Pemi - Woodstock to Thornton - May 2, 2026

Pemigewasset River Iron Bridge

It rained on the way up, and it rained on the way back, but in between we had a pretty good run on the Pemi from Woodstock to Thornton.

The Pemigewasset River, also known as the “Pemi”, arises at Profile Lake at the base of Cannon Mountain in the Franconia Notch. It flows south for 65-miles to Franklin where it joins the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack River.

Mist is the hills

There are a couple of other sections of the Pemi that I have paddled including the quickwater section from Thornton to Campton and the whitewater section in Bristol. The class II section in Woodstock is one of my favorites. It is a 4.5-mile trip that alternates between quickwater and class I/II rapids. This time we extended it by another 5-miles and went down to Robin’s Nest Road in Thonton.

We met at 9:30 at the put-in behind the North Woodstock Fire Station at the Woodstock Family Park and ran the shuttle down to the take-out at Robin’s Next Road. We had 8 boats, all canoes – 4 tandem and 4 solo. The river was a little low – 3.5-feet, 450 cfs. but surprisingly fluid, although we skipped the bid drop at the put in.

Running the Ledges

This section of the river alternates between quickwater and class I/II rapids. There is the Woodstock Squeeze - the river narrows and takes a hard left turn at a large rock wall, the Powerline Rapid - a long s-turn, Tree Fall Alley – a fast moving shoot which is often full of strainers, and Gravel Pit Bypass – a fast moving shoot which terminates at another rock wall.

The largest rapid is the Ledges. Usually there are lots of lines through this series of drops, but at this level the line on the right was best. Everyone made it through fine, and we continued down to the take out at Robin’s Nest Road.

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Pemi Woodstock Gage

Pemi - Woodstock - May 11, 2024

On the river

It has been a while since I had my whitewater boat out, so when I saw that NHAMC had a trip on the Pemi in Woodstock I decided to join in.

The Pemigewasset River, also known as the “Pemi”, arises at Profile Lake at the base of Cannon Mountain in the Franconia Notch. It flows south for 65-miles to Franklin where it joins the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack River.

Drop at the put-in

There are a couple of other sections of the Pemi that I have paddled including the quickwater section from Woodstock/Thornton to Campton and the whitewater section in Bristol. The class II section in Woodstock is one of my favorites. It is a 4.5-mile trip that alternates between quickwater and class I/II rapids.

We met at 9:30 at the put-in behind the North Woodstock Fire Station at the Woodstock Family Park and ran the shuttle down to the take-out at the Ledges off Death Valley Road. We had 9 boats – 8 kayaks and one canoe (guess who). The river was a little low - 4-feet, 900 cfs., but still fluid. We put-in and ran the 2-foot drop in the center.

Surfwave

From there the river alternates between quickwater and class i/II rapids. First comes the Woodstock Squeeze - the river narrows and takes a hard left turn at a large rock wall. Next comes the Powerline Rapid - a gradual drop which can be shallow at the top and bottom. Next comes Tree Fall Alley – a fast moving shoot which terminates in a nasty strainer. Next comes the Gravel Pit Bypass – a fast moving shoot which terminates at another rock wall.

The final rapid is the Ledges – a short series of drops right at the take out. I went down first so I could get some video of the other going through. I took the line behind the big rock and then down the middle. Everyone else made it through fine.


The Ledges from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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My Video - The Ledges

River Description from American Whitewater

Pemi - Bristol - August 27, 2023

Below the Ayers Island Dam

It has been a while since I had my whitewater boat out, and the sea kayak trip that I was planning to do yesterday got cancelled due to potential thunderstorms, so I decided to head up to NH to run the Pemi in Bristol with the NHAMC.

The Pemigewasset River, also known as the “Pemi”, arises at Profile Lake at the base of Cannon Mountain in the Franconia Notch. It flows south for 65-miles to Franklin where it joins the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack River. There are a couple of other sections of the Pemi that I like to paddle including the quickwater section from Woodstock/Thornton to Campton and the whitewater section in Woodstock.

