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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Video from Pink Packraft
Plymouth 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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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 - 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

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