Saranac River.

The Saranac River threads through the Keene Valley corridor as one of the major drainage systems connecting the High Peaks interior to the broader Saranac Lakes watershed to the north — a fast-moving ribbon of whitewater in spring, cobblestone riffles and pocket pools by midsummer. It's one of those waters more often *crossed* than fished — NY-73 parallels sections of it, and half a dozen trail crossings link the valley's trailhead network — but the river holds brook trout in its upper reaches and sees occasional paddling traffic during the spring melt. Access is informal: bridge crossings, roadside pull-offs, and the occasional bushwhack down to the water. The river's gradient and character shift dramatically as it drops out of the mountains — check flow levels before committing to any paddle plan.