Scouting Wourthens

We met at 10:00 at the put-in at the Pemi-Bristol Boat Launch below the Ayers Island Dam. As you turn onto Ayers Island Road from Route 104, you will see a ball field on your right - follow the road around the ball field and take a left. Just before the gate to the DPW garage, turn left down a hill past the Bristol Transfer Station. Keep going down the hill until you see a large array of solar panels. Turn left just before the solar panels, then turn left again before the gate to the metal dump and go down the steep hill on the small dirt road.

The river was at a nice level – 2 feet, 1,500 cfs. We had 8 boats – 7 kayaks and one canoe (guess who). This is a short section of river - about 1.5-miles with a couple of nice play spots. The biggest rapid is called Wourthens and is located about 1/4 mile down from the put in. A ledge protrudes from the left bank (Wourthen's Rock) forcing the river to the right. The usual line is to the right, but we had people run the drops in the middle, and even the slot on the left.

Running the slot

The rapids continue with another ledge and surf spot downstream, and a couple of class II rock gardens. The last rapid sweeps gradually to the right as it passes through two ledges on Coolidge Woods Road, including the playhole that was washed out.

It rained a little as were paddling, but it really came down as I was driving home. Still worth the trip.

Taking in the rapids

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My Pictures

Video from Pink Packraft
Plymouth Gage
River Description from American Whitewater

Woodstock section of the Pemi - October 15, 2022

View of the mountains

There were lots of options for trips yesterday – fall draw-downs at New Boston and the North Branch of the Pcat, RICKA Sea Kayak trip from Potter Cove, and the first hike of the year with the Papa Joe group. With close to 3” of rain on Friday, though, what caught my attention was an opportunity to get my whitewater boat out in the White Mountains up in New Hampshire. The original plan was to run the section of the Ammo in Littleton, but it dropped too fast. Instead, we ended up on one of my favorites – the Woodstock section of the Pemi.

The Pemigewasset River, also known as the “Pemi”, arises at Profile Lake at the base of Cannon Mountain in the Franconia Notch. It flows south for 65-miles to Franklin where it joins the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack River. There are a couple of other sections of the Pemi that I have paddled including the quickwater section from Woodstock/Thornton to Campton and the whitewater section in Bristol. The class II section in Woodstock is one of my favorites.

Beautiful foliage

We met at 10:00 at the put-in behind the Fire Station (5 Daniel Webster Highway, North Woodstock, NH), and ran the shuttle down to the take-out at the Ledges (Death Valley Road at the third Route 175 Bridge, North Woodstock, NH). The river was at a medium level – 4.5 feet, 1,500 cfs. after having peaked at 8.5 feet, 9,000 cfs. on Friday afternoon. We had 4 boats – 3 kayaks (Tim, Steph and Steve) and one canoe (guess who).

Its about a 4.5-mile trip that alternates between quickwater and class I/II rapids. The foliage was just past peak, but it was still beautiful. The biggest rapids are the 2 foot drop at the beginning, which we skipped, and the Ledges at the end. I did a different line through the Ledges – left behind the big rock in the center, and then down the middle. It got a little congested behind the rock in the eddy.

Runnning the Ledges from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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My Pictures
Woodstock Gage
River Description from American Whitewater

Pemi - Woodstock – April 9, 2022

Running the Ledges

I thought I would be leaving today for a 4-day business trip to CA, but it got cancelled. That freed-up a day this weekend to paddle. For the second week in a row, I was on the road early Saturday morning heading up Route I-93 to the White Mountains to paddle the Class III Step-up trip with the NHAMC. This time we would be paddling the Woodstock section of the Pemi.

