Oswegatchie, Middle Branch - Section #3 (Rainbow Falls)


Oswegatchie, Middle Branch, New York, US

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Section #3 (Rainbow Falls)

Usual Difficulty IV-V (for normal flows)
Length 4 Miles

Rainbow Falls


Rainbow Falls
Photo of Steve Arns by Gillian Wright

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
WEST BRANCH OSWEGATCHIE R NR HARRISVILLE NY
usgs-04262500 1200 - 2200 cfs IV-V 01h04m 307 cfs (rc= -0.9 )


River Description

Section #3 of the Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie is often referred to as the Rainbow Falls Section. Section #3 can be combined with Section #2 or Section #4.  The put-in for #3 is the take-out for #2 and the take-out for #3 is the put-in for #4. Section #3 feels remote and you will not cross any roads while paddling this section. The scenery is excellent. There are a few large drops on this section including Rainbow Falls (monster) and many boat scoutable sections. There are several bad holes on this section especially as the water gets high. All the drops have been run in this section but 2 are often portaged. Even with the portages this is a fun section especially when combined with another section of this great river. 


Both the put-in and take-out are on Bryant Bridge Rd. If you are coming from Harrisville (food and gas) you will turn left onto Middle Branch Rd. At Middle Branch Corners the road turns into Bryant Bridge Rd. As you continue down Bryant Bridge Rd you will cross a bridge and then there will be an intersection. This is the take-out. Turn left (still Bryant Bridge Rd.) and drive until you cross the river again. This is the put-in. Bryant Bridge Rd can be a little rough between the put-in and take-out. Four wheel drive and high clearance certainly make the shuttle easier but are probably not a necessity. 

Other rivers in the area: Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie Sections #2 and #4, West Branch of the Oswegatchie, East Branch of the Oswegatchie, Browns Bridge Section of the Oswegatchie and The Grass sections South Branch, Lampson Falls section, Middle Branch to name a few.

I am hoping to get back on this section soon (Fall 2007) and get some pictures and to refresh my memory on the rapids. I have put up some rapid descriptions but it has been a year since I ran the river and I have only run it once. If you don't like what you see make sure you get out and scout.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: unknown

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Top of the big one

Detail Trip Report  Top of the big one  Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie Section #3, NY(254.79KB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The gauge is actually on the West Branch of the Oswegatchie so it should be used as a guide only.  There is not a gauge on the Middle Branch.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
WEST BRANCH OSWEGATCHIE R NR HARRISVILLE NY
usgs-04262500 1200 - 2200 cfs IV-V 01h04m 307 cfs (rc= -0.9 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
1200 -2200 cfs barely runnable-high runnable IV-V

Report - Reports of Oswegatchie, Middle Branch Section #3 (Rainbow Falls) and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Oswegatchie Section #4 [NY] Sluice Falls n/a Jim Dobbins
5y114d11h33m Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie Section #3 [NY] Top of the big one 1800cfs Jim Dobbins

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Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
0.5Warm UpIV
0.7Nipple Twist FallsIV+
1.0Manky Spanky5.0
2.0Between Manky and RainbowIV
3.0Rainbow Falls5.1Portage Waterfall Photo
3.2GorgeIV
4.0Take-OutAccess

Rapid Descriptions

Warm Up (Class IV, Mile 0.5)
After a half mile of moving and flat water the river will narrow and start to drop.  Get out and scout on the right.  The trees and bushes are very dense on river left and you won't be able to see the hole you want to avoid at the bottom.  The river then opens and becomes class III for about 150ft and then narrows again. 

Nipple Twist Falls (Class IV+, Mile 0.7)
Catch an eddy and scout on the right.  The river narrows again.  Dodge a couple holes and be wary of Nipple Twist, the final hole in the rapid.  Some people think they can go right and boof into the eddy.  Often those people go swimming and get recirculated by the hole.   When levels are high "Nipple Twist" is really bad and has been know to strip a man (or woman) of both their dignity and their pants.

And for your reading pleasure a truly inspiring story about our first run down this river.  STORY!




Manky Spanky (Class 5.0, Mile 1.0)
After some moving water the river will turn right and drop.  Get out and scout on the left.  Manky Spanky is a slide that looks, you guessed it, a little manky.  This has been run but is often the 1st portage.  There is a cool looking boof into an eddy move on top but the rest looked a little to manky to me to fire up.  Scout and make your own decision.  Portage is on the left.

Between Manky and Rainbow (Class IV, Mile 2.0)
There are several rapids in this section but I don't remember them well enough to give a good description.  There are some short gorges and some ledge drops.  I do not remember anything more that class IV.  I will get back ASAP and get some good details.  Sorry.  I think the rapid at the 3 mile mark made me forget everything else.

Rainbow Falls (Class 5.1, Mile 3.0)

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls
Photo of Steve Arns by Gillian Wright

This is one impressive rapid.  You will know you have reached Rainbow Falls when you see a big horizon line.  Scout/portage this one on river left.  If you get out early enough above the first drop you will avoid walking over a bunch of downed trees (thanks Dennis).  It starts with a 10-12 foot waterfall, then a large slide, a small pool of swirling water, another slide thing and then a big waterfall into a deep gorge.  After the waterfall the river enters the gorge and turns 90 degrees to the left causing some interesting looking currents.  Rainbow Falls has been run but not by many.   There is a trail on river left that will get you down into the gorge so if you decide to forgo Rainbow falls you can still run the gorge.  It may be easiest to lower the boats by rope.  I didn't know how to rate this one.  It has been run but most portage it.  We will call it a 5.1.



Gorge (Class IV, Mile 3.2)
After Rainbow you are in a deep gorge.  The gorge is very scenic but not that hard.  Once you are in though it is tough to get out.  It is relatively short though.

Take-Out
When you see a bridge you can either get out or tighten your helmet for Section #4!


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 Section #3 (Rainbow Falls), Oswegatchie, Middle Branch New York, US (mobile)