This trip starts right at our Saranac Lake Base and is one of our Day trip Packages that include the boat, as well as pickup and return to our base at the end of the trip. The trip can be a 2 hour trip (5.5 mi) or a 4.5 to 5 hour trip(10 mi) to the top of Permanent Rapids. There is beautiful scenery into the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness with Whiteface Mountain in the background. There is one easy, short Class I rapid (the easiest whitewater classification) as you leave town. (Paddlers must have experience in moving water and be confident in up to Class I rapids in order to rent boats from us for this trip.)
Good campsites are found at 1.5 hours and near Permanent Rapids if one wants to extend the trip to do an overnight. If you want to do an overnight it is nice to end either at Franklin Falls (about 8 hours total) or Union Falls Dam (10-12 hours total).
The best map for this trip is the Saranac River Map
The map image above is strictly for the purpose of providing a visual of the canoe route. It is not intended for directional purposes.