The Pemigewasset River, also known as the “Pemi”, arises at Profile Lake at the base of Cannon Mountain in the Franconia Notch. It flows south for 65-miles to Franklin where it joins the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack River. There are a couple of other sections of the Pemi that I have paddled including the quickwater section from Woodstock/Thornton to Campton and the whitewater section in Bristol. The class II section in Woodstock is one of my favorites.

The gallery at the Ledges

We met at 10:00 at the put-in behind the Fire Station (51 Daniel Webster Highway, North Woodstock, NH), and ran the shuttle down to the take-out at the Ledges (Death Valley Road at the third Route 175 Bridge, North Woodstock, NH). The river was at a medium-low level – 4.5 feet, 1,250 cfs. We had 14 boats – 13 kayaks and one canoe.

We divided into two groups of 7 for the run downstream. The two most difficult rapids are at the beginning and at the end. Right at the put-in is a 2-foot drop that is run in the center. After that, the river is mostly quiclkwater with couple of class II rapids – Woodstock Squeeze, Gravel Pit and Powerline. The biggest rapid is the Ledges at the end. It is class II+/III depending on water level. We all did a couple of laps at the Ledges trying different lines.

 

The Ledges from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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My Pictures
My Video
Woodstock Gage
River Description from American Whitewater

Pemi – Thornton to Campton - April 12, 2021

At the put-in

The second weekend in April is usually reserved for a run on the Upper Millers. This year, I wasn’t sure about the shuttle, and my whitewater skills are a little rusty, so I decided to join Jonathan’s trip on the South Branch of the Piscataquog. When water levels on the Piscat dropped, the trip got moved to the Pemi instead.

The Pemigewasset originates in Franconia Notch and flows south through the White Mountains to merge with the Winnipesaukee River in Franklin where it forms the Merrimack. It is a huge watershed that can be a very flashy. In fact, we stopped at an island where Matt and Doug (Scooter and Hal) were forced to send the night in a tree when the river came up 18-feet overnight.

View upstream from the put-in

We would be running the section from Thornton to Campton. I had done this section with Jonathan and Doug once before. With snowmelt on the mountains, the river was at a nice level - 4.5 feet, 1,400 cfs on the Woodstock gage. It was cloudy as I left RI, but the skies got brighter as I headed north into New Hampshire. I met Tommy at the take out at Blair Bridge in Campton for the shuttle up to the put-in at Robins Nest Road in Thornton.

We had 8 boats and 10 paddlers (Jonathan/Chris, Bob/Richard, Tommy, Marshal, Matt, Jean, Cathy and me) – all canoes. The river was running well – 9-miles of quickwater with a few easy rapids. Other than a headwind blowing from the south, it was just about the perfect day.

Take-out at Blair Bridge

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Woodstock Gage
River Description from American Whitewater

Pemi - Bristol – November 6, 2017

I wasn’t planning to travel, but no one was interested in doing anything local, so I decided to go up to NH to paddle the Pemi in Bristol with Ginny, Lora and Pat.  The river was at 1.5 feet, 1,000 cfs. - nothing difficult and easy to find things to do.  I took a swim at the playspot – tipped offside on the top of a wave and over I went...

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My Pictures
Plymouth Gage
River Description from American Whitewater

Long drive for a short trip - Pemi - Bristol - April 23, 2016

Ayers Island Dam

The forecast was for clearing skies, but I was beginning to wonder as I headed north to NH. The rain started as I entered MA, and continued all the way up to the NH border. Fortunately, as I crossed over into NH, I could see blue sky to the north. By the time I reached the put-in, the sky was bright and clear and the day was beautiful – maybe a little windy. 

I was heading up to NH to paddle the Bristol section of the Pemi with Joe and the NHAMC. We had 3 kayaks (Marcy, Pete and Eric) and 2 canoes (me and Joe). We put in below the Ayers Island Dam (off Ayers Island Road – go left at the recycling center and down the hill on the dirt road next to the transfer station), and took out below the park and play hole off Coolidge Woods Road.

