Raquette, New York, US

1) Forked Lake Campground to Deerland

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
RAQUETTE RIVER AT PIERCEFIELD NY
usgs-04266500	4.50 - 10.00 ft	II-III	00h53m	6.05 ft (rc= 0.3 )
	Flow range for boating uncertain. Please help with a comment or report. 4.5' min. might be too low. 5.7' was runnable, but boney.

River Description

Lat / longitude coords are approximate, from TopoZone.

The put in is just below the Forked Lake dam at the picnic area.  There is a $6/day use fee to park your vehicle.

The take out is at the Deerland lean-to shelter.  There is a small parking area on County Rd. 3 (North Point Rd) with a yellow gate on the back side.  Follow the road behind the gate to the lean-to and to the river, about 100 yards.

Buttermilk Falls is in the middle of the run.  The portage trail is on river right and is well marked.  Above the falls is a long backwater of slow water and a definite horizon line. There is also an area to park on County Rd. 3 (North Point Rd) with a sign for the falls.  You could take out or put in here or just look at the falls.  The portage is a must, but at certain water levels there is probably somebody that could run them.

There are two sections of rock garden, one just below the dam and the other just above the take out.  After the first section you hit the backwater of the falls, then portage the falls and there is a bit of whitewater below the falls if you put in before the end of the portage trail.  After this, some flatwater, then the second rock garden section before the river dumps into Long Lake.  The Deerland lean-to and the take out are where the river ends and the lake begins.