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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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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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 lower La Chute River one-way from the public canoe/kayak launch at Bicentennial Park, below the major falls, to the public Ticonderoga Lake Champlain launch. The lower reach is described as an easy paddle with slight current and a marshy approach to Lake Champlain; the route deliberately excludes the upstream dams, waterfalls, penstocks, cascades, and ledges.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
Bicentennial Park La Chute River canoe/kayak launchThe regional paddling page identifies the lower-reach canoe/kayak launch across from Bicentennial Park near the Kissing Bridge; verify the exact carry and waterline in person because the town page primarily documents the adjacent walking trail and waterfall area.
Take-out
NYSDEC Ticonderoga Lake Champlain Boat Launch at Route 74 / ferry landingThe community profile identifies the La Chute River Boat Launch at Bicentennial Park and the NYSDEC Ticonderoga launch at Route 74/ferry landing. The route uses the current public launch coordinates and does not claim a private Fort Ticonderoga shoreline landing.
Plan this segment
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Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The regional paddling page identifies the lower-reach canoe/kayak launch across from Bicentennial Park near the Kissing Bridge; verify the exact carry and waterline in person because the town page primarily documents the adjacent walking trail and waterfall area.
- The community profile identifies the La Chute River Boat Launch at Bicentennial Park and the NYSDEC Ticonderoga launch at Route 74/ferry landing. The route uses the current public launch coordinates and does not claim a private Fort Ticonderoga shoreline landing.
- The lower route is intentionally bounded below the Lower Falls. The upper Lake George-to-Bicentennial reach contains multiple waterfalls, dams, penstocks, cascades, and ledges and remains a separate technical/portage review.
Watch for
- Direct USGS 04279015 La Chute at State Highway 22 conditions; no numeric cutoff is asserted
- recent rain and fast rise, low water, wood, bridges, downtown dams/falls, cold water, and current water-quality advisories
- marsh navigation, Lake Champlain wind/chop, motorboat traffic, ferry/landing activity, daylight, and a confirmed one-way shuttle
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
Why this score
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 | La Chute at State Highway 22 at Ticonderoga, 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 numeric cutoff published for the lower La Chute; use the direct same-river USGS station with recent rainfall, lake level, visible current, water quality, wind, and local launch 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.
- Lower-reach paddling guidanceEasy lower La Chute paddle with slight current from below the falls toward Lake Champlain
The regional paddling guide distinguishes the lower section from the challenging upper waterfall reach and describes the marshy approach to Lake Champlain.
- Bicentennial public water entryLa Chute River Boat Launch, Bicentennial Park; canoe/kayak launch
The current Town of Ticonderoga community profile lists the public canoe/kayak launch at Bicentennial Park. The regional paddling page places the launch across the river near the Kissing Bridge.
- Public Lake Champlain take-outNYSDEC Ticonderoga Boat Launch at Route 74 / ferry landing, 43.853894, -73.386785
NYSDEC lists a current hard-surface public launch with parking and accessible facilities; verify current rules and lake conditions before using it as the shuttle endpoint.
- Direct flow contextUSGS 04279015 La Chute at State Highway 22 at Ticonderoga, NY
Use the direct same-river station for current trend and recent change, but do not treat a single reading as a published minimum or as a substitute for visual inspection of the lower reach and Lake Champlain.
- Water-quality and route classificationTiconderoga Creek/La Chute is approved for boating and fishing; overflow improvements remain in progress
The current town community profile identifies the lower reach as a popular paddling location below the falls and notes ongoing combined-sewer-overflow improvements. Check current advisories.
- Approved same-river imageLa Chute River lower-reach route context
Current Lake Champlain Region route photography; it does not certify present flow, water quality, launch condition, or the exact marsh landing line.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 04279015, La Chute at State Highway 22 at Ticonderoga, NY
USGS 04279015 is a direct La Chute station at State Highway 22 in Ticonderoga. Use live trend with recent rainfall, visible current, wood, water-quality advisories, wind, lake level/chop, and marsh conditions; no numeric route cutoff is published.
- Safety and river conditionsCheck live gauge, recent rainfall, trend, debris, bridges, and access conditions before launch
Lake Champlain Region / Town of Ticonderoga / NYSDEC / USGS and its linked safety material warn that conditions change rapidly and require local inspection.
- 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.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- Lake Champlain Region / Town of Ticonderoga / NYSDEC / USGS route record
- Lower La Chute public launch and Lake Champlain take-out network
- Lake Champlain Region lower La Chute paddling guidance
- NYSDEC paddling and water-safety guidance
- USGS 04279015 monitoring location
- USGS 04279015 current conditions
- La Chute River context image
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
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Quick answers
La Chute River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling La Chute River?
Paddle Today watches La Chute at State Highway 22 at Ticonderoga, 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 La Chute River route start and end?
This route starts at Bicentennial Park La Chute River canoe/kayak launch and ends at NYSDEC Ticonderoga Lake Champlain Boat Launch at Route 74 / ferry landing, about Approximately 3.5 planning miles from the lower-falls launch to Lake Champlain; the exact marsh and lake approach varies with the chosen landing line on the water.
Is this La Chute 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.