Marcy running Wourthen's

This is a short section of river that is best to run a couple of times to make it worth the trip - at least for me. It’s about 1-1/2 miles long with a couple of nice play spots. The level was 1,500 cfs on the Plymouth gage, which was a little pushy.  Combined with the wind, it was a quick run downstream.

The biggest rapid on this section of the river is called Wourthen’s, and is located about 1/4 mile down from the put in. A ledge protrudes from the left bank (Wourthen's Rock) forcing the river to the right.  The usual line is to the right, although at lower levels you can run the drops in the middle.  We went right.

Joe approaching Coolidge Woods Road

The rapid continues for about 1/5 of a mile, and is followed by a couple of other class II rapids. The last rapid sweeps gradually to the right as it passes through a couple of ledges along Coolidge Woods Road. Unfortunately, there was too much water for me to do any playing at the play spot. 

I would have like to do another run, but no one else was interested, so it turned out to be a long drive for a short trip. Oh well..

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Plymouth Gage

River Description from American Whitewater

Pemi - Woodstock - April 2, 2016

Route 175 Bridge

They say that whitewater paddling is 40% skill, 5% luck and 90% driving.  I can’t say that I disagree. Mike, Chuck and Tommy were paddling the Blackstone from Singing Dam down to Plummers Landing, but I drove 2 ½ hours up to New Hampshire to paddle the Pemi with the NHAMC instead.

The Pemigewasset originates in Franconia Notch and flows south through the White Mountains to merge with the Winnipesaukee River in Franklin, NH where it forms the Merrimack.  It is a huge watershed that can be a little flashy.  With the rain last week, the level peaked at 2,500 cfs. on Friday, and dropped to about 1,500 cfs. for the trip yesterday – just about perfect.  We had about 16 boats with 9 canoes.

View of Mount Lafayette

We put-in behind the Fire Station (51 Daniel Webster Highway, North Woodstock, NH), and took-out at the Ledges (Death Valley Road at the third Route 175 Bridge, North Woodstock, NH).  This section is mostly quickwater with a couple of easy class II rapids – Woodstock Squeeze, Gravel Pit, Powerline, and the Ledges.  The biggest challenge is to remember to remember to turn around and take in the great views of the White Mountains upstream.

Harry running the Ledges

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Woodstock Gage

River Description from American Whitewater

Pemigewasset - Woodstock to Campton - November 21, 2015

Me and Jonathan

It wasn’t the best weather for paddling, but I’ve paddled in worse.  Sometimes you just need to get out when the river is up.

I’ve wanted to paddle the section of the Pemi below the Ledges in Woodstock for a while, but it can be tough to catch. Last week’s rain brought the river up, so I sent an email to Doug D. to see if he would be interested. A Facebook post hooked me up for some tandem paddling with Jonathan. 

Blair Bridge

We ran the section from the Ledges at the Route 175 Bridge in Woodstock to the Blair Bridge in Campton – about 14 miles.  The river is shallow with gravel bars and cobbles along the banks.  I’d say that we caught a medium-low level - 3.5 feet, 650 cfs. on the Woodstock gage - mostly flatwater with a few quickwater rips.

It remained overcast throughout the day with low-hanging clouds hugging the ground.  Every now and again we would turn around and catch a beautiful view of the White Mountains shrouded in clouds.  We probably should have turned around more often. It took us about 4 ½ hours to paddle the 14 miles. There was no rush - we took our time and enjoyed views, and then enjoyed a beer and a burger at the Country Cow near the take out.  Another great day.

White Mountains shrouded in clouds

My Pictures
Doug’s Pictures
Pemigewasset Woodstock Gage
River Description from American Whitewater

Pemi - Bristol - May 16, 2015

My father told me that he did his first whitewater training at the Pemi (Pemigewasset River) in Bristol.  I took a quickwater safety class there a few years ago, but I’ve never had the chance to paddle there – until today. 

