See all 2 routes on Moose River
New York | Herkimer County / McKeever and Thendara
Moose River
McKeever to Iron Bridge / Above Tannery
Check current paddling conditions for this Moose River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
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
Checking weather.
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 3.5-mile Class III Moose River reach from the McKeever gauge/river-road access to the Iron Bridge and Above Tannery take-out options. American Whitewater publishes the route geometry, direct McKeever gauge, named rapids, route-specific access points, and the 2.60-ft runnable observation. NYSDEC documents nearby public access/parking context, but the river-road launch and small endpoint landings remain access-area anchors that require current field confirmation.
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
Moose River Road downstream parking / McKeever gauge accessThe McKeever launch coordinate is a route-source water-side anchor near the gauge and current parking, not a surveyed ramp. Confirm the current river-road parking and carry before unloading.
Take-out
Iron Bridge / Above Tannery river accessIron Bridge and Above Tannery are route-source access options, but neither stored point is treated as a guaranteed maintained boat ramp. Verify the usable landing, parking, traffic, downstream boundary, and private-bank limits in the field.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The McKeever launch coordinate is a route-source water-side anchor near the gauge and current parking, not a surveyed ramp. Confirm the current river-road parking and carry before unloading.
- Iron Bridge and Above Tannery are route-source access options, but neither stored point is treated as a guaranteed maintained boat ramp. Verify the usable landing, parking, traffic, downstream boundary, and private-bank limits in the field.
- A visible continuation below the take-out does not establish a legal or safe extension; review downstream Moose River reaches separately before adding distance.
Watch for
- USGS 04254500 unavailable, rapidly changing, or inconsistent with the route visual; the 2.60-ft AW observation is not a fixed threshold
- Initiation, House Rock, Dogleg, Rock Island, Iron Bridge Rapid, Ledge Rapids, undercuts, holes, strainers, bridge hydraulics, low-water rock, cold water, and downstream Tannery pressure
- McKeever river-road parking/carry, gauge area, Iron Bridge/Above Tannery landing, traffic, private banks, and a safe vehicle/shuttle position
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 | Moose River at McKeever, NY |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 fixed go/no-go threshold is asserted. American Whitewater reports a 2.60-ft runnable observation and notes the reach can run through much of summer; treat that dynamic report as context only, then use the live McKeever gauge, local visual level, wood, bridge conditions, and group skill to decide. |
| 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 moving-water corridorMcKeever to Iron Bridge / Above Tannery; 3.5 miles; Class III
American Whitewater publishes the route distance, class, endpoint sequence, named features, access options, and direct gauge.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 04254500 Moose River at McKeever
The same-river gauge is at the route’s upstream end; use live stage and trend with local visual and feature scouting.
- Public access contextNYSDEC Moose River access/parking context near McKeever and Iron Bridge
NYSDEC identifies public trailhead/parking context near the Moose River; route-specific water entry and landing still require current confirmation.
- Feature and flow postureInitiation through Ledge Rapids; 2.60-ft runnable observation treated as dynamic context
American Whitewater’s named feature sequence and current-style flow observation are planning inputs, not a safety certification.
- Route imageAmerican Whitewater Moose River image used as route-specific feature context
The image is sourced from the named reach and presented as route context; it does not certify current flow, wood, access, or a runnable line.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 04254500, Moose River at McKeever, NY
USGS 04254500 is a direct same-river stage gauge at McKeever and is the route source’s gauge. Use the live trend and local visual level; the route source’s 2.60-ft runnable observation is historical/dynamic context rather than a fixed threshold.
- Safety and river conditionsCheck live gauge, recent rainfall, trend, debris, bridges, and access conditions before launch
American Whitewater / NYSDEC Moose River access and safety context 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.
- American Whitewater / NYSDEC Moose River access and safety context route record
- NYSDEC Black River Wild Forest and Moose River access context
- American Whitewater McKeever to Iron Bridge flow and feature guidance
- NYSDEC Black River Wild Forest access and paddling safety guidance
- USGS 04254500 monitoring location
- USGS 04254500 current conditions
- Moose 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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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
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Quick answers
Moose River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Moose River?
Paddle Today watches Moose River at McKeever, 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 Moose River route start and end?
This route starts at Moose River Road downstream parking / McKeever gauge access and ends at Iron Bridge / Above Tannery river access, about 3.5 whitewater river miles on the water.
Is this Moose River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.