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New York | Herkimer County / McKeever and Thendara

Moose RiverMcKeever to Iron Bridge / Above Tannery

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.

Route location

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Plan this route

Distance3.5 whitewater river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeHalf-day daylight outing with time to scout Initiation
ShuttleCar shuttle
Moose River McKeever to Iron Bridge in New York, shown in American Whitewater route context.
Route photoMoose River McKeever to Iron Bridge; route-specific contextPhoto by American Whitewater

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 distance3.5 whitewater river milesMcKeever to Iron Bridge / Above Tannery
DifficultyhardAmerican Whitewater rates the reach Class III and names Initiation, House Rock, Dogleg, Rock Island, Iron Bridge Rapid, and Ledge Rapids. Holes, ledges, undercuts, strainers, bridge hydraulics, cold water, dynamic stage, and uncertain small landings require advanced scouting and rescue judgment.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle only at a confirmed Iron Bridge or Above Tannery public access/parking location, then drive to the McKeever river-road start. Keep cars off shoulders and private drives, allow daylight for scouting, and retain a failed-shuttle extraction plan.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current NYSDEC access/parking rules, New York boating/PFD requirements, road and bridge conditions, and any private-land or seasonal landing restrictions. No route-specific paddling permit is asserted.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is claimed. Use nearby legal lodging or a separately confirmed DEC/municipal campground/basecamp; do not camp at the gauge, river road, Iron Bridge, Above Tannery, bridge approaches, or private shoreline.
SeasonApr-OctAmerican Whitewater describes this as a Class III section that can remain runnable through much of summer. Favor stable daylight conditions after checking the direct McKeever stage, recent rain, wood, bridge hydraulics, and the exact landing/parking plan.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

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.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Moose River Road downstream parking / McKeever gauge access
Open mapDirections to put-in

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.

Finish

Take-out

Iron Bridge / Above Tannery river access
Open mapDirections to take-out

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.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

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

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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Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

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

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

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

Moose River McKeever to Iron Bridge in New York, shown in American Whitewater route context.
Moose River McKeever to Iron Bridge; route-specific contextPhoto by American Whitewater
American Whitewater route 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.

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    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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Photos

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Keep exploring

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Quick answers

Moose River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the McKeever to Iron Bridge / Above Tannery route on the Moose 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 McKeever to Iron Bridge / Above Tannery route on the Moose River start and end?

This route starts at Moose River Road downstream parking / McKeever gauge access and ends at Iron Bridge / Above Tannery river access, 3.5 whitewater river miles on the water.

Is the McKeever to Iron Bridge / Above Tannery route on the Moose 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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