Minnewawa, New Hampshire, US

Marlborough recycling center to Otter Brook

River Description

The Minnewawa is a small river in southwestern NH. The river starts out with some class II, then approaches the old backwater swamp from an old delapidated dam. Portage the dam and run the class-V gorge below. Difficult rapids continue up to the hydro station just upstream of the bridge. The hydro station takes water from upstream through a buried pipe; there is not dam at the facility. Rapids ease somewhat below the bridge, mostly class II, but there are several more difficult sections. One of these is where the river swings behind "Wilbur's General Store," then passes under two bridges. The "Gazebo" rapid starts at the second bridge and is a somewhat turbulent technical drop. At the next bridge crossing, "Water Street," take out on river right upstream of the bridge then carry around a concrete dam. Caution, the current is rather swift up to the lip of the dam. The dam could be runnable left of center with a good "boof" move (shallow entry) over a 7' drop. About 1/4 mile downstream there is the remains of a delapidated dam. This should be boat-scoutable. After the dam the river takes a sharp right as the river piles up against a concrete wall that holds up route 101. The rest of the trip to Otter Brook contains mostly class-II rapids with diminishing intensity. Take out at the bridge just before Otter Brook or continue to a downstream left takeout just past the next Route 101 bridge.