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Winnipesaukee - 2. Cross Mill bridge road to Franklin
Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, US |
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2. Cross Mill bridge road to Franklin
| Usual Difficulty | III+ (varies with level) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.25 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 80 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 90 fpm |
Zippy's Final Plunge
Zippy's Final Plunge
Photo of Rod Dore by Mark Lacroix taken 10/09/01 @ 430 cfs
Gauge Information
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINNIPESAUKEE RIVER AT TILTON, NH | ||||
| usgs-01081000 | 400 - 2800 cfs | II-III | 03h13m | 272 cfs (too low) |
River Description
New Years Day 2008 on the Winni
New Years Day 2008 brought with it a significant snowstorm keeping the numbers down on the
river. However, at least 45 paddlers braved the lower and close to that many ran the easier
upper section. Once again we appreciate the support of the communities of Tilton and
Franklin for this years event. Below are some pictures from previous New Years Day events.
This year the we will continue to press for the Winnipesaukee Recreational plan. The New Hampshire
Department of Environmental Services is in the process of creating a Lake / River management plan
that will affect flows on the river.
Winnipesaukee Recreational Plan: Info at: Winni Proposal
We need backing on this from the paddling community. We are looking for summertime releases on
this river and this event will help publicize our request.
The Winnipesaukee river was a heavily used industrial river in the early 20th century. The upper
Merrimack Valley was considered the bread basket of New Hampshire about a century ago. Wheat and
other grains grown in the Franklin region was transported to several grist mills that were built
on the banks of the Winnipesaukee river. Dams were built to harness the mechanical power for
turning grinding wheels that turned the grain into flour. There are still several grinding stones
that can be seen along the river bank. They are about 4' in diameter with a hole in the middle
and what looks like spokes ground in the granite stone. Those mills are now mostly gone with
trees replacing the scenery. The dams were eventually knocked out one by one by the force of
nature. There are no fewer than 7 dam sites along this short stretch of river. In the early 90's
local boating clubs organized several cleanup days during low water in August. Log cribbing,
rebar, and other trash were removed to make for a safer run.
This river continues to draw more boaters every year. It is also the location for the traditional
New Years Day run organized by the Merrimack Valley Paddlers. An event that always gets alot of
local press.
Technical info
Put in elevation........390'
Take out elevation......290'
Total drop..............100'
Average drop/mile.......80'
Distance................1.25 miles
River width average.....60'
River geology...........Small to medium schist and granite boulders, many of
which are unatural blocks cut for buildings and dams.
River water quality.....Good in spring fair latter in Summer, clarity fair to good.
Scenery.................Fair, remains of early 20th century industrial age
being reclaimed by forest, up to seven old dam sites
with some log cribbing and some rebarr, two delapated
factories.
Wildlife................Deer, Weasels, Merganzers, Blue herons.
Trestle View Park update 12/20/07
After many years of planning, fundraising and meetings the town of Franklin New Hampshire has
finally completed the new riverside park at the Lower Winnipesaukee River takeout. The park
located on 2 acres of land at the takeout of the lower Winnipesaukee River features a river level
take out ramp, grass, trees, and a 11-1/2 ton 15 foot diameter industrial flywheel that was used
in a mill just a quarter mile downstream from the park. This flywheel is the centerpiece of the
park and will probably become the most recognized landmark in Franklin in the near future. A
bathroom/changing room is now complete.
The park is a culmination of wide ranging efforts from the town of Franklin, The Friends of the
Winnipesaukee, the Grevoir family, American Whitewater and the Merrimack Valley Paddlers. It was
built on land donated by the Grevoir family who are the owners of Grevoir Furniture, which abuts
the park. Fundraising efforts for the park continue, they are having a fundraiser to help pay for
the town's portion of the new park. The fundraising plan calls for selling bricks that will be
used for the walkways around and through the park. Blank bricks will sell for $10, engraved
bricks with up to 42 characters of your choice will sell for $50 each. Go here for the form
to make a donation for the commemorative park.
For an overall river map click here:
Winnipesaukee map
Editors
Rapid Summary
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Map of the Lower Pemi region |    | |
| 0.0 | Winnipesaukee map |  | |
| 0.2 | 2nd Dam | II |  |
| 0.3 | Snowmobile | III | |
| 0.6 | Iron Ring | II+ | |
| 0.6 | Coliseum (aka Three Chimneys, Z-turn, Arches) | III+ |  |
| 0.7 | Railroad | III+ | |
| 0.8 | Sulphite | III | |
| 1.1 | Zippy's Final Plunge (Zippy's) | IV | |
Rapid Descriptions
Rivers of the lower Pemigewasset region
Rivers of the lower Pemigewasset region
Similar layout to first dam but better surfing. Eddy left above the drop and catch the two nice waves on the way down. The tailrace has other surfing possibilities along with a good squirt line. Watch out for left over rebar on river right at low water.
Bottom of Snowmobile rapid
Bottom of Snowmobile rapidEasy rapids ending at a large pyramid shaped rock with an iron ring at the top. When you view this rock take out downstream on river left to scout Colloseum.
Passing by the "Room of Doom"
Passing by the "Room of Doom"The most dangerous rapid on the river. About a third of the river volume channels to river right into the basment of a delapataded mill building (The Room of Doom) it then passes through the old discharge arches that are usually clogged with debris such as trees. "The Room of Doom" is full of rebar and log cribbing, it also contains 4 vertical penstocks 5' in diameter one of which still sucks water through creating a visible wirlpool at low water levels. The discharge for the tube is probably under the rock pile in the middle of the river. The usual run starts from river right then cuts across toward river left. After a boulder strewn drop the river heads directly into a stone wall then takes a hard right. The whole run is very short but tricky. There is an eddy just above the Coliseum on river right with a high penalty surfing wave. There is also an eddy river left just before the rock wall (some rebar here at low water). Follow the Z pattern through this rapid. If you try and cut off the corner and run the center channel you will end up in a dangerous boulder sieve. Below 1000 cfs Coliseum is less pushy therefore only class III. Scout this drop.
Also see the Coliseum map
Lower Railroad rapid
Lower Railroad rapidAt high water (>1500cfs)Coliseum and Railroad merge into one rapid and should be considered IV or even IV+. Just upstream from the railroad bridge there are several large holes to punch or manuever around. The esiest route is to start on river left then move into an eddy just above the railroad bridge. If you run this route you are commited to running the right channel seperated by the bridge abutement. There is a 3' vertical drop into a hole directly under the bridge. If you want to avoid this drop, skip the eddy on your way down and run left of the abutement. This route is difficult to maintain because the currernt tries to push to the right.
Immediately below the Sulphite railroad bridge the river cuts through a break in another old dam, this time on the right. At higher water (>900 cfs)there is an interesting chute with a flat rock ski jump on the left of what remains of this old log crib dam, but be careful since debris often lodges in this narrow passage. On river right just below the break in the dam there is a nice eddy on river right with a good surf wave at higher water levels. Below this eddy Sulphite rapid starts. River left is generally shallow and impassable at medium to low water. A hole at the top of the drop can be skirted to the left. The current then forces paddlers to river right through heavy turbulance, small holes and overhanging tree branches (watch your paddle). There are a couple micro eddies on the right that allow access to some nice surfing waves within the wavetrain. The rapid then opens up to a wide section of river that has only a couple large holes to avoid just right of river center. Sulphite ends at an eddy on river left just below a almost river wide hole that offers some rough play. At high water there may not be any noticable break between Sulphite and Zippy's.
