Piseco Lake Outlet

[Riosacandaga]

Yesterday we paddled our long boats from the outlet were it crosses rt10 upstream. As can be expected it's getting shallow in spots. I had to get out of my boat once to carry up into the section just bellow the rt8 bridge. The wind on Piseco lake was ripping whitecaps. Paddling up lake to the state campground was worth the effort. Surfing the swells on the way back made it a short return. Bugs weren't too bad.

[Kevin]

I frequent this area of the park regularly. It sounds mostly flat, aside from possible wind-driven waves on the lake.

I'm a newb paddler, but have driven by this area numerous times and thought it looked like a good time.

I have a touring kayak, do you think that would be a problem on this stretch?

[Riosacandaga]

Kevin,
We were paddling touring boats, I have a Valley Canoe Pintail. No problem with the exception of the minor carry. It must be getting even lower, Id imagine that it may be tight in spots but still doable.
Mike

[Kevin]

Thanks Mike, perhaps Redhawk and myself can venture out there one weekday.

[Boreal Chickadee]

Mike,

A couple of years ago my son and I took the canoe on the section from rt 8 to rt 10 and return. What I wondered about at the time was east of rt 10. We do have kayaks now if that's a help.

What's it like east of rt 10?

And is there access from rt 10 to go downstream? Something in my memory about posted signs.???

[Riosacandaga]

PB,
I have paddled down that way once about 20 years ago. I presume you mean Piseco Lake outlet where it goes under RT 10 and continues east where it eventually joins the West Branch of the Sacandaga. Acess is easy right there at the bridge. Egress may be a little more of a challenge. A ways down there is the outlet from Spy Lake. I'm not sure as I've never been there but you may be able to paddle up to Spy lake and get out somewhere, if there is access from the lake side. From there down it was mostly fast moving water (everything was flooding at the time) but we did encounter a few rapids ranging in difficulty from class II to easy class III. The next available egress is where a fishing trail comes in on the right from rt 10. From this point it's about a mile carry back to the road. If you continue past this point you'll be heading into the West Branch area and downstream is the part with all the waterfalls. It would be a real slog to try and paddle back up stream or continue paddling upstrream on the W.Br.Sac towards Shaker Place.
Mike

[Boreal Chickadee]

Thanks for the info Mike. Doesn't sound like a one car trip so we'll have to pass on this one.

Again, thanks.

[Riosacandaga]

PB,
I just looked at the topo, from Piseco Outlet at RT 10 to the confluence with North Vly (where we normally put in to paddle the west branch gorge) there are 5 "rapids" noted. I know we did not get out to scout any of them , we didn't scout until the slide above the 4th falls in the gorge. It's a .7 mile carry from the North Vly Confluence back to rt 10.
Take Care, Mike