Halls Brook, New Hampshire, US
|
|
Halls Brook Road to Hwy 25
| Usual Difficulty |
V (for normal flows) |
| Length |
2.6 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
220 fpm |
| Max Gradient |
300 fpm |
Gauge Information
River Description
Source for driving directions: Greg and Sue Hanlon's
Steep Creeks of New
England, which has more info on this run. Text used with permission.
Directions: Take I-93 through Plymouth. Take Exit 26 to Rte. 25 West. Head several miles, and
stay on Rte. 25 past the Rte. 3A rotary to Halls Brook Rd. on the left. That's the takeout.
To putin: drive up Hall's Brook Rd. 2.4 miles upstream to a small snowmobile bridge.
______________________________________________________
This run begins as a trickle, but soon the fun begins.
As you progress down this tiny creek (which at times feels almost like a drainage ditch) the
volume will increase. There are chutes, ledges, some small (6-8') waterfalls, and boulder gardens
galore. The action is continuous, tight, and technical--New England creeking at its best. Most of
it is read and run class IV, and with the exception of a few stream-spanning logs that you'll
need to portage around, everything is runnable.
Don't be mistaken however, this creek presents an essentially class V experience that should not
be taken lightly, especially at a high water level. The highlight of the run is a long continuous
class V meatgrinder known as Federal Express. This rapid is visible from the road, and begins
just after the gage abutement bridge, so scout before you put on and see if you're up to it. The
line is fairly obvious, but it is steep, and there are definitely a few spots you will need to
avoid. Because this rapid is formed by rock from the roadblast, it is relatively trashy and
chaotic compared to the rest of the run, but it is a good indication of the continuous challenges
you will face up and downstream.
All told, this creek is a gem. If you are an experienced paddler looking to enter the world of
steep creeking, or a seasoned veteran of the bone zone, you will find at least a dozen beautiful
drops and rapids to drool over. Because the drainage is so small, you will have to catch this
creek soon after a good rainfall, but it is well worth whatever effort it takes you to get there.
StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2008-09-30 21:21:57
No photos found. 
Rivers of the Middle Pemigewasset region
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User Comments
damage throughout the region, the worst in over 100 years. More than half the rivers in Vermont and
northern New Hampshire recorded their highest flow levels ever. Many roads, guardrails, power
lines, bridges, trees and other debris now litter several rivers throughout the region. River beds
have been scoured and changed course, many new strainers make navigation problematic at best and
downright dangerous at worse. Please realize that the river description you see here may not match
current situation after the floods. Use common sense and when in doubt scout especially on blind
drops. Also, if you run this river in the next year or so please comment on its navigability, even
if there are no problems this will be very helpful. Please report any new strainers or changes to
the rapids that will impact future boating. Thank you,