The Black River in southern New Brunswick is a whitewater river with two commonly paddled sections, both terminating at the Black River Wharf on Wharf Road (45°15'40.2"N 65°48'34.4"W). The longer run begins off McDonald Lake Road (45°17'55.1"N 65°51'22.5"W), covering 9.2 kilometers at a gradient of 16 meters per kilometer. A shorter, recommended run of 4.47 kilometers puts in just off Garnett Settlement Road (45°17'26.3"N 65°50'23.6"W), with a gradient of approximately 15.9 meters per kilometer and an elevation drop from 69.6 meters to 15.2 meters; note that this put-in is on private property and paddlers are asked to exercise respect when using it. Paddle time on the shorter run, including scouting, is approximately 2.5 hours. The take-out elevation is influenced by tidal variation given the river's proximity to the Bay of Fundy.

Difficulty on the main whitewater section is strongly water-level dependent. At gauge readings of 1.4–1.5 meters, the river runs as a technical Class II/III, though at low levels the riverbed becomes excessively rocky and bony. At 1.6–1.7 meters it becomes a solid technical Class III with some Class IV features. At 1.9 meters, rapids can range from Class III to Class V. The river is rated Class III(+) for intermediate paddlers under typical runnable conditions.

An upper section also exists, with a put-in at 45°19'44.8"N 65°46'58.0"W and take-out at 45°18'23.1"N 65°50'54.7"W, covering 4.2 kilometers at a gentler gradient of 4.1 meters per kilometer. This section runs at Class I(+) and is suitable for paddlers new to moving water, though it carries a significant hazard: an abundance of sweepers. At flood levels (around 2.2 meters on the gauge), the risk of encountering new trees and debris in the water increases considerably.

The river also offers coastal access near its mouth, where it can be entered from the Bay of Fundy side at the right stage of tide, with eagles occasionally observed in the area. Paddlers should monitor the Black River gauge before any trip, as levels change frequently and dramatically affect both difficulty and safety.