There are scenic sections, but some areas are difficult to access. There are numerous Class II-VI rapids and impassable ledges and dams. Water levels may fluctuate due to dam releases. A gentle section of the Oswegatchie starts near Gouverneur and flows 65 miles to Ogdensburg where it flows into the St. Lawrence River. The river is wide and slow moving here as it passes beside low rolling hills, rock ledges, marshes and pasture land.
Scenic cliffs line the short near Oxbow.
There are carries at the dams. Most of the rapids can be portaged or run by experienced paddlers. Numerous access points permit trips of varying lengths. This spectacular branch of the Oswegatchie plunges over waterfalls and through a rocky gorge. A drop of 90 feet in the first two miles gets the adrenaline going with an exciting mix of waterfalls and Class III rapids.