Canoeing
Some of New Hampshire's best and most reliable whitewater paddling is available in the Great North Woods Region.
The absolute most reliable whitewater is available on the Androscoggin River on the east side of the region very near the Maine border and north of Berlin. This drainage is comprised of the confluence of the Magalloway River (the outflow of Parmechenee and Aziscohos Lakes and the outflow of the Rangeley/Richardson chain of lakes to the northeast.
In Errol is a short stretch (about a mile) of Class III rapids, the site of Northern Waters Canoe outfitters and camp operators. This site also is the locale for canoe slalom and downriver races on the Androscoggin. Kayakers and openboaters will find this stretch enjoyable with several standing waves below the Rote 26 bridge a favorite hole for the decked boats. There are several short rapids (Mollidgewock Brook – near a state campground on the right and Seven Islands (an old logging bridge crosses to the woodlands east of the river) but mostly flatwater paddling with some current to the Pontook Dam and Reservoir.
Pontook Dam offers weekend (and other water releases) from Memorial to Labor Day making it pretty reliable for whitewater paddling. (See release schedule in box below). Below Pontook (a good put in at the visitors' parking area to the west of the dam. Here a paddler will find about 2miles of Class III rapids. Take out is at Wheeler Bay on the right (now a Wayside Area with picnic area and parking).Rapid River, as its names suggests, is a short (6 mile) sprint which drains Lower Lake Richardson at Middle Dam. Of its six-mile length rapids and whitewater mark 4 miles with ratings from Class III at low water (600 CFS at gauge at Middle Dam) to Class V making it inhospitable for open boats except as a stunt and then only by experts. A portage along the right river bank is available for through paddlers covering the Rangeley Chain to Erroll. Rapids going by the name of Cemetery Curve, Staircase, Wing Dam Rip, Devil's Hopyard give an indication about the severity of the drops.
Israel's River—On a gentler note is a small, mountain stream that runs from the Western Presidentials (Israel's Ridge on Mt. Jefferson) through Jefferson, Riverton and into downtown Lancaster before entering the Connecticut just below the Route 2/Roger's Rangers bridge into Vermont at South Guildhall.
This has been considered by locals to be a fine teaching river with a put in at Route 2 in Riverton providing a great teaching medium with drops increasing in technicality and height the closer one got to Lancaster. Just above the Covered Bridge is an experimental ice-rentention structure (thank the Army Corps and Cold Regions Lab in Hanover for this one) that may have to be portaged depending on the width of your boat and the water level. The Mechanic Street covered bridge was the setting for whitewater slalom races in the late 70s – mid-80s and a downriver race from Jefferson Meadows to Lancaster.
East of Riverton is a meandering, narrow stream sometimes blocked by downed-trees. Several small, riffly rapids will be encountered until Riverton. Below a meadow was a temporary dam that created a small tongue just above a rail trestle. From there the action picks up and becomes more sustained to the covered bridge with several larger drops below the bridge to the Main Street bridge. Riverton to Main Street is about an hour's paddle, suitable for an evening jaunt though it runs directly into the setting sun. The run out to the Connecticut is extremely shallow and mostly unrunnable at low water. Because the river has a steep, but large drainage a good rain can bring it to decent levels in a hurry.
Upper Ammonoosuc - Another fine, small river is the Upper Ammonoosuc starting at the York Pond Road off Route 110 west of Berlin (follow signs to the Fish Hatchery) to West Milan (and to the Stark covered bridge at higher water). Mostly Class II rapids from York Pond Road the 8 miles to West Milan. Again, this makes it a good experience for novice paddlers accompanied by experience boaters. There is one serious right-hander into Higgins Brook Ravine which should be scouted in higher water. This is about 4 miles into the paddle from the put in.
Ammonoosuc – This is a classic mountain stream with some challenging sections for open boats requiring quick decisions and precision maneuvering for tandem open boaters. The river flows from the Lakes of the Clouds on the southwest shoulder of Mount Washington, drains Bretton Woods and Twin Mountain and flows through Bethlehem and westward to Littleton. Because it is snowfed from the high mountains it often offers reliable late spring running. A steady rain can bring the river to decent levels for an enjoyable summer run when the waters are warm and clear and the swimming enjoyable.
Bretton Woods to Lower Falls – about a five mile meander with quick water. Once reaching Route 302 above the Lower Falls take out as the falls and the subsequent two miles to Twin Mountain contain unrunnable drops.
Twin Mountain to Pierce Bridge 7-miles – This middle section is some of the best open-boat running available with quick, narrow passages in several spots, large boulders in the channels, and a small staircase rapids coming into the Pierce Bridge (Wayside Inn – fine European cuisine) at Route 302. This mostly Class III water can change with the flow so check the gauge on the west shore (Much More Road) above Pierce Bridge. From here to the Wing Road Dam is mostly quickwater and somewhat uninteresting. Below the dam, however starts a short technical section to the Maple Wood bridge on Route 142. Portage the dam on the right and then you will encounter short pitch of Class IV rapids where one must follow the proper channel for an unimpeded flow. At one point the boater will drop right over a rock split by frost and river action. Coordination for tandems here is a must to avoid the sharp rocks just outside the channel's edge.
From Maplewood Bridge to Wing Road bridge is a 2-mile ride of mostly Class IIIs and another 2 miles to Alder Brook rapids just below high tension wires as you paddle north and see the stack of Pinetree Power biomass plant. The river takes a sharp left and heads into the steepest, most turbulent portion of the river. At any water level one should scout these drops, pulling out on the left. The first drops are best approached from the left and follow an S-path through the drops, some of which are ledge drops of 3-4 feet. Depending on the water levels the hydraulics can be daunting. On the right will be seen railroad tracks signaling the sharpest drops of all best attacked from the right. This makes a good takeout spot above Littleton.
