Blackwater River

Some challenges along the otherwise tranquil and remote Blackwater River on a warm 90F June day. Excellent water level: 3.72 ft, 266 cfs on the Webster gauge.  No rapids on this stretch but 5 river-wide tree blowdown clusters necessitated portages.  Another 4-5 required tricky limbos and slide-overs. The rest of the trip was amazingly peaceful and remote, with only 1 house spotted mid trip and almost zero road noise since nothing is close. The right bank is very steep, almost mountainous in spots.  Surprised one adult deer resting near the river, a couple of huge bounding jumps and he was gone.  Easy parking at the new (2024) Janeway Boat Launch along Rt 127.  The takeout isn't great, a short rocky climb just below the bridge on river left since most of the nearby area is private land, parking for 2-3 cars along the road.  

Start: Janeway Boat Launch, 583 Battle Rd (Rt 127), Webster, NH

End: E Penacook Rd Bridge, Hopkinton, NH

Trip Distance: 5.5 miles
Trip Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Misty morning on the Blackwater

A five minute drive up from the put-in to Blackwater Dam is worth the trip

The put-in at the new Janeway Boat Launch along Rt 127

A look upstream from the put-in at the bony rapids coming down Snyders Hill, not today

Feeling the peace along the Blackwater....

Mixed in with some work to get around these blockages... some easy, some challenging

Tree Paddler pic

A bug's (end of) life

The take-out at E Penacook Road Bridge

Nissitissit River

Beautiful spring trip down The Nissi, a winding and peaceful river.  It was a 56F and mostly sunny day with excellent water levels  (Nashua E Pepperell gauge 2.86 ft 799 cfs;  Squannacook gauge 2.83 ft 144 cfs). The first part of the trip winds through a marsh, passing through several mellow riffles and small drops. Saw a lot of wildlife: Tiny gold birds, pair of woodpeckers, many turtles and wood ducks. The action picks up the 2nd half of the trip in the section below the West Hollis Bridge.  About 1/2 mile below that are a quick succession of 3 river-wide blowdowns that required portages (right, over, over).  Then an expected small dam, which I ran left. Several fly fisherman were in this area too.  The finale of the trip was running the remnants of the Millie Turner dam which is 2 big drops (class II) followed by riffles to the Mill St bridge. Kayak bottom gained a few new scratches that last stretch!   

Start: Bohannon Bridge, Brookline NH

End: Mill St Bridge, Pepperell, MA

Trip Time:  2 hours 45 minutes.   

Trip Distance:  8 miles

The put-in at Bohannon Bridge

Peaceful upper section

The beavs did good work here

Natural bridge

Remnants of the old mill near W Hollis Road bridge

First of three river-wide blowdowns

Looking back upstream of dam, 2 channels blocked by downed tree

Not sure if this was a vulture but he looked ominous, drying his wings

Gorgeous day on the water!

Rapids at the former Millie Turner dam in Pepperell

Take-out below the Mill St bridge

North Nashua River

Nice long run on the North Nashua River on beautiful 75F sunny day.  Water levels medium and falling, 2.58 ft, 122 cfs on the Leominster gauge.  During the first half of trip there were 3-4 gravel bars to push through and many strainers to scoot around.  The second half of trip, below the Pellecchia canoe launch, was smooth sailing, just one river-wide trunk to glide over.  Such a beautiful, sandy river though notes of industrial past (many car tires, couple oil drums) and litter are present.  Made a brief side trip up the South Nashua River.  It's current was strong 3.25 ft, 289 cfs (and water warm 71F!) on the Clinton gauge.  Would like to explore further up this branch on a different day.   Note: the put-in at the end of Lancaster St is VERY STEEP, had to slide down the hill to the river, holding onto trees on the way down. The take-out is easy, though muddy, parking for 3-4 cars.     

Start: 1081 Lancaster St, Leominster, MA

End:  Canoe Launch/Rte 117,  7 Bridge Road,  Lancaster, MA

Trip Time:  3 hours 25 minutes

Trip Distance:  10 miles

The very steep launch at the end of Lancaster St in Leominster

Into the North Nashua!

First gravel bar to push through

1st of two old oil drums along the river

Solid drop right under the power lines, followed by 3 sets of easy rapids, a bit of rock scraping

A small rocky channel to the left of the old dam gets you by without portaging

Approaching the Pellecchia canoe launch under bridge

Stopped for lunch here.   Also good starting point for a shorter (5 mile) trip

2nd oil drum of the day

Beautiful sandy river bottom in Lancaster

Car tires prevalent here too:  

Ran into a family of wood ducks....

This guy did his best to keep up, flying/running along the water!

Leaning pine

Inspiration of the day

The entrance to the South Nashua, was able to push through the right side then up about 200 yards

Cows on the hill

I caught the attention of this one

Blue heron in flight.  Check out the spindly legs trailing

Muddy take-out

Take-out sign along Rt 117