Hudson River Bikeraft

[Sinite]

Looking at a paddle from Warrensburg to Lake Luzerne. Hoping to ride my bike up the river on a trail and paddle back. Does anyone have any experience with this area? Hoping for some swift water up to class 2 maybe? I am an experienced paddler, but mostly on flat water. I now have a packraft and want to try out some rapids. At the very least I would like to paddle a section that would help move me along. Thanks!

[TCD]

The trail route from Lake Luzerne to Warrensburg would be on the east side of the river, through the Hudson River Rec. Area. Much of that is rideable; some stretches you might be pushing or carrying the bike. It depends of course on the bike, and the size of your pack, and other variables. I have not been through there in a few years, but there are many threads here about that area, and one of the folks who goes there more often (Justin, maybe) could probably give you more recent advice.

If the trail route is infeasible, you could road ride up through Stony Creek. Longer, but probably easier.

Also, near the bear slide trailhead in the HRRA there are spots where at low water, you can walk across the river and it's never more than knee deep. So a crossing there (in one direction or the other) could be part of a creative route.

[Nehasane]

That stretch of the Hudson is mostly quickwater, some riffles & small waves when water is higher - not even class 1

[Sinite]

Originally Posted by TCD

The trail route from Lake Luzerne to Warrensburg would be on the east side of the river, through the Hudson River Rec. Area. Much of that is rideable; some stretches you might be pushing or carrying the bike. It depends of course on the bike, and the size of your pack, and other variables. I have not been through there in a few years, but there are many threads here about that area, and one of the folks who goes there more often (Justin, maybe) could probably give you more recent advice.

If the trail route is infeasible, you could road ride up through Stony Creek. Longer, but probably easier.

Also, near the bear slide trailhead in the HRRA there are spots where at low water, you can walk across the river and it's never more than knee deep. So a crossing there (in one direction or the other) could be part of a creative route.

Thanks!

[Sinite]

Originally Posted by Nehasane

That stretch of the Hudson is mostly quickwater, some riffles & small waves when water is higher - not even class 1

Well, that will do I guess.
Is this area still suffering from abuse and improper use?

[Bob K]

It been a few years but you should enjoy the ride on the Hudson. Its wide there and you might want to have good water to help move you along. Consider timing to catch the "bubble" from the dam release well upstream supporting the 4 day/wk Hudson rafting trips

Scope out in/out and enjoy. Rafting trips by bus along the S sections on E side popular some days. Obviously, take out well before the falls in Luzerne. Go on a sunny day. There are a few spots to swim.

[Sinite]

Originally Posted by Bob K

It been a few years but you should enjoy the ride on the Hudson. Its wide there and you might want to have good water to help move you along. Consider timing to catch the "bubble" from the dam release well upstream supporting the 4 day/wk Hudson rafting trips

Scope out in/out and enjoy. Rafting trips by bus along the S sections on E side popular some days. Obviously, take out well before the falls in Luzerne. Go on a sunny day. There are a few spots to swim.

Hey Bob, I am planning to go on Tuesday as that is the beginning of my "weekend". How do I figure out the dam release? Also, is it likely that there will be many people on the river on a Wednesday? That is when I will be paddling back to my car. I am new to this bike rafting business. generally I like solitude. Haven't quite figured out where to go yet.
Thanks!

[stripperguy]

You know, there’s a 13 mile downstream trip on the upper Hudson that’s seems to fit your goal. Start at 28N crossing or even at the public launch on Lake Harris.
Take out is in the relatively new lands in the Essex Chain Lakes, all dirt or secondary roads to bike back to the start. Some quick water, a few rapids with short carries, and an abundance of solitude as well as ample camping.

[Sinite]

Originally Posted by stripperguy

You know, there?s a 13 mile downstream trip on the upper Hudson that?s seems to fit your goal. Start at 28N crossing or even at the public launch on Lake Harris.
Take out is in the relatively new lands in the Essex Chain Lakes, all dirt or secondary roads to bike back to the start. Some quick water, a few rapids with short carries, and an abundance of solitude as well as ample camping.

Yes, I like that idea except for the carry?s. I will have a fatbike strapped to the deck of my raft. What are the rapids like? Could a solid flatwater paddler with no whitewater training paddle through or would it be too dangerous?
I have paddled all of the main ponds in the Essex Chain but never the river portions. I am definitely interested. I have read your tr and posts about the chain drain. What exactly is the chain drain?
Thanks for the suggestion!

