Upper Millers - March 22, 2024

Running the Mile Long Rapid

With 3-inches of rain earlier this week lots of rivers came up. I saw lots of trips posted, but it really wasn’t a good time for me to take time off from work. Fortunately, the water lasted until Saturday, and I was able get out on the Upper Millers.

The Millers River arises in north-central MA and flows west for 52 miles to join the Connecticut River at Millers Falls. There are two sections that are popular for whitewater boating – the Upper Millers from Royalston to Athol (class II/III), and the Lower Millers from Erving to Millers Falls (class II/IV).

The crew on Mile Long

I got an early start and dropped my boat at the put-in at Blossom Street in Royalston before heading down to the take-out at Crescent Street in Athol. We had 14 boats (4 canoes, 10 kayaks) with folks from 6 states - MA, CT, RI, NY, NH and VT. The river was running at around 1,100 cfs – my favorite level. The waves aren’t too big, the water isn’t too pushy, and there are tons of eddies to catch and waves to surf. 

The first rapid is First Trestle that starts just downstream of the put-in and continues down to the first railroad bridge – lots of waves and rocks to dodge. After some surfing and jet ferries below the railroad bridge we continued downstream. The next major rapid is Mile Long. As the name suggests, it is a long rock garden that ends at the shelter at the Bearsden Conservation Area. We worked our way down rock-hopping and catching waves.

Running the Gorge

After a break at the Buckman Brook Shelter, we continued downstream. There are a couple of class II rapids including the wave train below the lunch spot before you reach the last major rapid – the Gorge. I ran the big hole at the top of the Gorge to the left and made it through fine.

After a couple more class II rapids we were at the take-out. Work on the new canoe access is progressing nicely. There is now a road under construction down the river, and a parking lot about half-way up. It will be nice when it is done.

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Gages on the Upper Millers

Upper Millers – July 8, 2023

Heading out

With the torrential downpours on the 4th of July, lots of whitewater rivers were running this week. With my summer vacation starting next week, it really wasn’t a good time for me to take time off. I saw trips posted on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but had to pass. Fortunately, the water lasted until Saturday, and I was able to do a rare summer-time run on the Upper Millers.

The Millers arises in north-central MA and flows west for 52 miles to merge into the Connecticut River at Millers Falls. There are two sections that are popular for whitewater boating – the Upper Millers from Royalston to Athol (class II/III), and the Lower Millers from Erving to Millers Falls (class II/IV). With the Upper Millers dropping, there was talk of changing the trip to the Lower Millers.

Above the first railroad bridge

Rather than dropping my boat at the put-in (Blossom Street in Royalston) as I usually do, I drove directly to the take-out (Crescent Street in Athol) in case the trip needed to move to the Lower Millers. The water on Upper Millers is controlled by releases from the Birch Hill Dam. It looked like the river would hold at around 1,000 cfs, so the Upper Millers run was on. We loaded up the boats and headed up to the put-in.

We had 8 boats - 4 canoes (Kaz, Rick, Dave and me) and 4 kayaks (Paddler Shawn, Andrew, Martha and Mary Therese). To me, 1,000 cfs is a great level for this run. The waves aren’t too big, the water isn’t too pushy, and there are tons of eddies to catch and waves to surf. It’s a nice class II+ run - just the way I like it. We got on the water at around 11:00 and headed out.

Buckman Brook Shelter

The first major rapid starts just below the put-in and continues down to the first railroad bridge – lots of waves and rocks to dodge. After some surfing and jet ferries below the railroad bridge we continued downstream. The next major rapid is Mile Long. As the name suggests, it is a long rock garden that ends at the shelter at the Bearsden Conservation Area. We worked our way down rock-hopping and catching waves.

After a quick break at the Buckman Brook Shelter, we continued downstream. There are a couple of class II rapids, including the wave train below the lunch spot and the island, before you reach the last major rapid – the Gorge. I had a swim at the Gorge last time I was here, but this time I made it through fine. We finished the run at around 1:30 with the class IV carry back to the cars. After shuttling Kaz and Shawn back to their cars, I was on my way home after a great summer-time run.

