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

 

White River, First Branch

My planned 7-mile trip down the lower First Branch of the White River in Vermont was replaced by a shorter run due to very high flows and muddy waters caused from heavy rainfalls this July  (7860 cfs, 9.08 ft on the West Harford gauge).  The ad-hoc 2-mile run on the upper stretch of river was cut even shorter due to several challenging rapids and ledges.  Put in about 200 yards below the Flint Covered Bridge to avoid a long series of ledges just below it. Managed through several Class II rapids and drops but took on water and had to stop and empty my open kayak a couple times to keep it stable. Approaching the final two (Class III?) rapids near the old sawmill damn, I thought discretion is the better part of valor, beached my kayak near Dickerman Brook and walked back the final 0.5 mile along Route 110 to my car at Larkin Bridge.  It was a beautiful sunny 82F day in central Vermont.  

Start: Flint Covered Bridge, Bicknell Hill Road, Tunbridge, VT

End: Larkin Covered Bridge, Larkin Road, Tunbridge, VT

Trip Time: 1 hour

Trip Distance: 1.5 miles

The put-in was 200 yards below the bridge, down a grassy slope from Bicknell Hill Road. 

Took out here where Dickerman Brook merges with First Branch...

... to avoid these next two rapids/ledge drops very close to Route 110

Planned takeout at Larkin bridge, parking for 2 cars

Here is the site of the former Eaton Mill dams, removed in 2019.  About 0.5 mile above the confluence  with the White River main stem.  Probably Class IV with no easy portage routes.  Not today. 

When in Rome....