First ever February kayak trip. Exciting run down the upper Cocheco River. Temps 37F and water levels were high: 4.4 ft, 250 cfs on the Rochester gauge. Clear water showed a sandy river bottom. Cool ice shelves formed along the banks showed the higher water levels from the night before. A couple of abandoned boats were seen along the riverside: a power boat, jetski as well as a two junked rusted out cars. About 1/2 mile after the start was the most challenging rapid (class 2 maybe), the river was squeezed to the left due to several fallen trees. An overhanging log left only about 5 feet of safe clearance in turbulent waters between it and a rocky wall on the left. I made it through unscathed and took on just a little water. Another 1/2 mile down was a snow-mobile bridge over two large round culverts. Both were blocked by wood, portaged left. The rest of the way was quickwater through woods and then a marsh near the end. 2 more river-wide blowdowns required portage and several others required quick moves or limbos to get through. A fun river but definitely need to stay alert on this one!
Start: Cocheco Road, Farmington, NH
End: Little Falls Bridge Road, Rochester, NH
Trip time: 2 hours 20 min.
Trip distance: approx 6 miles
Looking upriver from the put-in
A three hour tour...
Wreck on the river
Tight squeeze on the left
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Pretty ice shelves
Snowmobile bridge over 2 culverts required portage left
River flowing fast out the other side
Ice halo
Final portage in the marsh
A very new blowdown based on color of trunk, snuck by on the right
A long way from Aruba...
Little Falls Bridge
Takeout on the right
Float plan
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