That's me - Mile Long I think

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Gages on the Upper Millers

It's Miller Time - April 8, 2023

Paul in the waves below the lunch spot

I joined Paul and Pat for a joint RICKA/Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society (PPCS) trip on the Upper Millers. I have paddled the Upper Millers many times since my fist trip in 2007 and never had a swim, until today – third swim in the last three trips.

I got an early start so I could drop my boat off at the put-in on Blossom Street in Royalston before heading down to meet up with Conrad at the take-out on Crescent Street in Athol. I needed to get home early to light the fire for the Easter Vigil Mass, so I wanted to make sure that my car was at the take-out. Conrad had an extra seat in his van, so I caught the shuttle with him. We had four from RICKA (Paul, Pat, the new guy Ben and me) and three from PPCS (Kenny, Ryan and Brendan). All three of the “chowderheads” were paddling open boats, so the open boats outnumbered the kayaks on this trip 4 to 3.

Pat in the waves below the lunch spot

The water on Upper Millers is controlled by releases from the Birch Hill Dam. The river was cranking along at 1,650 cfs, just under 7 feet on the South Royalston gage – the highest I have run it. There are three class III rapids. The first starts just below the put-in and continues down to the first railroad bridge – lots of big waves, just the way Paul likes it. The second is a little further downstream at Mile Long Rapid – a long class III rock garden that ends at the shelter at the Bearsden Conservation Area. I don’t remember Mile Long being that difficult, so maybe it was washed out. 

The last class III rapid is the Gorge that begins below an island after you pass the wave train at the lunch spot and the railroad tracks. I took a dump going over a pour-over at the top. I grabbed my boat, but after seeing what was downstream I decided to let it go and concentrate on getting myself to shore. It took some barrel roll swimming, but I got into a nearby eddy. From there, it was a long walk down a well-worn trail to the bottom of the rapid where Pat had corralled my boat. Three swims in the last three trips – maybe my new drysuit is jinxed. Not many pictures this time - bad setting on the camera.

Ryan from PPCS in the waves below the lunch spot

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Gages on the Upper Millers

Upper Millers - September 4, 2021

Heading out

Like everywhere else on the east coast, Hurricane Ida dumped a ton of water on us here in southern New England. I was planning to lead a RICKA flatwater trip on the Pawcatuck, but it was just below flood stage so I had to cancel. One door closes and another opens - I was now free to paddle one of my favorite whitewater runs - the Upper Millers.

The Millers River arises in north-central MA and flows generally west for 52 miles to merge into the Connecticut River at Millers Falls. There are two sections that are popular for whitewater boating – the Upper Millers from Royalston to Athol (class II/III), and the Lower Millers from Erving to Millers Falls (class II/IV).

Pictures at the first RXR Bridge

I got an early start so I could drop my boat off at the put in on Blossom Street in Royalston. Then I headed down to meet the crew at the take out on Crescent Street in Athol. The weather was beautiful – sunny and in the mid 70’s.

The kayakers outnumbered the open boaters on this trip with 6 kayaks and 4 canoes. If you are a Millbrook canoe fan, there was a 20/20 and 2 Shachos. I was feeling a little old school in my royalex Outrage. The level was around 1,200 cfs – a nice open boat level. The river alternates between class II and III rapids, with some quickwater in between. 

Running Mile Long

The first class III rapid starts just below the put-in and continues down to the first railroad bridge. After a bit of quickwater, the second class III rapid – Mile Long - begins at a sharp left turn. The last class III rapid is the Gorge that begins after an island after some class II rapids below the big waves at the lunch spot. 

I spent my time dodging rocks, bouncing over waves and dumping out my boat. Still it was a great day.

Great day on the water!

