Cattaraugus Creek,
South Branch

Otto to main stem                                           12.0 miles

Class           Grad                    Size (Area/Volume)                  Scene/Poll             Level

III-IV         33/56                                                                           A/A                          

                                                                                                                           Streamside                               

Topographic Maps: Cattaraugus (NY), New Albion (NY), Gowanda (NY)

County Maps: Cattaraugus (NY)

Description: The whitewater run begins 5.5 miles above the mouth at Skinner Road Ford. Access problems here require an additional 5 miles of Class I paddling with a put-in near Cattaraugus. The additional 2 miles from Otto is worth­while, making this a 14 mile trip. There are two ledges between Otto and Cattaraugus with the next few miles to the Skinner Hollow road largely uneventful. A shale canyon starts below Skinner Hollow and a 3-4 foot ledge appears about 0.2 miles downstream. Paddlers should be aware of the falls below here, which must be portaged (see Diffi­culties). The falls are on a blind left corner; it's not the first blind left corner, so treat them all with extreme caution. Below the falls one rapid narrows to a 10‑foot wide chute that presents no special problem. Below this you find spec­ta­cular shallow ledges, scenery, and mental relief from the strain of identifying the falls. The whitewater continues inter­mittently to the mouth, culminating in a series of ledges dropping 8-10 feet over 50 yards. Two miles of Cattaraugus Creek must be run to the take-out. This is the best whitewater of Zoar Canyon. See the Cattaraugus Creek write-up. [Reported 1988]

Difficulties: The Falls. It is a true Ohiopyle size falls on a blind left corner with no take-out once you have committed yourself to the left turn. A vertical cliff on the left 0.2 miles upstream may help to identify this spot, but treat every left turn with extreme caution and proceed only when you can see definite eddies on the left against a gravel shore. As you approach the corner with the falls, a smooth sheet of water moves around the corner on an apparent shallow bottom. The falls drops 25 feet with another 2-4 feet of sloping ledge on the approach. The portage is on the left; it requires rope assist to get into the lower gorge.

Shuttle: To reach the put-in follow North Otto Road to Otto and turn right. Put in at first bridge, or continue about 2 miles to unnamed tributary near Cattaraugus. Take out at Gowanda. See Cattaraugus trip description.

Gauges: Streamside. A reading of 3.5 feet on a gauge painted on the Otto Road bridge provides a good high water run.

Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons.