Androscoggin, New Hampshire, US

1. Errol Rapids

Lunch at Errol Rapids

Lunch at Errol Rapids
Photo by Mark Lacroix taken 05/27/02

Gauge Information

River Description

This section is generally used as a training river for novice paddlers. It is very short therefore most people choose to shoulder shuttle their boats running this section over and over. Saco Bound Northern Waters has a whitewater school and campground located right at the river. Put in just north of the campground in a large pool by the USGS gage. A center run through the river affords big water waves, river right provides a more technical run through and around boulders and holes. Look for a nice surfing wave adjacent to "Pancake Rock" about 40 yards upstream of the Route 26 bridge. Take out on river right at the large pool "Braggs Bay" below the rapids.

Check out the Androscoggin River Watershed Council for more information on this river.

Erroll NH...Gateway town

Errol, NH, located in northern NH close to the Maine border, offers a wide range of boating opportunities all summer long. This area offers some of the most remote regions in the eastern US. Wildlife is plentiful and may include moose, bear, loons, bald eagles etc. In addition, Lake Umbagog, located just north of Errol, is a federally protected National Wildlife Refuge .
The Errol rapid located on the east side of Errol is a short class-II section good for training and novices. Saco Bound (Northern Waters) has set up a small outfit here on the western shore with a campground, paddling school, and small boating shop. Water is controlled by a hydro dam just upstream from the campground and runs through this section every summer day. This section is onlabout 1/3 of a mile long and boaters usually carry back upstream and run it several times a day.
The Pontook section of the Androscoggin is about 15 miles south of Errol on Route 16. This section offers a longer and more interesting class II run. Pontook dam releases most weekends.
Starting in late June and ending in late August, the Magalloway and Rapid rivers offer more challenging boating.
The Magalloway, located 20 miles north of Errol in Wilson Mills Maine, offers class III and V boating on the upper stretch. Releases are on weekends starting in late June through the second week in July. The Rapid then has four release weekends until the middle of August then once again the Magalloway finishes up the month of August with weekend releases.
The Rapid River offers class IV boating in a remote setting. The Rapid can only be reached via a maze of logging roads just outside of Upton Maine about 10 miles east of Errol.

Campgrounds / Lodging /Rafting
Errol Motel, Main St, Errol, NH 03579, (603-482-3256)
Northern Waters (Saco Bound), Kayaking school, camping, excursions, paddling shop. Phone: 603.447.2177
Magalloway River Inn, Route 16, Errol, NH 03579, (603-482-9883)
Aziscohos Valley Camping Area, Route 16 Wilson Mills Maine (207-486-3271)
Mollidgewock State Park Campground , Route 16 Errol, NH Phone: 603-482-3373 Reservations: 603-271-3628
Lakewood Camps: 207.243.2959
Log Haven Campground: 603.482.3294
Umbagog Outfitters P.O. Box 268 Errol, NH 03579 phone: 603-356-3292

Food
The Northern Exposure: Main St Errol, NH, 03579, (603) 482-3852
Errol Cream Barrel & Chuck Wagon 482-3258 Main Street, Errol NH 03579