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My Pictures

Birch Hill Dam Gage

River Description from American Whitewater

Water Flow on the Upper Millers

There are a few USACE gages that help indicate the flow on the Upper Millers:

Birch Hill Dam - out-flow fro the dam at the top of the run.
https://reservoircontrol.usace.army.mil/nae_ords/cwmsweb/cwms_realtime.ProjectPage?gagecode=BHD

South Royalston – gage at the put-in
https://reservoircontrol.usace.army.mil/nae_ords/cwmsweb/cwms_realtime.riverpage?gagecode=ROY

Tully Dam – additional flow from the Tully River
https://reservoircontrol.usace.army.mil/nae_ords/cwmsweb/cwms_realtime.ProjectPage?gagecode=TLD

Athol – flow below the take-out and the Tully River
https://reservoircontrol.usace.army.mil/nae_ords/cwmsweb/cwms_realtime.ProjectPage?gagecode=ATH

According to Kaz, you can deduct the flow from the Tully River from the flow in Athol to determine the approximate amount of water in the river between South Royalston and Athol. I usually just look at the outflow from Birch Hill Dam or the South Royalston gage.

A Spring Tradition - Upper Millers - April 14, 2019

Running the broken dam

It has become a tradition for me to paddle the spring release on the Upper Millers. I ran this river for the first time with Mike B. back in 2007. Since then it has become one of my favorite trips.  

The Millers River arises in north-central MA and flows generally west for 52 miles to converge with the Connecticut River at Millers Falls. There are two sections that are popular for whitewater boating – the Upper Millers from Royalston to Athol (class II/III), and the Lower Millers from Erving to Millers Falls (class II/IV). 

Below the first railroad bridge

The open boaters outnumbered the kayakers on this trip with 9 canoes and 3 kayaks. If you are a Millbrook Boat fan, there were plenty – 1 Blink, 1 Shacho, 2 20/20’s, 2 Outrages and a tandem Prowler. Dan was paddling a Silverbirch, so I was feeling a little old-school in my Dagger Encore.

The day was warm, but started off cloudy and rainy. The gage was off-line, but the typical release is 1,500 cfs, and it was at least that. Some of the crew put-in at the Birch Hill Dam and ran the broken dam above the usual put-in. I opted to take some pictures.

Below the second railroad bridge

The trip alternates between class II and III rapids, with some quiet water in between. The first class III rapid starts just below the put-in and continues down to the first railroad bridge. After a bit of quietwater, the second class III rapid – Mile Long - begins at a sharp left turn. The third class III rapid begins after some class II rapids after the second railroad bridge. The last class III rapid is the Gorge that begins below the big waves at the lunch spot. 

I spent most of my time dodging rocks and dumping out my boat. By the time we reached the take-out the day was sunny and warm – it felt like spring.  

Riding the waves

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Brooke running the broken dam

Birch Hill Dam Gage

River Description from American Whitewater

Upper Millers - August 18, 2018

Dan

August has been a month that only a paddler could love. It seems like it has rained continuously for the past two weeks. The heaviest rains were localized, but still brought up many rivers that are usually high and dry this time of year. When I saw the post from Kaz that “a small posse of older, but plucky OC paddlers will be meeting” to paddle the Upper Millers, I knew that was the trip for me!    

The Millers River arises in north-central MA and flows generally west for 52 miles to converge with the Connecticut River at Millers Falls. There are two sections that are popular for whitewater boating – the Upper Millers from Royalston to Athol (class II/III), and the Lower Millers from Erving to Millers Falls (class II/IV).  

John

The day started with an early morning stop at McDonald’s to meet Paul for the drive up to the river. After dropping Paul with our boats at the put in on Blossom Street in Royalston, I headed down to meet the crew at the take out on Crescent Street in Athol. The open boaters out numbered the kayakers on this trip with 6 canoes and 5 kayaks. The level was around 1,000 cfs, after peaking at over 2,000 cfs. earlier in the week. It’s a fun, 7-mile run.

The trip alternates between class II and III rapids, with some quiet water in between. The first class III rapid starts at the island below the put in and continues down to the first railroad bridge. After a bit of quiet water, the second class III rapid – Mile Long - begins at a sharp left turn. The third class III rapid begins after some class II rapids after the second railroad bridge. The last class III rapid is the Gorge that begins below the big waves at the lunch spot. At this level, they are an easy class III, but it is still fun. It was a great day, and a rare treat to paddle this river in August. 

