Beaver River :
Taylorville Section
Taylorville Section
Location - Western Adirondack Mountains of New York
Difficulty - Class III-IV Length - 1.5 miles
Level - Standard release Date - Fall 2001
Difficulty - Class III-IV Length - 1.5 miles
Level - Standard release Date - Fall 2001
The Taylorville run on the Beaver River is a short stretch fun
whitewater that provides intermediate boaters with a great
introduction to creek boating. The river’s ledgey nature makes
for some exciting drops and a nice slide, but with the exception
of one or two places, most of this stretch is very forgiving.
Taylorville is only a little over a mile long and it always runs in
conjunction with one of the Beaver’s other two sections so it
can easily be linked up with one of those or lapped multiple
times if you aren’t up for the nearby tougher reaches. Fun
rapids, a party atmosphere, typically awesome weather,
beautiful Adirondack scenery, and the only substantial
whitewater for miles makes this a superb place to spend a
weekend.
whitewater that provides intermediate boaters with a great
introduction to creek boating. The river’s ledgey nature makes
for some exciting drops and a nice slide, but with the exception
of one or two places, most of this stretch is very forgiving.
Taylorville is only a little over a mile long and it always runs in
conjunction with one of the Beaver’s other two sections so it
can easily be linked up with one of those or lapped multiple
times if you aren’t up for the nearby tougher reaches. Fun
rapids, a party atmosphere, typically awesome weather,
beautiful Adirondack scenery, and the only substantial
whitewater for miles makes this a superb place to spend a
weekend.
The put in for the Taylorville section is at the base of the diversion dam where two
channels carve through bedrock. The main flow is a very narrow slot that drops
into a hole and somewhat undercut wall. This can be run, but most paddlers
decide to put in just below this first rapid. A small ledge waits below and the best
line is to drive left through a diagonal to avoid the hydraulic at the bottom of this
drop. Even when scouting from shore this rapid looks harmless, but the hole is
pretty sticky, very powerful, and very deep. It has swallowed more than one creek
boat and held swimmers underwater for uncomfortably long periods of time. Since
many relatively inexperienced boaters run Taylorville there is always some
carnage at this spot. A shallow river right sneak is also possible. Its an easy class
IV move to miss the hole, but it’s a really good idea to pull it off.
After this introduction to the run a short pool leads to a river wide horizon line that
is likely to intimidate those not comfortable above big drops. However, the slide
hidden by the horizon is low angle and despite being thirty feet tall, very easy to
run. Boof in left of center and bounce on down into the bottom hole. The hydraulic
looks pretty mean, but you are going pretty fast by the time you hit it, so stay
straight and it won’t be a problem. This is a fun slide, but it would be way better if it
were steeper. Multiple runs are made very easy by the large open ledge on river
right.
After the slide the river splits around an island and two options present
themselves. River right holds a twisting and narrow class III with a few surprisingly
large holes and some boulders to avoid, while river left flows around a ninety
degree bend to the right and plunges through a fun slot dropping eight to ten feet.
Interestingly, the simple looking river right line at this island may actually be the
most techincally demanding rapid on the run. While this class III rapid does not
boast a horizon line are large drops, it has some moves to make around holes and
I have seen several swims in this benign looking stretch of water. This slot is fast
and fun and it is possible to carry up to run it even if you decide to paddle the
class III right hand channel.
channels carve through bedrock. The main flow is a very narrow slot that drops
into a hole and somewhat undercut wall. This can be run, but most paddlers
decide to put in just below this first rapid. A small ledge waits below and the best
line is to drive left through a diagonal to avoid the hydraulic at the bottom of this
drop. Even when scouting from shore this rapid looks harmless, but the hole is
pretty sticky, very powerful, and very deep. It has swallowed more than one creek
boat and held swimmers underwater for uncomfortably long periods of time. Since
many relatively inexperienced boaters run Taylorville there is always some
carnage at this spot. A shallow river right sneak is also possible. Its an easy class
IV move to miss the hole, but it’s a really good idea to pull it off.
After this introduction to the run a short pool leads to a river wide horizon line that
is likely to intimidate those not comfortable above big drops. However, the slide
hidden by the horizon is low angle and despite being thirty feet tall, very easy to
run. Boof in left of center and bounce on down into the bottom hole. The hydraulic
looks pretty mean, but you are going pretty fast by the time you hit it, so stay
straight and it won’t be a problem. This is a fun slide, but it would be way better if it
were steeper. Multiple runs are made very easy by the large open ledge on river
right.
After the slide the river splits around an island and two options present
themselves. River right holds a twisting and narrow class III with a few surprisingly
large holes and some boulders to avoid, while river left flows around a ninety
degree bend to the right and plunges through a fun slot dropping eight to ten feet.
Interestingly, the simple looking river right line at this island may actually be the
most techincally demanding rapid on the run. While this class III rapid does not
boast a horizon line are large drops, it has some moves to make around holes and
I have seen several swims in this benign looking stretch of water. This slot is fast
and fun and it is possible to carry up to run it even if you decide to paddle the
class III right hand channel.
After the island the Beaver spreads out and drops pretty steeply
over a series of ledges. In general it is best to follow the most
water, catch eddies, and hit whatever boofs look best. Many lines
are available here, and while the river falls quite steeply, nothing
here is particularly difficult. This steep class III-IV section ends in
a pool above what is probably the toughest rapid of the run.
Powerlines will be visible downstream when you reach this
horizon line and the best scouting is from river left. This class IV
rapid has two distinct lines, with the easiest being on river left
and the more difficult being no river right. The right line is really
fun and involves boofing two drops in a tight and steep slot with
some holes. This is a great drop and multiple runs are possible.
This is essentially the end of the run on Taylorville. The last
quarter mile of river has a couple of smaller drops and two nice
surf holes, but if you are hear to run the other sections of the
Beaver you probably have your creek boat and are not
interested in side surfing. If you do make the run in a playboat
these holes will give up spins, cartwheels, and maybe even loops
if you can find the deep spots.
over a series of ledges. In general it is best to follow the most
water, catch eddies, and hit whatever boofs look best. Many lines
are available here, and while the river falls quite steeply, nothing
here is particularly difficult. This steep class III-IV section ends in
a pool above what is probably the toughest rapid of the run.
Powerlines will be visible downstream when you reach this
horizon line and the best scouting is from river left. This class IV
rapid has two distinct lines, with the easiest being on river left
and the more difficult being no river right. The right line is really
fun and involves boofing two drops in a tight and steep slot with
some holes. This is a great drop and multiple runs are possible.
This is essentially the end of the run on Taylorville. The last
quarter mile of river has a couple of smaller drops and two nice
surf holes, but if you are hear to run the other sections of the
Beaver you probably have your creek boat and are not
interested in side surfing. If you do make the run in a playboat
these holes will give up spins, cartwheels, and maybe even loops
if you can find the deep spots.
Mike easily makes the left to right move necessary to avoid taking a beating at the base of the
first commonly run rapid on the Beaver River's Taylorville section.
first commonly run rapid on the Beaver River's Taylorville section.
Galen dropping through the fun river left slot at the island drop. The two
channels rejoin just about where I am taking the picture from.
channels rejoin just about where I am taking the picture from.
For many paddlers just getting into creeking and running drops the big slide shortly below the
Taylorville put in is the crown jewel of the run and its hard to deny that it is pretty fun despite
being really easy.
Taylorville put in is the crown jewel of the run and its hard to deny that it is pretty fun despite
being really easy.