Levels and Description provided by John Ditmars
Rondout Creek, High Falls to Rosendale
This is a pretty fun class 2-4 (5) river run that is accessible to both beginners and experts. The
level coincides with difficulty, like most rivers, but all of the rapids have a nice recovery zone
which makes it a great learning river. There are also numerous play spots on the river that
come in at various levels. Intermediates and experts would probably prefer play boats on this
run to ride the holes and waves the Rondout has to offer.
There are two put ins. Paddlers may choose to run Little Falls, which is a roughly 12 foot falls
that can have a beefy kickback. It’s been run as low as 10 feet and as high as 13 feet, as far as
the locals know. The best line is along the left side, just be sure to not pencil in because there is
a rock shelf at the bottom, instead, boof right off the peak. That shelf is along the whole drop,
more or less. Word on the street is there’s a fun play hole above Little Falls called Johnny-On-
The-Spot that comes in at certain levels. The other option is to put in below Little Falls.
The first rapid below Little Falls is called Spin Cycle. Spin Cycle itself is actually the very strong
eddy line with ripping whirlpools at the bottom. What makes running this rapid difficult for
beginners is the fact that if you swim, you’re gonna get banged up a bit, and will end up at the
bottom in the boil and whirlies. It’s not a particularly hard rapid, a class 3 really...but you want
to be on top of your line.
The second rapid has no name but there’s a fun blasting hole called Blast Hole on the river right
side. Above 12 feet it can be a bit sticky.
Next thing that comes up is a little low head dam. Some locals call the rapid Outta Nowhere
(class 2+/3). It can be surfed on river left at moderate to flows, and at high flows the entire can
form a nice surf wave. After that is a another wave just above the island called 007, and next to
it on river right is a blasting hole called The Slab. Run the right side of the island for more fun.
You’ll come across some class 2, a couple of fun splat walls, and a few eddy lines for the next
while before you come to the rapid of the day, called the Eye Ripper, class 3+4 (5). Maybe
scout this rapid before you run it. The Eye Ripper is actually the name of the burly surf hole
(you can’t miss it) in the middle of the drop. This is a fun rapid to play, skills depending. After
the Eye Ripper’s washout, you’ll enjoy heading left around the island (avoid the hole on your far
left) much more than you will going right (you’ll see why).
Next rapid is The Ruins (class 3), which has some fun surfing at certain levels.
Right after that are two surf holes called Tripple Hole and it’s buddy right behind it. Look out for
rocks.
Cruise down to the take out.
Put in is in High Falls, just below the big dam. Take out is in Rosendale, at the bridge
abutments where James Street crosses over the river. Walk up the hill on either side to where
you’ve parked, which probably will be in the parking lot across the street from the church on
river right.
It should be noted that there is great food and drinks near both ends of the run. There are also several excellent creeks within a few miles of the Rondout Creek. For some details see "
New York Exposed: The Whitewater State Volume II," by Dennis Squires. A great book, and a must for all Eastern NY Paddlers.
Catskills Area Reaches
Basic CreekBatavia Kill Bear Kill
Beaver Kill (Delaware Trib)Beaver Kill (Hudson Trib) Beer Kill
Beer Kill, W. BranchBowery Creek Bush Kill
Callicoon Creek, E. BranchCallicoon Creek, N. Branch Catskill Creek (1.)
Catskill Creek (2.)Catskill Creek (4.) Claverack Creek
Coxing KillDelaware Delaware, E. Branch
Delaware, W. BranchLittle Delaware Dry Brook
East KillEsopus Creek (1) Esopus Creek (2)
Esopus Creek (3)Esopus Creek (4) Esopus Creek (5)
Hannacrois CreekKaaterskill Creek (1.) Kaaterskill Creek (2.)
Kinderhook Creek (3.)Kiskatom Creek Mombaccus Creek
Mill BrookNeversink (1.) Neversink, E. Branch
Neversink, W. BranchPeters Kill Platte Kill
Plattekill CreekPotic Creek Roeliff Jansen Kill (1)
Roeliff Jansen Kill (2)Rochester Creek Rondout Creek (1)
Rondout Creek (2)Rondout Creek (3) Sandburg Creek
Saw Kill (1)Saw Kill (2) Saw Kill (3)
Schoharie Creek (1.)Schoharie Creek (2.) Shingle Kill Creek
Squirmer CreekStony Clove Creek Ten Mile Creek
Thorp CreekTremper Kill Wallkill
West KillWoodland Creek Vly Creek
Downstate New York Area Reaches
Beer Kill Beer Kill, W. Branch
Callicoon Creek, E. Branch Callicoon Creek, N. Branch
Coxing KillCroton
Delaware (1.) Delaware (2. Mongaup Wave)
Delaware (3.) Fishkill Creek
Mombaccus CreekMongaup
Moodna Creek Neversink (1.)
Neversink (2.) Neversink, E. Branch
Peters Kill Pocantico
Popolopen Brook Ramapo
Rochester Creek Rondout Creek (1.)
Rondout Creek (2.) Rondout Creek (3.)
Sandburg Creek Stony Brook (1.)
Stony Brook (2.)Wallkill
Wappinger Creek
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