About
Raquette River, New York — 1609 Samuel de Champlain, 1820s-1910s Log Drives, 1978 Wild/Scenic 146-mi Adirondack. From Blue Mountain Lake to the St. Lawrence River, the Raquette runs 146 miles through the heart of the Adirondack Park, shifting from lake-and-carry paddling to legitimate whitewater as it drops north. The river averages 1,800 CFS with an optimal range of 500–3,000, tracked on USGS gauge 04266500. The Tupper Lake to Piercefield stretch holds the best whitewater — 30 miles of Class I–III drops through the northern Adirondacks that separate this from the gentler lake touring upstream. Above Tupper Lake, the river connects Blue Mountain Lake to Long Lake over 20 miles of mixed water and portages, then continues 25 miles of river and lake paddling to Tupper Lake itself. Below Piercefield, the final 70 miles widen considerably as the Raquette pushes through St. Lawrence and Franklin counties toward its confluence with the St. Lawrence. The river forms part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, and Raquette River Outfitters operates on the system for paddlers who need gear or shuttles.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.