There is a medium sized eddy on river left just above Zippy's and below Sulphite. There is also a good (but sometimes rough) play hole at this spot. Downstream the river makes a gradual right hand turn and gets more difficult as you run through. Run river center and catch the eddies behind the rocks which are located about every 50 yards apart just left of center. This will allow you to control your speed and do a bit of boat scouting from the eddy. After the last boulder you will see a horizon line at river center, peal out and head directly down the center channel but be prepared to manuever left or right to thread yourself through the easiest part of the hole below the drop. Downstream from this point the river passes under another railroad bridge with abutements at an angle to the current. This angle results in a sudden shift in current direction that you must be aware of. There are three abutements with five channels. The two channels on either bank are usually clogged with debris so they must be avoided. The second channel from the left bank is usually the easiest. With higher water the middle channel is passible and with higher water still all three channels are passible. Takeout river left just below the drop. Make sure you scout this rapid from the takeout before you run. Debris sometimes lodges on the abutements and may cut off a channel. Also if you are paddling during the winter months, ice shelves can form on the abutements and in the calm water below the drop sometimes all the way across the river. If you are paddling in high water (>1800cfs), this section should be considered class IV-IV+. At levels above 2400 cfs the current can rise up above the abutements and sieve through the wooden bidge supports also the current leads right up to a verticle unrunable dam. Many boats and paddles have been lost over this dam but luckily no people. In low to medium water avoid running near either bank. There are many pinning rocks on river left and a possibillity of strainers on river right.
Also see the Zippy's map
Do more than just check gauges; join over 5,000 AW members today.
Or, consider donating
Associated News
Winnipesaukee River Work Day
October 26, 2006
2. Cross Mill bridge road to Franklin, Winnipesaukee New Hampshire, US (mobile)
User Comments
block at the base of the center bridge abutment has become dislodged. This creates a huge gap
between the granite blocks. The gap faces upstream and could trap a boater. If running the right
chute at this bridge, avoid coming close to the bridge abutment. Scouting is advised, this hazard
has the potential to cause a fatality. See picture.
similar, 1600 or so. Some of the tree that was sticking out to the left of the pylon seems to have
broken-- the far right channel is still obstructed, but getting past it on the left is pretty easy.
I didn't try sneaking on the right but it looks like that would be much harder then the left line
now
the railroad rapid below Colesium. It is a tree that extends on both sides and presents a hazard if
you are not far left or far right hugging the bank. The tree does extend into the hole a few feet
river right that may not be visible at certain levels. I ran it on Sunday at 1700cfs and was able
to sneak to the right without much trouble but class IV skills are neccessary at this level.
river. Easily avoided if you are far left trying to catch the eddy before the wall but could be bad
news for anyone swinging too wide around the first corner or trying to ferry back to river left
from the eddy above colliseum. The center right route looks clear. Get the word out before the New
Year's Winni run please.
right, between Sulphite and Zippy's. For the exact location, find the large eddy on river left that
most people pop into before running Zippy's. The strainer is on the opposite side of the river,
about 100 or 200 yards upstream. This strainer can be easily avoided, as most people run this
section river left, and the current generally takes you to the left side in that area. It can be
scouted from the trail along the river.
Zippy's.) The strainer is about half-way thru the rapid; extending from the left bank into the
center of the river. What makes this one a bit more problematic is that the right-side of the river
has a large hole in it, leaving only a narrow channel directly in center of the river, and another
narrow channel far right. Because Sulphite starts with a sharp right turn, the water and channel
tends to throw a boater to the left side of the river directly into the path of the strainer.
Fortunately, everyone on yesterday's trip was sharp enough to quickly work their way right and
avoid the strainer. We've had a few swims on that rapid during prior trips this year and last. Had
the strainer been there then we could have easily had fatalities. Also, the strainer near the
bottom of Zippy's on the far right is still in evidence.
run -- which is now almost entirely complete! The park was built/designed largely to accomodate
whitewater boaters, and the town has done a very nice job of creating a very welcoming spot for us.
run. In the meantime, beware the copious amounts of dog poo in the lot at the take-out. It's
everywhere!