[stripperguy]

Depending on water levels, the carries might be mandatory, even though they’re quite short.
Whenever I’ve done a self supported bike shuttle, I drop the boat and gear at the starting point, then drop the car at the take out and bike back to the start.
Unless you’re towing your boat with your bike, I can’t see the point in bringing a bike in a boat!

As for the Chain Drain, it’s just a meander down the outflow of the Essex Chain Lakes.
A handful of beaver dams and a scramble around the group of cascades at the end leads to the Rock River and shortly the Cedar.
It’s seldom visited, but is an out and back route, unless you continue on to the Hudson or undertake a long carry from the Cedar.
There is a series of dirt roads that pass by the Cedar at the big bend, site of the long washed out bridge over the Cedar that could serve for a bike ride back to the start, but no motor vehicles allowed.
Keep us posted on whichever route you decide, I’ll look forward to your TR.

[Sinite]

Originally Posted by stripperguy

Depending on water levels, the carries might be mandatory, even though they?re quite short.
Whenever I?ve done a self supported bike shuttle, I drop the boat and gear at the starting point, then drop the car at the take out and bike back to the start.
Unless you?re towing your boat with your bike, I can?t see the point in bringing a bike in a boat!

As for the Chain Drain, it?s just a meander down the outflow of the Essex Chain Lakes.
A handful of beaver dams and a scramble around the group of cascades at the end leads to the Rock River and shortly the Cedar.
It?s seldom visited, but is an out and back route, unless you continue on to the Hudson or undertake a long carry from the Cedar.
There is a series of dirt roads that pass by the Cedar at the big bend, site of the long washed out bridge over the Cedar that could serve for a bike ride back to the start, but no motor vehicles allowed.
Keep us posted on whichever route you decide, I?ll look forward to your TR.

Haha, well I have an Alpacka packraft that straps onto the handlebars of my bike. It is designed to carry my bike as well. This raft was built for Alaskan expeditions and can handle up to class V, unfortunately I cannot! I would really like to learn how to paddle white water, but there are not many opportunities in Vermont since Covid.
Anyway, I think I will stick with my original plan and try your suggestion without the bike at some future time.
Thanks!

[Sinite]

If I could figure out how to post photos on this forum I would post one of my rig.

[Nehasane]

Originally Posted by Sinite

Well, that will do I guess.
Is this area still suffering from abuse and improper use?

A little bit, mostly from trash left behind - busy on nice weekends & holidays.
Dam releases have negligible effect by this point & if they did it would not be until late afternoon.
Commercial tubing company operates on the 2nd half of your trip - probably not too busy this Tuesday.
Hadley gauge expected to be ~3', expect some shallows.

https://northeastwild.blogspot.com/2...to-hadley.html

[stripperguy]

Haha, when you said packraft I immediately imagined some big clunky raft like the outfitters use.
That Alpaca looks pretty cool.
I bumped into a fellow member (Max?) a few years back when he was running the Cedar from Pelion Rd to the OUTER Gooley. His was in an inflatable Seyvlor one man kayak, he ran some class III stuff in it, the boat was certainly capable and so was he.

[Sinite]

Originally Posted by Nehasane

A little bit, mostly from trash left behind - busy on nice weekends & holidays.
Dam releases have negligible effect by this point & if they did it would not be until late afternoon.
Commercial tubing company operates on the 2nd half of your trip - probably not too busy this Tuesday.
Hadley gauge expected to be ~3', expect some shallows.

https://northeastwild.blogspot.com/2...to-hadley.html

Thanks for the info! I decided to go to Essex Chain South for bikepacking/rafting on flatwater. I had not been to the south end before and it was supposed to be rain and thunderstorms all day... Anyway, maybe I will do this Hudson bit on a rainy day to avoid the crowds.

[Sinite]

Originally Posted by stripperguy

Haha, when you said packraft I immediately imagined some big clunky raft like the outfitters use.
That Alpaca looks pretty cool.
I bumped into a fellow member (Max?) a few years back when he was running the Cedar from Pelion Rd to the OUTER Gooley. His was in an inflatable Seyvlor one man kayak, he ran some class III stuff in it, the boat was certainly capable and so was he.

Yeah, my Alpacka Expedition is pretty badass! I think I probably bought more raft than I needed. I got all excited watching people bikerafting in New Zealand. https://youtu.be/vcGOja6jTx0
While that looks fun, it is beyond my skill level!