| 8.6 |
Cosmo says, "A friend and I had a great day, we kayaked from Silver Hill on the old St Martins to Sussex highway to the Deep hole near the end of Stock farm road, 34kms!" |
| 9.7 |
canyak says, "Canoed from the Hillsdale Bridge to the Smithtown Bridge in 5 hours of good paddling, about 33km. Water was deep and fast. It's definitely best to hit this river after a good rain, and the water levels respond quickly." |
| 8.45 |
Evan says, "What a beauty that river is! Go ... right after the next big rain!" |
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Evan says: Here is my advice: Divide the river into three segments and pick one to see the country:
- Hillsdale Bridge to Highway 20 (Barnesville Bridge), to be avoided after May 1 unless you have a good three-day hard rain;
- Highway 820 bridge to Damascus Road at Smithtown ( good till May 15 or later after a two-day rain);
- Damascus Road to the Hammond River bridge at the foot (just above the Darlings Island Marsh) - usually good till June 1 or any time later after a good solid two-day rain.
The top can do a real number on canoe bottoms since it is fast and shallow and rocky. A final big caveat: stay off the river unless you can trim your canoe bow-heavy for the westerly wind. The valley runs west to southwest and wind channels right up it. The top third is so twisty and narrow that nor-west winds blow right over the valley ... mostly. Lots of great geology to see on the top third. |
