NEW YORK--BEAVER RIVER--TAYLORVILLE SECTION

BEAVER RIVER—TAYLORVILLE SECTION

On Sunday, September 16th, there were 2 different releases on the Beaver River.






































The morning’s release was on the section they call Taylorville. This is a class III/IV section according to American Whitewater. It’s a very creeky run, with a number of fun lines to run. Watch out for a deceptively sticky hole in the very first rapid. Who knew 400 cfs could be so powerful? After this, there are a number of slides/boofs, and then you quickly arrive at the take-out. It’s an easy walk back up to the car from the mass of powerlines.

Along the way you will see lots of signs advertising the benefits of hydro power. I’m not totally convinced I must admit…as they don’t really detail the benefits, everything you see is just “another benefit.”

As far as we could tell, the “benefit” is that the massive series of small dams on the Beaver River has created what they affectionately call the Beaver “River” Canoe route. So, the benefit of hydropower is turning rivers into lakes…I guess.

But, both the dam keepers who we met were outstanding people who were excited about making so many whitewater kayakers happy on this lovely Sunday in September.