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New York | Hamilton County / Sargent Ponds Wild Forest

Raquette RiverForked Lake Campground to Deerland lean-to / Long Lake

A planning-only approximately 4.5-mile Raquette River whitewater reach from the current NYSDEC Forked Lake Campground and Day Use Area hand launch to the Deerland lean-to / Long Lake boundary. American Whitewater documents the Class II–III rock gardens, mandatory Buttermilk Falls portage, exact reach geometry, and the small Deerland access area; NYSDEC independently lists the Forked Lake launch, the Raquette River hand-launch corridor, North Point Road access to Buttermilk Falls, and the surrounding public wild-forest/camping setting. The Piercefield USGS station is a downstream same-river proxy, so local water, recent rain, wood, and a visual scout control the decision.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 4.5 route miles from Forked Lake Campground to the Deerland lean-to / Long Lake boundary; American Whitewater’s header also labels the reach 3.6 miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAbout 2–4 hours of moving water plus the mandatory Buttermilk Falls portage
ShuttleCar shuttle
Canoes being portaged at Sweeney Carry on the Raquette River in New York, used as historical same-river context for the Forked Lake to Deerland route.
Route photoRaquette River canoe portage at Sweeney Carry; historical same-river contextPhoto by Seneca Ray Stoddard via Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

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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 distanceApproximately 4.5 route miles from Forked Lake Campground to the Deerland lean-to / Long Lake boundary; American Whitewater’s header also labels the reach 3.6 milesForked Lake Campground to Deerland lean-to / Long Lake
DifficultyhardAmerican Whitewater rates the reach Class II–III and describes two rock-garden sections, a long backwater above Buttermilk Falls, a mandatory portage, and additional rock garden just before Long Lake. The short route has limited margin around wood, shallow rock, cold water, and a non-ramp Deerland exit.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the confirmed Deerland North Point Road parking/carry area, then drive to Forked Lake Campground. Allow time for the campground season/day-use fee, the yellow gate and 100-yard Deerland carry, the Buttermilk Falls portage, road conditions, daylight, and a failed-shuttle plan; keep vehicles out of gates and travel lanes.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current NYSDEC Forked Lake Campground, Sargent Ponds Wild Forest, New York boating/PFD, firewood, camping, parking, gate, and state-land rules. Confirm the campground operating season and day-use fee, and do not infer a right to occupy the Deerland lean-to or private shoreline from the route map.
CampingOptions nearbyThe DEC Forked Lake Campground and Day Use Area is an endpoint campground context at the put-in, with 80 sites and boat-access camping, subject to seasonal operation, reservations, fees, and current site closures. The Deerland lean-to is an access-area shelter and is not treated as guaranteed overnight lodging; do not camp at the falls, access road, private shore, or an unmarked river site.
SeasonApr-OctSeasonal Adirondack whitewater. American Whitewater describes this reach as best when water is up, while the downstream Piercefield reading can be materially less representative than snowpack, recent rain, and the local gauge/visual. Confirm the Forked Lake campground operating season, road conditions, daylight, and current water entry before launch.

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 planning-only approximately 4.5-mile Raquette River whitewater reach from the current NYSDEC Forked Lake Campground and Day Use Area hand launch to the Deerland lean-to / Long Lake boundary. American Whitewater documents the Class II–III rock gardens, mandatory Buttermilk Falls portage, exact reach geometry, and the small Deerland access area; NYSDEC independently lists the Forked Lake launch, the Raquette River hand-launch corridor, North Point Road access to Buttermilk Falls, and the surrounding public wild-forest/camping setting. The Piercefield USGS station is a downstream same-river proxy, so local water, recent rain, wood, and a visual scout control the decision.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

NYSDEC Forked Lake Campground and Day Use Area hand launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

The Forked Lake start is a current DEC campground hand launch, but the launch is shallow gravel, seasonal, and subject to day-use fees and operating status. Verify the carry, parking, and actual waterline before unloading.

Finish

Take-out

Deerland lean-to / Raquette River take-out
Open mapDirections to take-out

The Deerland finish is described by American Whitewater as a yellow-gated North Point Road parking area followed by an approximately 100-yard walk to a lean-to and the river. It is retained as a public state-land access-area anchor, not a guaranteed trailer ramp or unrestricted overnight site.

Road shuttle

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Access planner

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This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.