Erik

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My Video

Don’s Video

South Royalton Gage

Upper Millers from American Whitewater

Lower Millers from American Whitewater

Crisis Averted - Upper Millers - April 14, 2018

Doanes Falls

My original plan was to do the Black River in VT with the NHAMC this weekend. It would have been a 3-hour drive for a 5-mile run, but it looked good and it would have been something new. Unfortunately, the weather was bad and the river came up beyond the level the leader was comfortable with, so the trip got cancelled.  Fortunately, it was the weekend for the Millers release, and I saw that Conrad was leading a Boston AMC trip on the Upper Millers – crisis averted.

I dropped off my boat at the put in on Blossom Street in Royalston, and stopped to check out Doanes Falls on the way to meet the crew at the take out.  When Doanes Falls is running it usually means a good run on the Upper Millers.  The level was between 1,350 and 1,400 on the South Royalston gage – a nice class III.  At 1,000 it is an easier class II.

Running Mile Long

I met Conrad and Mike at the take out on Crescent Street (799) in Athol. We ended up running the shuttle and paddling with Kaz, Rick, Dave, Glen and Sandy and Peter.  The run starts off with a couple of class III wave trains and a big surf wave below the first railroad bridge.  

After the railroad bridge is short section of flatwater, and then Mile Long Rapid – a long class III rapid.  The river then settles down again until you get to the second railroad bridge.  The last class III rapid is the Gorge that begins below the big waves at the lunch spot. Good time as always.

Upper Millers from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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My Video

South Royalston Gage

River Description from American Whitewater

Its Miller Time - February 24, 2018

It was February, but it felt like spring as I drove up to the Upper Millers. The last time I had my whitewater boat out was also on the Uppers Millers, but that was back in November, so I was afraid I might be a little rusty. It worked out fine. The level last time was around 1,600 cfs – a solid class III. This time the level was around 930 cfs - class II+, but still plenty of features. Here is the crew doing some surfing below the first railroad bridge.

Upper Millers from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

It was a big group – 18 boats, 8 canoes and 10 kayaks. I got to paddle Rick's Millbrook Outrage - definitely my next boat. Good time had by all.

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My Video
South Royalton Gage - USAME

Bearsden Conservation Area – November 19, 2017

Climbing Round Top

Yesterday I was paddling, today I was hiking, with many of the same people. Bill met me at my house at 6:30 for the drive to the Bearsden Conservation Area in Athol.  The Bearsden Conservation Area has 10 miles of trails in over 1,000 acres with great views of the Millers River and nearby hills. 

The rain was just ending as we met at the parking lot at the end of Bearsden Road.  I was glad to see Mena, Tommy and Jonathan who I had paddled with yesterday.  We took the trail up to Round Top and the Warren Vista.  From there we took the trail down to the Oxbow on the Millers River and to the Duck Pond. Good time had by all.  The shelters look like a great place for camping.

Jonathan and Joe working the map

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Bearsden Conservation Area

Reserving a cabin or shelter

Upper Millers - November 2, 2017

I played hooky yesterday and went paddling. With the storm earlier this week a bunch of local rivers came up, and I knew that I couldn’t paddle this weekend, so it was now or never.

The canoes outnumbered the kayaks on this trip (6 canoes to 3 kayaks), and my old Encore was feeling a little long-in-the-tooth with all the nice Millbrook boats (1 Blink, 1 Outrage, and 2 Shachos). 

We paddled the Upper Millers from Royalston to Athol in MA.  It’s usually an easy class III.  Yesterday the level was a little higher (estimated at 1,650, but the gage is offline), so it seemed like a solid class III to me. 

I spent most of my time dodging rocks and dumping my boat.  Not sure if it is me or the boat (probably both), but the guys in the Millbrooks were hitting the biggest waves, and bailing out their boats with sponges.

