This section of the Raquette River, referred to as Stone Valley, is a classic Adirondack run with many pool drops. It is unique from other runs in the region in that the rapids are so close together. The first mile drops 200' through seven distinct rapids separated on average by 100-200 yards, and greatest distance between any two rapids is only 400 yards. Because the river flows against the 'grain' of the bedrock, there are multiple piton features and potholes, especially at lower flows.
Just after putting in below Colton Dam, paddlers will encounter Colton Falls (class V). This 60' drop is a continuous series of ledges, slots, and slides that ends with a mean river-wide hole at the bottom. There are short pools and a few eddies that make this easier than it may sound during lower flows. Slots do have high pin potential. The river right channel avoids the bottom hole, but it is technical, shallow, and unforgiving if you flip. There are trails on river right for scouting out the falls or to portaging around them.
0.2 miles down is Tannery Falls (Class IV+). The easiest option is to run the far right "S channel", but running the far left slots or boofing the middle ledges are also options.
Mushroom Ledges (Class III+) is a couple hundred yards below Tannery (at 0.35 miles). The 4-foot pourover ledge has a 'mushroom' water feature in the middle of the main flow which backs up a mean hole. The feature is created by either a rock or a pothole sieve that acts like a 'geyser' creating the mushroom. There are numerous options to run this drop, and it can be scouted river right.
At 0.5 miles, there is a 90-degree bend to the left as the river cuts through bedrock that marks the start of The Narrows (class IV+). An island separates the Left Channel from the Middle and Far Right channels. The Middle channel rejoins the Left channel just above the Tub. The ledge-slide that forms the Tub marks the end of the Narrows.
The Left Channel is the most common route and starts with the technical Horseshoe Ledge, which has multiple lines, the easiest is the high far right line next to the island, boofing the far right part of the ledge. All other lines through this drop are more difficult and bring the The Horseshoe Hole into play. Horseshoe Ledge is followed by a fast moving pool, which funnels all water through the Slot. The Tub is 50 yards below, an eddy on river left 20-30 yards below the Slot offers a place to scout The Tub.
The Middle Channel and far Right Channel are seldom run and should be extensively scouted from river right. Take out before the river bends to the left.
Please note: a mishap in any channel in The Narros can be terminal. A rescue is very difficult, as was demonstred by a fatality there in 2002. Make the right choice for you, and have a good safetly plan for your group.
The horizon line 50 yards below The Slot marks the blind entrance to The Tub (Class V) at 0.75 miles. The class II-III stretch above The Tub has some sticky pourovers above 500cfs, but they are easy to miss, and there are plenty of eddies.
The Tub is a two-tiered drop separated by a very small/narrow pool. The pool is really a house sized pothole the river has carved out between the two ramp/ledges.The first ledge is a blind drop and being off line will either result in a piton or getting a beating in The Tub.
The hole at the bottom of the second ramp/ledge is very sticky but is in a big pool. Run the second ledge far right or far left on the main flow. The far left line avoids The Tub, but is filled with potholes and rocks that could pin a boat. The far left is normally only run at high levels, even then it is pretty ugly. The Tub can be scouted from river left.
At Island Falls (class V) at 0.85 miles, n island forms two channels, Da-Falls (IV) to the left of the island (not recommended below 500cfs) and Particle Accelerator (V) is right of the Island. A clean line avoids being pushed into the river right wall and avoids being funneled into the slot left of the big rooster tail at the bottom. The slot, called 50:50, is run by very, very few only at low flows, and this is NOT a recommended line. Flipping in any part if this rapid is ugly.
The 200 yard 200 Proof (class IV) rapid marks the end of the first mile, which drops 200 feet. The entrance is a class III boulder field which starts just below the big pool at the bottom of Island Falls. Rock ledges are on river right, the main flow is to river left. The crux of this rapid is a class IV slot along the left bank. The river makes a 90-degree turn to the right just below the slot and the the rapid ends with Hangover Ledges, a 100 yard class III runout.
After the 200 foot drop of the first mile, the river's character drastically changes the for the last two miles of Stone Valley.The gradient is only 50 feet/mile, and the channel wide and shallow at levels below 900cfs. Below 500cfs the river is boney.
At 2 miles the S-Turn (class III) breaks up the last two miles.The entrance of the S-Turn has a couple of sticky pourovers that are easy to manuever around. The meat of this rapid is a channel wide ledge-hole that is easy to punch below 800cfs. A nice foam pile forms about 10 yards below the pourover at flows above 500cfs (the hole is shallow at these flows.) At high flows this is a great playspot and nice waves form just below this.
Colton is located approximately nine miles South of Potsdam on NY-56.
From Albany take 87N to Warrensberg and drive through Blue Mtn Lake, Long Lake to Tupper Lake taking NY-3 East and catching NY-56 North about 2 miles east of Childwold. Drive through South Colton to Colton, turning right on Main Street.
From Burlington go north and drive through Malone, NY to Potsdam on NY-11. Pick up NY-56S in Potsdam. Go 10 miles on 56 to Main Street in Colton and turn left.
From Watertown, take NY11 north. Turn right on NY-68 at the last stop light in the village of Canton, then turn left where NY-68 ends at a T-intersection with NY56, turn Left (north).Go about half a mile and turn right onto Main Street.
To reach the put-in, once on Main Street cross over the river and turn left. The road dead-ends in a small parking area. Parking at the put-in is a little tight, additiobnal parking is in the grass area behind the fire station. Please do not park in the fire station lot just above put-in, vehicles will be ticketed and/or towed. Access to the river is from river right (to avoid damaging the historical ruins on river left). il. If Tannery Ledges looks to be too much for you, then I recommend you only paddle on the lower 1.5 miles using the mid-way put-in/take-out (see directions below).
To reach the take-out, from the put-in take NY-56 north (right turn off Main Street). After 3 three miles, turn right onto County Road 24. Drive 0.6 miles, crossing over Brown's Bridge, and turn right on Lenny Road. The power lines that cross the river and road mark the takeout parking (0.3 mi from the intersection). Park along the road where there's room or back at the Brown's Bridge Intersection. Exit the river 20 yds before the power lines on river right or down at Brown's Bridge.
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