Connecticut,

Sumner Falls (Hartland Rapids)

Usual Difficulty	I (may vary with level)
Length	0.25 Miles

Hartland boogie

Hartland boogie
Photo of Dave Coyne by Michael Baseler taken 1189828800 @ 4000 cfs

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
CONNECTICUT RIVER AT WEST LEBANON, NH
usgs-01144500	700 - 60000 cfs	I	00h33m	12700 cfs (rc= 0.2 )

River Description

Sometimes called "Hartland Rapids."

From the Northeast Paddlers' Message Board: Sumner Falls/Hartland Rapids is a series of ledges sprawled out across a wide section of the Connecticut River. Putin is at the beginning of the clearly marked portage trail. The simplest route down the rapids is to stay river left the entire time. In higher water you can drop down several of the small falls/chutes on river right. The wave is the first significant drop on river left, situated next to a large swirling eddy.

Directions:
Take Interstate 91 North into Vermont to the Hartland exit (exit 9). Go left at the end of the exit ramp and go through the center of Hartland on Route 5 North. Continue on 5 North until you cross back over route 91. You will then immediately cross over a railroad bridge. After crossing the railroad take the second right (about 200 yards after the railroad bridge) onto a small dirt road and follow it to the end.

Check out the description in New England Nuggets from the AW Journal archives.

StreamTeam Status: Not Verified

Last Updated: 2009-06-01 21:18:43

Editors

Stream Team Editor

Silas Jai

Hartland, VT

Hitting Ends at Hartland Falls, VT

Detail Trip Report Edit Hitting Ends at Hartland Falls, VT Connecticut River, VT(3.15MB .mov)

Hartland boogie

Detail Trip Report Edit Hartland boogie Connecticut River, VT(463.69KB .jpeg)

High water at hartland

Detail Trip Report Edit High water at hartland Connecticut River, VT(2.18MB .jpeg)

Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

From the Northeast Paddlers' Message Board: The flow is regulated by Wilder Dam 7 miles upstream. For advanced release info, call 1-888-FLO-FONE (1-888-356-3663). Select #5. Favorite playboat levels are from 3000 - 5000 (between two and three tubes on the phone), but there is good class I - III terrain for all paddlers to work out with at most levels above 700. From the time they release at the dam, it takes about 3-4 hours to get to the playspot. The greater the level change, the longer it takes.
For current and the next days release information from Wilder dam go to the Waterline FlowCaste website. You can also call 1-800-452-1737 and at the prompt key in 505121 for the same web based information over the phone.

The basic features are:
The Sign Wave
Almost directly under the large danger sign on the NH side at the top of the rapid
A dynamic wave with good eddy service
Appears at levels above 11K.

The center wave
Located in the main channel between the tail of the island and the NH shore
The main summer playspot for spins, bow surfing and playboating with good eddy service
Appears at levels between 700 and 5000.

The Ledge
Formed by the ledge extending from the tail of the island to the NH side
Forms a tricky surf difficult to attain, but gives thrilling rides
Appears above 2000, eddy service washes out above 3500

There are many other on the catch on the fly waves at levels above 2000 and the area is an execellant place for a beginning boater to practice moving in and out of conflicting currents at all levels except spring extremes. There are special features during spring levels (as high as 55K) but care should be taken before ice-out as the falls are runnable, but the bay can be iced in

Gauge Information

Name

Range

Difficulty

Updated

Level

CONNECTICUT RIVER AT WEST LEBANON, NH

usgs-01144500

700 - 60000 cfs

00h33m

12700 cfs (rc= 0.2 )

Range	Water Level	Difficulty	Comment
700 -60000 cfs	barely runnable-high runnable	I

Report - Reports of Connecticut Sumner Falls and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When	River/Gauge	Subject	Level	Reporter
	Connecticut River [VT]	Hitting Ends at Hartland Falls, VT	~5000cfs	Richard Cooley
1y223d13h03m	Connecticut River [VT]	High water at hartland	55,000 cfs	Michael Baseler
2y69d13h03m	Connecticut River [VT]	Hartland boogie	4000 cfs	Michael Baseler