The West Canada below Trenton Falls becomes a docile swift water to Class II river where one often sees fishermen (great fishing by the way), boaters in canoes and recreational kayaks, tubing and even an occassional motorboat. From the Dover Road Bridge in Trenton Falls (just below the release dam) to Herkimer is about 28 miles of paddling, although most whitewater boaters put-in further downstream near Middleville, NY.
A Note on the West Canada: River levels will generally be high enough for paddling year round, water is released both from the Hinckley Resevoir and at the Power Company at the Trenton Falls Gorge. (Speaking of which, the section of river from Prospect to Trenton Falls is home to some seriously big waterfalls, now open at times throughout the year for tourists, but likely never to be open to kayakers.) The West Canada is known to rise and drop rapidly due to the upstream power operations.
Check the flow graph to get a sense of what the power station has been doing. Expect the summer flows to stay at a baseline flow then surge for a few hours so the dam can make power at the daily power rate peak. Use this
-Waterline Link- to keep an eye on expected flows.
There are several man-made features along the way from Trenton Falls to Herkimer, a couple dams including the low-head type that would best be avoided, and bridges that at high, fast water levels can create broaching scenarios.
Additional Info from Mike Webster:
Section 1: Dover Road to Route 28 Class (1 - 2)
Description: A pleasant moving water cruise to the whitewater put-in above Middleville. No real whitewater, but moves right along with frequent public access points to NT 28. One mandatory portage at Newport dam.
Section 2: Route 29 in Middleville to Route 7/Kast bridge above Herkimer (Class 2 - 2+)
Description: This is a classic class II-II+ teaching section from above Middleville to Kast Bridge. Begin either river left at DEC access above Middleville off NY 28, or use the slightly lower otter slide put-in on river right on Fishing Rock Road. Shortly after launching find Fishing Rock. At the NY28 bridge you can get out for a break at Stewart’s on river left. Look for the KOA campground on river right, they have sights right on the water. After the KOA is a small paved parking area that offers an alternate access river right. Light rapids and flat sections continue to Kast Bridge. Just before Kast Bridge you will encounter a rapid that is drastically more difficult than all of the others on this river. It will eat a canoe, and spotting wouldn't hurt if you have a whitewater boat. Take-out above on river left.
Mohawk Valley Area Reaches
Canajoharie Creek Caroga Creek Cincinnati Creek
East Canada Creek Fish Creek, E. Branch Ninemile Creek
North Chuctanunda Creek Nowadaga Creek Mohawk (1.)
Oriskany Creek (Clinton) Oriskany Creek (Oriskany Falls) Schoharie Creek
Sprite Creek (Upper) Sprite Creek (Lower) Spruce Creek
Timmerman Creek West Canada Creek
Google Map of New York Whitewater
New York Whitewater Paddlers Facebook Group