Put in below the Ayers Island Dam

Our RICKA trip on the Assabet got postponed, so I was able to join a NHAMC trip on the Pemi - 5 canoes, 6 kayaks and 1 duckie.  The river was at a nice level – 1,000 cfs on the Plymouth gage.  We put in below the Ayers Island Dam (off Ayers Island Road – go left at the recycling center down the hill on the dirt road).  We took out below the park and play hole off Coolidge Woods Road. The river is about 1-1/2 miles long with a couple of nice play spots.

The first major rapid is about 1/4 mile downstream.  The easy route is on the far right, but I didn’t want to take the easy route.  The more difficult line is down the center through two drops.  Joe made it look easy.

Joe runs the first rapid on the Pemi from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

The crew stops for a picture

I got spun around in the first drop and ended up sideways in the hole (as you can tell from my narration). I worked my way out eventually, and I ran the rest of the rapid backwards with a boat full of water. It wasn't pretty, but I made it through. 

From here, the river is a series of small rapids.  The last rapid sweeps gradually to the right as it passes through a couple of ledges along Coolidge Woods Road.  The first is where I did my advance swiftwater training.  The second is the park and play ledge - a popular summer play spot. 

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Plymouth Gage

River description from American Whitewater

Pemigewasset – Woodstock – April 27, 2013

View from the put-in -
 Loon Mountain in the distance

The Pemi is one of the rivers that I have wanted to run for a long time, but it just never seemed to work out.  When I could run it, there was no water.  When there was water, I couldn’t run it.  That finally changed yesterday when I ran the Woodstock section with the NHAMC.

Pemigewasset originates at Profile Lake in Franconia Notch and flows south through the White Mountains until it merges with the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack River.  There are several sections of the Pemi that are paddled regularly – some of them are well above my skills.  The Woodstock section is an easy class II the runs from North Woodstock to Woodstock.  I’d also like to run the class I section from Woodstock to Campton – it’s on my list.  I have been to the Bristol section to do safety training, but I have never run it – it’s also on my list. 

Running the Gravel Pit Bypass

We put in at a small park behind the Woodstock Fire Station on Rt. 3.  The river was at a medium level – 4 feet, 1,000 cfs.  We had about 20 paddlers, maybe half were open boaters.  The day was sunny and warm.

After a few riffles at the put in, we approached the first major rapid – the Woodstock Squeeze.  The river narrows and takes a hard left turn at a large rock wall.  Next comes the Powerline Rapid - a gradual drop which can be shallow at the top and bottom.  Next comes Tree Fall Alley – a fast moving shoot which terminates in a nasty strainer.  This shoot can easily be avoided, but I flipped on some shallow rocks at the top and got sucked in.  Fortunately, I was able to swim around it, and my boat was easily recovered. 

Next comes the Gravel Pit Bypass – a fast moving shoot which terminates at another rock wall.  The final rapid is the Ledges – a short series of drops right at the take out.  Our day ended with burgers by the river cooked by Dan – can’t beat that.

Surfing in the Ledges

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My Video – Harry Runs the Slot

Pemigewasset – Woodstock Gage

River description from American Whitewater

Pemi - Bristol Release Levels

The following appeared on the NPMB message board about releases on the Pemi at Bristol:

If there is a heavy rain during the week, they will often release 1,200 cfs to 1,500 cfs on Saturday, and sometimes on Sunday. You can run it as low as 500 cfs, but 1,200 cfs to 1,500 cfs is more fun.  Over 1,500 cfs and it starts to wash out. When nothing else is running even 800 cfs is fun. 

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Pemigewasset River at Plymouth

East Branch of the Pemigewasset above Loon

Another river to add to the list - Tommy and Ken ran the East Branch of the Pemi from Lincoln Woods to South Peak in New Hampshire's White Mountains. The level was just under 500 cfs - very boney. Tommy says that it is easier at 600 to 700 cfs.

Links:
Ken's video