Deerfield, Massachusetts, US

3) Monroe Bridge to Bear Swamp (The Dryway)

Surfer at Dragons Tooth

Surfer at Dragons Tooth
Photo by Shawn Sullivan @ 1100+cfs

River Description

The Monroe Bridge Section of the Deerfield (also known as "The Dryway") is a popular class III-IV river that can draw a rather sizable crowd on release days. The river generally starts out easy then gets progressively harder as one paddles downstream.

If you are up for the challenge the Dryway is a premier destination for most northeastern paddlers. If you are not up for class III and IV water try a raft trip from one of many outfitters in the Charlemont area. Or, for an easier trip try the Fife Brook section of the Deerfield just a few miles downstream.

The water in this three mile section of the Deerfield is usually bypassed by a diversion canal from Dam #5 all the way down to the reservoir behind Fife Brook dam (which is where the nickname "Dryway" comes from).

In addition to boating, may raft companies offer guided trips down The Dryway (and its companion easier Fife Brook/Zoar Gap section downstream). These include Zoar Outdoor, Crabapple Whitewater, and Moxie Outdoors.

Release History

First scheduled releases began in 1991 with approximately ten per year.

On October 5, 1994, whitewater boaters, fishermen, conservationists, government agencies, and the New England Power Company took a giant step together to protect one of New England's most important watersheds.

NEPCO (Now TransCanada Hydro), a major regional utility based in Westborough, Massachusetts, together with twelve environmental and recreation organizations and government agencies joined in an agreement that commits the company to enhance recreation, fisheries, and conservation along the Deerfield River in western Massachusetts and southern Vermont. The agreement is for 40 years and will guarantee 32 release days on the Dryway each Summer.

This was an enormous achievement by paddlers and organizers. It involved dozens of meetings, thousands of letters, and large turnouts of paddlers at last minute weekday evening hearings in southern Vermont and Western Mass. This was all done at a time when the internet was not established.

Read the article, from 1994, on the historic agreement which opened the Deerfield to regular whitewater paddling!

For an excellent description of the Dryway by Bruce Lessels go to Zoar Deerfield River Guide. For a description of the different dams and how the releases work go to this writeup by Bruce on the Zoar site.

Dryway River Maps
Dryway
Upper Dryway
Lower Dryway
Factory & Split Rock Rapids
Dragon's Tooth & Labyrinth

 

Special Events

May ?: Deerfield River Clean-up Week (part of the National River Clean-up Week)
June 2-3: Trout Unlimited ?One Fly? Fishing Tournament, minimum flow at Fife Brook
June 10 (Sunday) Zoar Gap White Water Plunge
June 23 (Saturday): Charlemont Lions Club Canoe Race, Fife Brook
July 27, 28, 29: Deerfield Riverfest sponsored by American Whitewater

 

American Whitewater Deerfield River Festival

Click here for information on the upcoming River Festival July 28 and 29th.

 

Campgrounds/Rafting/Paddling Shops & Misc.

Zoar Outdoors: Rafting, paddling shop, whitewater school, camping. Phone: 800-532-7483
Country Aire Campground: Charlemont, MA 01339 Ph: (413) 625-2996
Mohawk Park: P.O. Box 668 Charlemont, MA 01339 Ph: (413) 339-4470
Mohawk Trail State Forest : Rte. 2, Charlemont 413 339-5504
Savoy State Park (413-663-8469)
DAR State Park (413-268-7098)

 

Lodging

Charlemont Inn (413-339-5796)
Oxbow Resort (413-625-6011)
Giovanni's Red Rose (413-625-2666)
Whitcomb Summit Motel (413-662-2625)