Canadaway Creek - Griswold to Laona


Canadaway Creek, New York, US

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Griswold to Laona

Usual Difficulty III-IV(V+) (for normal flows)
Length 9.2 Miles
Avg. Gradient 68 fpm
Max Gradient 96 fpm

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level


River Description

This section of Canadaway has at least 3 waterfalls on it, two of which are Class V's.  I got this information from Google Earth and also from www.youtube.com keywords Canadaway and Arkwright Falls.  You can see Arkwright and Laona being run.  Arkwright is totally nuts in my opinion, but Laona Falls looks like fun.  I would portage Arkwright if I were you.  The Canoeing Guide to Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia also has information about this reach.  The book says you need ropes for the Arkwright Falls portage.  I will update this reach once I get to run it by November 2008 when lake effect rain will make it available frequently.  This run is at the top of my list for this Fall.  It contains some the most intense whitewater in the region (only Little Chautauqua may be tougher.)  I speculate that the Catteraugus gauge must need to be 4 ft or higher.  You may be able to run it at lower Catt readings if the Catt is very low water before it rains (the Catt takes huge amounts of rain to bring it up where as Canadaway quickly rises and falls in it's narrow gorge.)  If anyone has information, pictures, or videos of Canadaway Creek please let me know.  Email me at jj14231999@yahoo.com  Please put Canadaway Creek in the subject box.  It will catch my attention as I tend to get a lot of junk mail.
 
The put in is probably Bard Road.  This seems to be the closest access to the gorge.  Take out anywhere on Porter Road after Laona Falls.
 
NOTE:  The area surrounding Arkwright Falls is private property.  Please respect the landowners and get their written permission before embarking on this one.  Again, Arkwright is very dangerous and a kid almost died there this past spring, breaking his jaw in two places.  Use good judgement.

StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2008-09-22 22:26:10

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Gauge Information

We have no additional information about how various flows affect runnability (or playability) of this section of river. If you can provide additional information, please either directly contact the StreamTeam member for this reach, or add a 'comment' or a 'report' with your information to help out your fellow boaters.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level

Report - Reports of Canadaway Creek Griswold to Laona and related gauges

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Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
0.0Bard RoadPutin
3.4Arkwright Falls5.1Portage Waterfall
5.9Shumla FallsIVWaterfall
9.1Laona Falls5.0Waterfall
9.2LaonaTakeout

Rapid Descriptions

Bard Road

I'm guessing this is probably the closest access to the top of the gorge?



Arkwright Falls (Class 5.1, Mile 3.4)

This is a nasty one!  From looking at it on youtube, this eroded out V shaped falls seems to be a Class V+.  I think I would portage this one if I were you!  The falls appears to be maybe 15 to 20 or so?



Shumla Falls (Class IV, Mile 5.9)

I have located Shumla Falls on Google Earth.  According to the elevation tools, it appears to be about 9 feet.  That's about all I know for sure right now.



Laona Falls (Class 5.0, Mile 9.1)

This looks to be a Class V based on the youtube video.  It looks like a lot of fun.  There may be a few drops strarting at the bridge based on Google Earth.



Laona

There should be a place to take out just below the falls.  Route 60 parallels this part of the creek.  Look for pull offs just below the falls.  The creek seems to flatten out at this point, but there seems to be some nice ledges down in Freedonia just above I-90.  I will likely add a milder surf section reach at a later time as I get more information.




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 Griswold to Laona, Canadaway Creek New York, US (mobile)