Kaz in the Blink from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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River Description from American Whitewater

It’s Miller Time - April 9, 2017

Doane's Falls

The day started with an early morning stop at McDonald’s to meet Paul for the drive up to the Upper Millers in north central MA. As we approached the put-in, we took a short diversion to check out Doane’s Falls on nearby Lawrence Brook in the Tully Lake Recreation Area.  If the water flowing down this waterfall was any indication, it was going to be a great day.

I first ran the Upper Millers with Mike and Tommy back in 2007, and it has been a favorite ever since.  The water on this section of the river is controlled by releases from the Birch Hill Dam. With the exception of a couple of railroad bridges, there is nothing to break the wilderness feeling of the river.

Above the first railroad bridge

We met up with a group from the CT AMC – 16 boats with 14 kayaks and 2 canoes. The day was sunny and warm, and the water level was perfect (4.5 feet,1.500 cfs).  In fact, the Ranger that controls the flow from the Birch Hill Dam stopped by to tell us that he had increased the flow for the day – nice!

The fun began immediately with a long wave train just below the put-in. From there, the river alternates between quickwater, rock gardens and long wave trains.  At this level, most of the rocks were buried just below the surface. I came close on a couple, but made it through. We worked our way downstream running waves, catching eddies, and generally having a good time. By the time we reached the take-out I was pretty tired, but it was great to get changed and pack up our gear in the warm sunshine for the trip home. 

Smiling on the Upper Millers

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My Pictures - Doane's Falls

My Pictures - Upper Millers

Birch Hill Gage

River Description from American Whitewater

Upper Millers - April 21, 2014

The shuttle bus

With the Easter holidays, I hadn’t done any whitewater paddling in a couple of weeks, so I decided to take Easter Monday as a vacation day to run the Upper Millers with Andy, Paul, Ken G. and John Kaz.

Andy wanted to get an early start, which worked out fine with me.  We met at the take-out on Crescent Street in Athol at 9:30 and piled all the boats on my van for the shuttle.  When we arrived at the put-in on Blossom Road in South Royalston, the river looked like it was at a perfect level – 4.5 feet, 1,500 cfs on the Birch Hill Dam Gage. 

We put in and headed down the first rapid – a long class III with lots of rock to dodge and some great wave trains.  The rapid ends at a railroad bridge with some big waves that are great for practicing jet-ferries.  John Kaz (owner of Millbrook Boats) could do more that that.  He was paddling a new Blink (9 feet long, 28 inches wide), and he could make that boat dance.

The rest of the run was just as fun.  We took our time and played in some of the easier rapids downstream.  Kaz would always seek out the biggest waves, and the Blink never took on water.  I had to dump my Encore at the end of each rapid.  He was bailing with a sponge.  I did get to paddle the Blink at the end of the run - fun boat.

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John Kaz in the Blink

My Pictures

Millborook Boats

Birch Hill Dam Gage in South Royalston
River Description from American Whitewater

Upper Millers - April 14, 2012

Andy

Andy and I headed up to paddle with Tommy (and lots of other paddlers from around New England) at yesterday's dam release on the Upper Millers. It's a class II - III run from South Royalston to Athol, MA.

The Upper Millers is a pretty section of river that (depending on the water level) alternates between quickwater, rock gardens and long wave trains. With the exception of a couple of railroad bridges, there is nothing to break the wilderness feeling of the river. The day was sunny and warm. The water level was low (800 cfs), so dodging rocks would be the order of the day.

A crowded surf-spot

We put-in around 10:30 off Blossom Road just below an old broken dam. Fellow RICKA paddler Duke Wavewaker wanted to run the dam, so he put-in a little further upstream at the park on Birch Hill Dam Road. This adds about a half mile to the run. Duke says “there is some decent warm up and waves....and the biggest, hugest, most awesomest drop...the dam foundation!!!!!”

Well, Duke is a better paddler than me, so I skipped the broken dam. He told me that the line is to the left, into a SMALL eddy, and then down the BIG drop. Maybe I’ll try it next time. Then again – maybe not.

