Sugar River - April 5, 2025

The crew at the put-in

There were a few different options for today, but I decided to join the NHAMC for a run on the Sugar River. We would be paddling the section from Corbin Road to Route 103 that I fist paddled as a student in NHAMC Whitewater School back in April 2005.

The Sugar River originates at Lake Sunapee and flows generally west for 27-miles to join the Connecticut River in Claremont, NH. My father was an active NHAMC member, so when I first got into paddling I signed up for their whitewater school. It was a two-day class with the first day spent on flatwater and the second day on this river.

Running Sweet Tooth

Today, the river was at a nice level – 3-feet, 1,000 cfs on the West Claremont gage. I was the only open boater paddling with 6 kayakers. We put-in at the covered bridge and headed downstream. The river starts off with easy class I/II rapids until you reach Sweet Tooth – the largest rapid on this section of the river

Sweet Tooth takes its name from two large boulders just left of center with the easier line to the right, and the spicier to the left. Four of us ran it successfully on the right. Three chose a spicier route left resulting in one out of boat experience. From Sweet Tooth to the take-out is a fun section that is pretty much continuous class II.

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My Pictures

West Claremont Gage

River Description for American Whitewater