New York | Hamilton and Herkimer Counties / Moose River Plains
South Branch Moose River
Rock Dam to McKeever
Check current paddling conditions for this South Branch Moose 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
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
An advanced planning-only 22.1-mile South Branch Moose River reach from the public Rock Dam Road/Trail access near the Red River confluence to the McKeever bridge take-out. American Whitewater publishes the Class II–IV reach, route geometry, endpoint access points, ALC traverse boundary, 2.65-ft McKeever gauge condition, and portage context. NYSDEC documents the public Rock Dam Road end-of-road parking and the seasonal gate/road system; the ALC section is private land governed by navigation-only rules, with no camping, fishing, bank entry, or overnighting inside the traverse.
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
Rock Dam Road end / Rock Dam Trail accessRock Dam Road is a seasonal DEC access road; the UMP says it can remain closed after the area initially opens until it dries, and the route source identifies public access down DEC dirt roads. Verify the current gate and road status before carrying in.
Take-out
McKeever bridge river-right take-outThe ALC section is private property crossed under a narrow navigation settlement/order. Register, respect the specified season and gauge condition, stay on the water except incidental navigation, and do not infer a general public shoreline or camping right from navigability.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Rock Dam Road is a seasonal DEC access road; the UMP says it can remain closed after the area initially opens until it dries, and the route source identifies public access down DEC dirt roads. Verify the current gate and road status before carrying in.
- The ALC section is private property crossed under a narrow navigation settlement/order. Register, respect the specified season and gauge condition, stay on the water except incidental navigation, and do not infer a general public shoreline or camping right from navigability.
- The McKeever point is an American Whitewater route-source take-out anchor near the Route 28 bridge, not a surveyed ramp. Confirm the current river-right landing, parking, traffic exposure, and safe carry before launch.
Watch for
- USGS 04254500 below 2.65 ft, rapidly rising/falling, unavailable, or inconsistent with local visual conditions and the ALC terms
- Rock Dam Road gate/road closure, required registration, Red River confluence, long rapids, low-water rock gardens, strainers, undercuts, bridge hydraulics, cold water, and limited rescue access
- ALC property boundary, no-bank-entry/no-camping restrictions, daylight deadline, portage decisions, McKeever bridge traffic, take-out landing, and any downstream continuation pressure
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 | 2.65 ft |
| 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 | The ALC traverse terms require the McKeever staff gauge to register at least 2.65 ft during the 24 hours before the traverse. This is a legal/access prerequisite and conservative planning floor, not a safety guarantee; the route source warns that low water may force walking, portage, or an overnight stranding. |
| 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 corridorSouth Branch Moose River Rock Dam to McKeever; 22.1 miles; Class II–IV
American Whitewater publishes the distinct reach, endpoint access points, class range, portage option, and route-specific private-land restrictions.
- Public upstream accessRock Dam Road end / Rock Dam Trail access
NYSDEC documents Rock Dam Road end-of-road parking and the public seasonal Moose River Plains road/gate system; American Whitewater supplies the river-side endpoint anchor.
- Private-land navigation termsALC traverse: season, registration, 2.65-ft McKeever condition, daylight, and navigation-only bank restrictions
The official UMP reproduces the controlling traverse terms. They are access conditions, not a safety certification or general public land-use authorization.
- Direct gauge and route flow conditionUSGS 04254500 Moose River at McKeever; 2.65-ft preceding-24-hour traverse condition
USGS provides current gage-height telemetry at McKeever; the 2.65-ft condition comes from the official traverse terms and route source.
- Camping postureDEC roadside primitive campsites outside the ALC section; no camping during the private traverse
NYSDEC documents the Moose River Plains campsite network, while the ALC terms prohibit camping and other non-navigation activity on the private section.
- Route imageAmerican Whitewater South Branch 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 water level, wood, access, or a runnable line.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 04254500, Moose River at McKeever, NY
USGS 04254500 is the direct McKeever gauge used by the route source and the ALC access terms. The 2.65-ft reading is a preceding-24-hour legal traverse condition; use the live gage-height trend with local rain, releases, wood, cold water, road status, and visual scouting. A qualifying number does not certify a safe line or public bank use.
- Safety and river conditionsCheck live gauge, recent rainfall, trend, debris, bridges, and access conditions before launch
American Whitewater / NYSDEC Moose River Plains and Black River Wild Forest access 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 Plains and Black River Wild Forest access context route record
- NYSDEC Moose River Plains Wild Forest UMP and current access pages
- American Whitewater South Branch Moose River flow, access, and feature guidance
- NYSDEC Moose River Plains UMP and ALC traverse conditions
- USGS 04254500 monitoring location
- USGS 04254500 current conditions
- South Branch 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
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Quick answers
South Branch Moose River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling South Branch Moose River?
Paddle Today watches Moose River at McKeever, NY and uses 2.65 ft as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this South Branch Moose River route start and end?
This route starts at Rock Dam Road end / Rock Dam Trail access and ends at McKeever bridge river-right take-out, about 22.1 whitewater river miles on the water.
Is this South Branch 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.
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