Tommy

For me, the fun began below the broken dam with a long class III rapid just below the put-in. At higher water levels, this rapid is a long wave train with 2 to 3 foot standing waves which are a blast to run. At this level, rocks just below the surface reveal themselves providing lots of opportunities to play. We worked our way downstream catching eddies, surfing, and generally having a good time. We had only one swim to report, but that person will remain nameless. OK – it was me!

We continued riding the waves and playing in the rock gardens for another couple of miles when we decided it was time for a break. We found a spot with a beach large enough to pull all the boats on shore and decided to have our lunch. As we were eating, we watched a parade of groups from MA, CT, and NH paddle by - it seems that everybody had the same idea.

A pretty section of the Millers River

After lunch, we loaded up the boats and continued our trip downstream. After a short section of quickwater called “Lake Superior” by Paul, the fun continued with more wave trains and rock gardens. By the time we reached the take out in Athol, I was pretty tired. Unfortunately, it's a long carry up a steep hill to get back to our cars, but everyone pitched in to help.

Hopefully we will get some rain soon, or even the water behind the dams will run out.

Links:
My Video
River description from American Whitewater
Millers River Gage at Birch Hill Dam, South Royalston

A Spring Day on the Upper Millers - April 11th

It started off like many RICKA Whitewater trips with an early morning stop at the McDonald’s off Route 146 in Uxbridge. I wanted to get a sausage biscuit, but settled for milk to go with the cereal that I brought from home – a little healthier start to a busy day.

I was one of six RICKA boaters that were meeting at the McDonald’s before heading up to the Millers River in north central Massachusetts. The Millers arises in southern New Hampshire and flows southward, and then westward through Massachusetts before emptying into the Connecticut River.

There are two sections of the Millers that are popular for whitewater boating – the upper section from South Royalston to Athol (class II - III), and the lower section from Erving to Millers Falls (class II - IV). On this day, RICKA had groups running both sections. I was in the group paddling the upper section.

Mike, Jeff, Eric and I arrived at the put in on the upper section of the Millers around 10:00 to find Andy, Steve and the two Tommy’s waiting for us. After a few quick hellos, we unloaded our boats and ran the shuttle. Everyone knew that there would be plenty of time to get acquainted (or re-acquainted) on the river.

The Upper Millers is a beautiful section of river that alternates between rock gardens and long wave trains. With the exception of a couple of railroad bridges, there is nothing to break the wilderness feeling of the river. The day started off overcast and windy, but the sun came out as we moved downstream.  River was about 1,500 cfs. on the South Royalston gage.

We put in around 10:30 and the fun began immediately with a long class III rapid. I followed Mike into the rapid and bobbed through the 2 to 3 foot waves. About half way through the rapid I pulled into an eddy to get some pictures of the others coming downstream.

As I turned, I could see Andy approaching a nasty pour-over on river right. He paddled hard to avoid it, but didn’t quite make it and got sucked back into the hydraulic. He side-surfed for a while, but eventually flipped. I saw him set up for a roll, but go back over again. There wasn’t a second attempt. Within a few seconds, Andy was out of his boat and working his way to shore with the help of Tommy and Steve. He was quickly reunited with his gear and we heading back downstream.

We continued riding the waves and playing in the rock gardens for another couple of miles when we decided it was time for a break. We found a spot with a beach large enough to pull all the boats on shore and decided to have our lunch. As we were eating, a group from the RiverRunners Yahoo group pulled up to share our spot. Soon we were all talking and sharing paddling stories.

After lunch, we loaded up the boats and continued our trip downstream. Occasional sections of quickwater were interspersed with long wave trains and fun rock gardens. By the time we reached the take out in Athol, we were all pretty tired. Unfortunately, it was a long carry up a steep hill to get back to our cars. Everyone pitched in to get the gear up the hill, and then we pitched in to help the RiverRunners group that pulled in behind us.

I got home in time for dinner – tired, but excited about a great trip, and looking forward to the next.

Links:
River description from American Whitewater