On-water distance4.5 miMixed access
On-water timeAbout 2–4 hours of moving water plus the mandatory Buttermilk Falls portageFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

NYSDEC Forked Lake Campground and Day Use Area hand launch to Deerland lean-to / Raquette River take-out is about 4.5 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The Forked Lake start is a current DEC campground hand launch, but the launch is shallow gravel, seasonal, and subject to day-use fees and operating status. Verify the carry, parking, and actual waterline before unloading.
  • The Deerland finish is described by American Whitewater as a yellow-gated North Point Road parking area followed by an approximately 100-yard walk to a lean-to and the river. It is retained as a public state-land access-area anchor, not a guaranteed trailer ramp or unrestricted overnight site.
  • The DEC Raquette River hand launch and North Point Road Buttermilk Falls access are intermediate public context and bailout options only; neither changes the mandatory falls portage or authorizes private-bank landing.
  • The AW source reports both 3.6 miles in the header and 4.5 miles at the take-out feature. Use the endpoint-to-endpoint 4.5-mile planning length and expect the actual route to vary with the portage and waterline.

Watch for

  • USGS 04266500 downstream proxy trend, recent rain, snowpack, local water, campground opening, road/gate status, daylight, and no gauge-certified line
  • Forked Lake dam, first rock garden, wood/strainers, Buttermilk Falls horizon line and mandatory carry, second rock garden, shallow rocks, cold water, and Long Lake boundary
  • Forked Lake day-use fee and launch, Raquette River intermediate hand launch, North Point Road parking/carry, Deerland yellow gate, lean-to/landing, private banks, and vehicle extraction

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

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

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Route gallery

Photos

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

Canoes being portaged at Sweeney Carry on the Raquette River in New York, used as historical same-river context for the Forked Lake to Deerland route.
Raquette River canoe portage at Sweeney Carry; historical same-river contextPhoto by Seneca Ray Stoddard via Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: public domain historical photograph

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 whitewater corridorForked Lake Campground to Deerland; Class II–III; AW header 3.6 miles and feature take-out 4.5 miles

    American Whitewater publishes the distinct reach, route geometry, class, rock gardens, mandatory Buttermilk Falls portage, and Long Lake boundary. The card preserves the source mileage discrepancy and uses the longer endpoint-to-endpoint planning distance.

    Source

  • Current public water accessNYSDEC Forked Lake Campground and Day Use Area hand launch; current Raquette River hand-launch context

    NYSDEC lists the seasonal Forked Lake launch with parking and canoe/small-boat use, and the current Sargent Ponds page identifies a separate Raquette River hand launch and public North Point Road access to Buttermilk Falls.

    Source

  • Deerland public access-area contextDeerland lean-to and North Point Road parking/carry to the Raquette River

    American Whitewater describes the yellow-gated parking area and approximately 100-yard walk to the river. The point is retained as a state-land access-area anchor pending field confirmation of the carry and landing, not as a maintained ramp.

    Source

  • Proxy flow guidanceAmerican Whitewater Piercefield correlation approximately 4.5–10 feet, with local visual judgment controlling

    The direct same-river station is far downstream. AW’s correlation and trip reports provide planning context only; no reading certifies the local rock gardens, wood, or falls portage.

    Source

  • Endpoint campgroundForked Lake Campground and Day Use Area, 80 sites, seasonal boat launch and canoe rentals

    NYSDEC documents the campground, launch, season, day-use fee, and boat-access camping. Reservation and current operation must be checked separately.

    Source

  • Approved same-river imageRaquette River at Sweeney Carry historical canoe-portage photograph

    The Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons image is public domain and clearly labeled as historical same-river canoe-portage context; it does not depict current Forked Lake conditions or certify access.

    Source

  • Same-river proxy gaugeUSGS 04266500, Raquette River at Piercefield, NY

    USGS 04266500 at Piercefield is a live same-river station but is far downstream of this Forked Lake reach. American Whitewater correlates approximately 4.5–10 feet at Piercefield, while trip reports note that snowpack and recent rain may matter more than the distant gauge. Use the reading and trend only with local visual water, wood, and weather checks; no value certifies Buttermilk Falls or the rock gardens.

    Source

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

    American Whitewater / NYSDEC Sargent Ponds Wild Forest / Forked Lake Campground and its linked safety material warn that conditions change rapidly and require local inspection.

    Source

  • Image decisionApproved watershed/proxy-gauge context image used for route presentation

    The image is clearly labeled as watershed/proxy-gauge context and does not claim to depict this exact reach.

    Source

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Keep exploring

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Quick answers

Raquette River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Forked Lake Campground to Deerland lean-to / Long Lake route on the Raquette 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 Forked Lake Campground to Deerland lean-to / Long Lake route on the Raquette River start and end?

This route starts at NYSDEC Forked Lake Campground and Day Use Area hand launch and ends at Deerland lean-to / Raquette River take-out, Approximately 4.5 route miles from Forked Lake Campground to the Deerland lean-to / Long Lake boundary; American Whitewater’s header also labels the reach 3.6 miles on the water.

Is the Forked Lake Campground to Deerland lean-to / Long Lake route on the Raquette 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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