Piscat Drawdown and BBQ - October 25, 2025

Surf wave

Not a lot of interest from the local folks (Paul and Pat were going to the Little Suncook), so a joined the NH/AMC group for the annual Piscat Drawdown and BBQ. I was paddling solo in my Millbrook Outrage.

The Piscataquog River arises in Deering, NH and twists and turns for 35-miles before flowing into the Merrimack River in Manchester. We would be running the class II section below the Gregg's Falls Dam. I met the group at the dam at 9:00, and we ran the shuttle down to the road behind the prison. The release started at 10:00, and we got on the river at around 10:30.

Last rapid above the take out

With the government shut-down not all the gage features were working, but it did confirm that the release was 5.5 feet, which is usually around 800 cfs. This section is about 3-miles long with the most consistent rapids in the first mile. There is a rocky set of rapids below the put in, another under the power lines, and another leading up to the surf wave above the Henry Bridge. I tried my luck at surfing, but stayed out of the the biggest part of the hole.

From there is it mostly quickwater down to the take-out. There is a squirt line with the strong recirculating current where the river takes a sharp right turn, and one last rocky drop just above the take out. After a second "bomber run" we headed back to the dam for the BBQ – hamburgers, hot dogs and good company.

Links:

My Pictures

River Description from American Whitewater