Sundown/Peekamoose Section

James DoughertyDetails I listed the length of the run as 6.5. This is if you take out in Sundown but I'm not sure of the parking situation there. There is a large parking lot on the left 1.5 miles from Sundown heading south, (intersection of 153, 42, and 46) but there is a "no trespassing" sign there but I doubt the validity of this sign and intend to ask authorities. About 0.4 further down from there is  gage USGS # 0135000 (this is not the one I used to alert you of the minimum, see details at 'gage description). Driving north on rte 42, Peekamoose road from Sundown and probably a bit less than two miles you'll see an legal parking spot. Using this parking spot shortens your paddle to about 4.5 miles and probably the best part. With a permit you can camp there. There are many places for parking since you are at what is known as Sundown Wild Forest and further up Sundown Wild Forest on your right  and Slide Mountain Wilderness Area on your left (this is if you are headed upstream). Go as far as you are still on State land before you see posted signs, maybe a mile past Buttermilk Falls which will be on your left. Put in where it looks good. Just FYI, As you go up said road you'll eventally discover the creek drops down from the mountain. There's no road up that way and it's not state land. Up that way is USGS gage # 01364959 (which is what I'm using to alert you of the minimum, 75cfs). Oddly, it seems snow melt as a bigger impact on this creek than rain so if there's snow followed by warm weather, this might go up when other things do not. Another thing about this is although you are alongside a road, on a weekday there's barely any traffic (although on nice day weekdays there will probably be a lot of hikers) and it is incredibly beautiful. When you come here, it will remind you nothing of Rondout River in Rosendale, which comes after the Reservoir. This upper section is a true creek, narrow channel and a very fair amount of gradient. Word of caution: I have not seen it at high water but I imagine this can easily become a CL4. The good thing is you can scout the whole thing from your car and getting out a few times to get a better look. Rapids, play spots and hazards: I can't really describe each rapid since it's so continuous. Word of caution: Blue hole (hole as in a swimming hole) which is 0.8 downstream from a creek-right  falls (Buttermilk Falls?) might be undercut. As you drop down to the pool there's a shelf on you left. It might not be a problem, but it looks undercut stay pointed right until it's character is known. Of greater importance the last two hikers parking (lower Peekamoose parking) you see that the creek splits in two. The right looks more fun but there is a tree sticking out on the right, then a few feet after that there's one on the left therefore demanding a quick S turn. If in doubt, scout. The two lower parking lots are connected. Walk the trail from one to another and you'll see it or just eddy out above/on the island. Below the last parking there might be a play-hole at higher levels on the left. Bonus: If you're not sure it will be up bring along your daypack. There's excellent hiking. You can hike up to Peekamoose, 3.90 miles which reaches 3,847 ft, making for almost an 8-mile hike up and back. You could also run a shuttle and park the 'take out' car at the north end of Denning Road to make for almost a 9 mile hike. When we went up, there were patches of snow where we started but a good 2 and a half inches up at the top. For good hiking maps of the area, you can purchase it here: www.nynjtc.org  get the Catskills trail maps. If there isn't enough rain but you wish to scout bring your non-paddling better half with you. She/he would probably enjoy the scenery. They're bound to enjoy Buttermilk Falls, which is not the Rondout but a tributary, Buttermilk Falls Brook. Also, there's a spot on the Rondout called 'blue hole' by locals. I think it's 0.8 of a mile south from Buttermilk Falls, it will be on your right if driving south. Blue hole is where the Rondout all of the sudden becomes 20 to 30 ft and it's sort of a jade/blue in color and you can see the bottom making me believe this creek must be really clean. Looks like it would be a great place to swim (although cold I bet) in the summer. There's also a small spot on left side (left side if you're driving downstream) of the road just downstream of blue hole where you can park one car, I doubt two will fit. Just for a fun: you can read about this section all all of the Roundout creek here;  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rondout\_Creek 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 Google Map of New York Whitewater New York Whitewater Paddlers Facebook Group