River Flow Information
Places To Stay
Black River has been around for nearly 200 years. Back in 1799, French surveyor Pierre Pharoux first explored the region around Watertown, New York, charting boundaries of land claims for French aristocrats hoping to flee Europe before sharing a common fate with Marie Antoinette.
The Black River flows from its headwaters in the western Adirondacks, through the Tug Hill region and into Lake Ontario and provides a recreational corridor used for fishing, canoeing, whitewater rafting, kayaking and scenic viewing along its 114-mile length. The Black River corridor has three distinct character areas; the wild river section from Forestport downstream to Lyons Falls, the 42-mile flatwater section from Lyons Falls to Carthage, and the 30-mile whitewater section from Carthage, through the City of Watertown, to the mouth at Dexter. Each of these areas has its own history, economy and user groups. Collectively, the major assets of the Black River include its unspoiled scenery, its friendly small town atmosphere, its rich history and its diverse character.