Ball Mountain Brook,

Metcalf Road to Jamaica State Park (Jamaica Bob Sled Run)

Usual Difficulty	III-IV (may vary with level)
Length	3.5 Miles
Avg. Gradient	130 fpm
Max Gradient	140 fpm

River Description

This river is seldom paddled since it does not come up very often. It has a steep consistent gradient. Pikes Falls road parallels the run most of the way so you can scout and access the river along many points along the way. The usual put in is at the intersection with Metcalf road but it is possible (but difficult) to run from further upstream. The river is very small and very technical at low to medium water. Medium and above the river is called the "Jamaica Bob Sled Run" by some of the locals. Needles to say it is a very fast run at high water with few eddies and lots of turbulence created by the steep gradient. There is no definable rapids since the whole run is the rapid. During West river release weekend in late April it is occasionally runable if rain comes during that time, usually, only low to medium. The best time to catch the river running is in early April and immediately after a heavy rainstorm. The usual takeout is where the river enters the West river just below the bridge to Jamaica State park.

Directions

To Jamaica Vermont

Interstate 91 to exit 3 Brattleboro Vermont.
Take a right of Vermont route 5 (south) 2 miles.
Take a right on Vermont route 30.
Approximately 25 miles to Jamaica.