North Branch of the Sacandaga?

[Volte]

I am planning on doing a bit of exploring in the area of the confluence of the West and North Branches of the Sacandaga River. I was wondering if anyone could tell me approximately how far up river from the confluence (North or West Branch) is navigable by canoe?

[Volte]

I guess I will have to figure this out on my own. The plan was to park my car on the South Trail Head (STH) of the Northville Placid Trail (NPT), bushwhack to the closest water on the South Branch of the Sacandaga (SBS)or North Branch of the Sacandaga (or the Silve Lake Outlet) and make my way to Whitehouse (with lots of side trips on the way of course), then walk back the NPT the STH to pick my car. Has anyone tried this trip yet? I do know of the falls in the SBS gorge and know of a portage around them, so thats not a problem.

I will post a trip report when I'm done :-)

[redhawk]

Going in from Benson, other then the lakes and ponds, I don't think you'll be doing much paddling. Even in the best of times, the feeds from Meco Lake (Source of the West branch) or the outlet from Silver lake provide enough water to paddle. Right now, as dry as it's been, unless we get some significant rainfall, it's slim pickings for paddling. the West branch is the lowest I've ever seen it. I was in the gorge two weeks ago and you can almost walk up the middle of the WB. I don't know what it's like on route 10 and then into the confluence with Piseco Outlet and the gorge. I imagine you could paddle the section from Piseco outlet down to the fifth (first coming from 10) waterfall.

Right now, i don't think you can paddle from the confluence of the West Branch and the east branch at the campground to the bridge in Benson without dragging a kayak in spots.

Hawk

[RC]

from Benson to silver lake you cross nothing you could paddle stream wise. It's as dry as I've even seen it.


RC

[forgedin78]

I was on the trail from Whitehouse to Silver Lake this past weekend, and I agree with everyone else, dry, dry, DRY. The west branch looks to be about 2 1/2 ft low.
Also, The north Branch is loaded with beaver dams, and trees, even when the water is high. You would be doing a lot more pulling, then paddling. And on a side note, be prepared for unbearable deer/horse flies (whatever those spotted delta winged-things are). But on the bright side, the black flies are non-existent, and the mosquitos are hardly noticeable.

[Volte]

Thanks everyone for the updates.

What rain dance works the best in the Silver Lake Wilderness Area?

[redhawk]

Thanks everyone for the updates.

What rain dance works the best in the Silver Lake Wilderness Area?

It's going to take more then that....

The ground is so dry & hard here, and has been since late spring, that even with a torrential rain, it runs right off. so there will be opne hell of a flow for a day or so, and then back to a trickle.

[Volte]

It's going to take more then that....

The ground is so dry & hard here, and has been since late spring, that even with a torrential rain, it runs right off. so there will be opne hell of a flow for a day or so, and then back to a trickle.

I guess with the heat that's moving in over the next few days, is only going to make things worse

[redhawk]

I guess with the heat that's moving in over the next few days, is only going to make things worse

You can always paddle the West Branch from Route 10. Lots of interesting things to see along there. You should still be able to paddle into Good Luck Lake, there's Big and Little Trout Lake and I think you can paddle all the way into the confluence with Piseco Outlet and downstream some.

[Volte]

You can always paddle the West Branch from Route 10. Lots of interesting things to see along there. You should still be able to paddle into Good Luck Lake, there's Big and Little Trout Lake and I think you can paddle all the way into the confluence with Piseco Outlet and downstream some.

Thanks Hawk, that's probably what I will do. I want to go slow and take all the side trips I possibly can, increase the chances of seeing Moose. Like you mentioned in another post, with all of that wetland surrounding the north flowing section of the West Branch, it must be some better moose habitat in the area.

[redhawk]

If you go into little trout lake, in the northheast corner, a stream comes in if it's flowing). if you follow it upstream (hiking) it goes up a nice gorge to lost lake. It's really nice.

[alpha60]

Paddling the WB Sacadaga from route 10 to Piseco outlet would involve about a mile of carrying and/or dragging at these levels, in my experience. When the gauge at Hope reads about 3.5 feet (it's at about 1.5 these days) you could probably do the trip from somewhere in the headwaters.

[Volte]

If you go into little trout lake, in the northheast corner, a stream comes in if it's flowing). if you follow it upstream (hiking) it goes up a nice gorge to lost lake. It's really nice.

Thanks Hawk,

I wasn't sure if Lost Lake was going to be worth the extra effort, but on your suggestion I am going to give it a shot.

Paddling the WB Sacadaga from route 10 to Piseco outlet would involve about a mile of carrying and/or dragging at these levels, in my experience. When the gauge at Hope reads about 3.5 feet (it's at about 1.5 these days) you could probably do the trip from somewhere in the headwaters.

Alpha60,

Thanks for the pointer on using the Hope gauge levels to determine if it possible to paddle or not. In your opinion, what do you thing what gauge level at Hope would put paddling down stream of Piseco Outlet to the fifth falls dangerous in a small canoe?

Regards,
Volte

[alpha60]

You can paddle the WB from where it joins with Piseco Outlet to the falls when the Hope gauge is above 2 feet. It'll be scratchy in spots though. Then after a portage around the falls it should navigable for a mile and a half until the next falls. After a portage around the rest of the waterfalls the river is not really navigable unless the guage is close to 3 feet. If it's lower be prepared to line, drag, and carry a lot. If it's much higher, well then you've got a whole new world of issues.

I've never paddled the Piseco Outlet from where it joins rte 10 so I can't tell you what to expect if you take that route.