The Esopus is a beautiful Class 2 somewhat marred by a road near much of the nicer sections.
Lots of play and runs frequently both after storms and when water is moved from the West Catskills thru a 20+ mile tunnel under the mountains so popular with locals.
Once a source of 4 times a year scheduled releases but now a source of frustration as releases seem to be cancelled on the most trivial of reasons. Too warm, too cold, too much water, too little and the latest…wood in the river OMG. KCCNY conservation committee is working with American Whitewater to try to improve this situation.
Meeting is normally at the Onteora Central School which is the preferred parking area for the whole run and provided adequate room to set up shuttle. Take out is often at a fishing pullout below Phoenicia we the whitewater peters out – a difficult place to even declare an official meeting, let alone be sure it won’t be full when you show up.