White River - Bethel to South Royalton

First trip of 2026!  Finally made it up to the White River main stem.  Lower than expected water levels  (976 cfs, 4.5 ft on the West Hartford gauge; 43 cfs, 3 ft on Ayers Brook gauge)  forced a slight change in plans to paddle the middle section of the White River from Bethel-to-South Royalston instead of the  Stockbridge-to-Bethel stretch which is only recommended at 1200+ cfs.  After launching from Peavine Park and passing under the Rt 107 bridge, you hit a couple of Class 1+ rapids in the first mile of the trip, got a little wet on them which felt very good on this warm 84F June day.  Also had to stop and drain the kayak to maintain optimal balance.  Saw several families swimming riverside and a bald eagle fly straight overhead.  The second half of the trip you hear more road noise from nearby I-89 but the river was beautiful, clear, smooth and wide. At this water level you just need to pay attention to where the deep water is and avoid gravel bars. One last rocky Class II rapid just under the South Royalton bridge keeps you focused.  Highly recommend this trip!  

Start: Peavine Park, 777 Peavine Blvd, Bethel, VT

End: Avery's Rocks, 799 Route 14, South Royalton, VT

Trip Distance:  9 miles

Trip Time:  2 hours, 50 minutes    

 

 

Put-in at Peavine Park.  Plenty of parking - narrow path to river at back left

 

Brief glance up the White River Third Branch but current very strong here, did not make it far up

 

Dune

 

Old abandoned Blue Hill Powerplant

 

Stopped to drain kayak here.  High I-89 bridges in the distance.

 

Short side trip up the Second Branch

 

Heading back to the main stem of the White River

 

Possible remnants of a ski area at Hitching Post Farm??   

Check out this great website: https://www.nelsap.org/

 

Dune II

 

"Risk of Creosote Exposure"  😬

 

Sinclair's Rocks:

 

Last and longest side foray (300 yards) up the First Branch.  Was hoping to make it up to old Eaton dam site but got too tired and river got to shallow to easily continue further upstream. 

 

South Royalton bridge

 

 

Avery's Rocks takeout.  Parking for 7-8 cars along Route 14

 

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