Week 3: Hanover, NH/White River Junction, VT to Brattleboro, VT

This section begins at the great confluence of the White and Connecticut Rivers, an important trade junction for Native Americans, and later for the railroads that were built along both river valleys. We’ll paddle underneath the Cornish-Windsor Bridge, the largest covered bridge in the United States.

We’ll be paddling the Vermont-New Hampshire divide the length of this section, passing through a mix of forest and rolling fields. Finally, we paddle through southern Vermont and New Hampshire, encountering floodplain silver maple forests and wetland meadows along with rich agricultural fields. We paddle past the historic Fort at Number 4 in Charlestown, NH, originally constructed in 1745 as the northernmost English settlement in the region. As we continue down river, we’ll pass ancient Native fishing sites at Bellows Falls and early industrial era development in Brattleboro. The river is again gentle and easy to navigate in this section.

SEGMENT #4 (JUNE 19 – JUNE 21): White River Junction, VT to Springfield, VT

  • Put-in location = Lyman Point Park
  • Pull-out location = Hoyt’s Landing
  • Mileage = 32 miles in 3 days
  • Longest day = 12 miles with 1 portage
  • Portages = 1
  • Difficulty = flat to quick water
  • Camping = 2 nights (river-access only)
  • Indoor accommodations = 0 nights
  • Participation limit = 10 adults ≥ age 18
  • Event(s) during this section = celebration at RM#205 (the 1/2-way point of the Connecticut River)

SEGMENT #5 (JUNE 22 – JUNE 24): Springfield, VT to Brattleboro, VT

  • Put-in location = Hoyt’s Landing
  • Pull-out location = Retreat Meadows
  • Mileage = 34 miles in 3 days
  • Longest day = 15 miles with 0 portages
  • Portages = 0
  • Difficulty = quick water to Class I
  • Camping = 1 night (river-access only)
  • Indoor accommodations = 1 night
  • Participation limit = 10 adults ≥ age 18
  • Event(s) during this section = possible visit to The Fort at No. 4 in Springfield on either 6/20 or 6/21

JUNE 24 & 25: Land-based event(s) near Brattleboro, VT – visit our Events page for more details

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