Lamprey, New Hampshire, US

Upper Lamprey

Usual Difficulty	IV (for normal flows)
Length	3.9 Miles
Avg. Gradient	49 fpm
Max Gradient	86 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
LAMPREY RIVER AT LANGFORD ROAD, AT RAYMOND, NH
usgs-01073319	4.50 - 7.50 ft	IV	01h12m	2.42 ft (rc= -0.7 )

River Description

The Upper Section of the Lamprey River is a delightful class III/IV creek located in south-central New Hampshire. It's close location allows for short-notice paddling after work on weekdays. Be aware that the river rises and falls quickly with rain so one must act fast to catch it up. Additionally care is required because of strainers which can be plentyful on narrow creeks thru the woods like this.

There are six major drops on this section of the Lamprey; the majority of them class IV. In between the river varies from quickwater to class II/III. A typical run takes one and a half to two hours.

Directions

The whitewater section of the Lamprey is located in Deerfield, NH (just northwest of Raymond, and about halfway between Manchester and Rochester). It's about a 20-25 minute drive from Manchester.

From Manchester take route 101 east to exit 3. Follow route 43 north to the takeout at the southern juncture of routes 43 and 107.

From Portsmouth take Route 101 west to exit 5. Take route 102 north then route 107 west to the takeout at the juncture of routes 43 and 107.

The put-in is about three-and-one-quarter miles north on 43/107 where the road crosses over the river where Lamprey exits the dam on Freeses Pond.

A second put-in is at the first major drop; 0.6 miles south just off 43/107, where James City Road (also called Nottingham Road) crosses over the river.