Pemigewasset, New Hampshire, US

4) Woodstock–Campton

Usual Difficulty	I (for normal flows)
Length	11.25 Miles
Avg. Gradient	7 fpm
Max Gradient	16 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
PEMIGEWASSET RIVER AT WOODSTOCK, NH
usgs-01075000	250 - 20000 cfs	I	21d20h35m	219 cfs (rc= -0.0 )

River Description

This is a nice easy run suitable for first time river runners, family, or just an easy day floating on a river. The put in is just below a class II+ ledge at the route 175 bridge. The river below is mostly quickwater with an occasional class I rip. There are a few sections that could prove to be more difficult when the river flow heads directly into a bank and takes a sharp turn amoungst boulders. Also be carefull of newly fallen trees in the channel about 1/2 mile below the Thornton town bridge at "Robin's Nest".
The river itself is shallow and flows over a gravel bed with wide gravel and sand beaches in the summer. Interstate 93, route 3, and 175 cross over the river several times. Most of the river is very close to one of these roads but mostly out of site. You will see an occasional house or condo, two campgrounds, and a golf course along the way. At mile 9.5 there is a nice swimming hole with a rope swing in a deep pool at a sharp river bend. After this bend the river splits around an island either channel is runnable but the right one is more interesting.
Access can also be acquired at the halfway point in the town of Thornton. Look for "Robin's Nest Road" on state Route 3 just north of the Thornton town hall. Putting in at this point the river is more sluggish than above.

Technical info

Put in elevation........605'
Take out elevation......535'
Total drop..............70'
Average drop/mile.......7'
Distance................11.25 miles
River width average.....70'
River geology...........gravel river bed and banks, some ledge 
River water quality.....Good, clarity good.
Scenery.................Good, but highway can occasionaly be heard but are
                        usually just out of sight.  Golf course 
Wildlife................Deer, Moose, Bank swallows, merganzers. 

Campgrounds

The following is a list of campgrounds more suited for tents and small campers, there are a variety of private campgrounds that cater especially to RV's, they are not listed here but can be found in any national campground directory.

Hancock: National Forest campground on the East Branch of the Pemi in Lincoln open year round, 4 miles east of Lincoln exit 32 off of I93 on route 112 (Kancamaugus highway).

Russell Pond: National Forest campground open May to Columbus day, located on a high elevation lake in Woodstock, take exit 31 off of I93, head east on Tripoli road toward Waterville Valley, take a left at the sign for Russell Pond campground, 2 miles to the top of the hill.

Tripoli road: Primitive roadside camping with no facilities, open May to Columbus day, take exit 31 off of I93, head east on Tripoli road toward Waterville Valley, just after the left for Russell pond campground there is a forest service trailer, stop here and pay for your camping permit.

Osceola campground: National forest campground located in Waterville Valley, open May to Columbus day, great views of surronding mountains, take exit 31 off of I93, head east on Tripoli road (dirt) 8 miles toward Waterville Valley, look for the campground sign on your left, this one is rather far from the rivers.

Campton campground: National forest campground located in Campton/Thornton, open May to Columbus day, take exit 28 off of I93, head east on NH 49 toward Waterville Valley, 3 miles to sign, group camping on the right individual sites located on the left.

Branch Brook: Private campground located on the Pemigewasset river in Campton, open May to Columbus day, take exit 28 off of I93, head east on NH 49, 3/4 of a mile to the campground on the right.