Pemigewasset,

Ayers Island dam (Bristol) to Coolidge (Bristol Gorge)

Usual Difficulty	II(III) (may vary with level)
Length	1.6 Miles
Avg. Gradient	25 fpm
Max Gradient	35 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
PEMIGEWASSET RIVER AT PLYMOUTH, NH
usgs-01076500	1300 - 6000 cfs	II(III)	01h00m	cfs

River Description

River description.
There is a small parking area at the put-in near Ayers Island dam. There is a porta poty located here along with trash cans. Additional parking can be found at the top of the dam where a hiking trail leads down to the put-in parking lot.
The river is about 1-1/2 miles long with three distinct play spots. The first big drop is about 1/4 mile downstream with a medium size sidesurfing hole (Rodeo Hole)it is not for novices to play in. Run right at this point. Downstream 100 yards there is a good surfing wave depending on level. The river from this point to the take out is mostly small rapids with a few oppertunities for surfing a sidesurfing. The last rapid is a series of reactionary waves and holes caused by protruding ledges on a long sweeping right turn. The last ledge at the take out is probably one of the best summer time play spots in NH with a great sunning and spectating rock to go with it. Depending on level it is either a sidesurfing hole, surfing wave, and or ender spot.
You can takeout at the Pemi Park & Play or just slightly downstream at a ledge. This take-out is easier for canoes and rafts. It also leads up to a small parking area on Coolidge Woods road which has new porta poties maintained by Public Service company of NH.

Technical info

Put in elevation........370'
Take out elevation......331'
Total drop..............39'
Average drop/mile.......25'
Distance................1.6 miles
River width average.....120'
River geology...........small boulders and granite ledge
River water quality.....fair to good, clarity fair, sewage treatment dumps in
                        below rodeo wave.
Scenery.................Good forest scenery.  Not many signs of civilization
                        except for dam and bridge.
Wildlife................Occasional deer, hawks, osprey, fishermen.  Good trout 
                        fishing.

Break-ins

Unfortunately, there have been lots of reports of vehicle break-ins recently. The latest occurred on August 17th, 2003 at the ?Old man?s take-out? which is just downstream from the Pemi Park & Play spot. A window was broken to gain access and items where stolen. Break-ins have also been reported within the last year at the put in. Avoid falling victim to these thieves by taking all valuables out of the vehicle or at least stash them out of sight in a trunk or under the seat. At the put in it would be best to drop the boats off at the parking area at the base of the dam then driving them back up and parking near the baseball field where it will be more visible to the public. Take the dam portage trail, just slightly downstream of Ayers Island Dam, back down to the lower boat access. And finally, report all break-ins and vadalism to the Bristol police dept. (put in), or New Hampton police department (take-out).



Mapquest Directions

From Concord, NH

Directions from southern NH.

Interstate 93 north to exit 23.
Left on state rt. 104 (west) towards Bristol.
Approximately 4.5 miles, look for a baseball field on the left.
There will be a yellow playground sign just before you get there.
Take a left here and go around the ball field towards the recycling
center.
Drive past the entrance to the town garage, sewage treatment
facility, and recycling center. The road at this point turns to a
rough dirt road descending steeply to the small parking area at the
base of the dam. Note new handicap accessible outhouse.

Directions to the take out:
As of the spring of 2008 the metal truss bridge that used to cross the river from Bristol to New Hampton was being replaced. A new bridge will not be in place until very late this year or early in 2009. Therefore it is necessary to detour 8 miles to the takeout at Coolidge Woods Road.

From the put in head back towards interstate 93.

Take a right on NH 132 just after the bridge over the Pemi and across from the New Hampton Fire department.

Follow to downtown New Hampton then take a right on Old Bristol rd.

Follow old Bristol Road... At the intersection of Carter Mountain Road, Bear right to stay on Old Bristol Road.

At the intersection with Blake Hill Road, take another right to stay on Old Bristol Road.

You will pass the dam on your right, then a short way down you will pass Bruning Farm (site of the yearly MVP Pigroast).

Proceed to the end off the road on the other side of the bridge construction then take a left on Coolidge Woods Road (dirt).

Approximately 1/3 mile to take out. Look for vehicles parked at the
play spot. Or take out a little further down stream where the river
flattens out.

New put in access

In the summer of 2006 a new river access path was put in by PSNH. It is accessed from the same parking area. The path leads a short distance downstream from the old put in. The path is made up of crushed stone and has an even grade all the way to river level. This is a great improvement over the continually shifting rock jumble we used to put in at.

Osprey cam

In 2003 Public Service Company of New Hampshire installed an artificial osprey nest at their Ayers Island hydro facility. Since that time a nesting pair of Ospreys have taken up residents to raise their chicks for the last few years. This Nest is visable from the putin. Look to the river left side of the dam to view the telephone pole platform with a large nest on top. In the summer of 2006 PSNH installed a webcam so we can view the nest at anytime.

20th Annual (and final) MVP Pigroast

August 16th 2008

All, the roast is a show-up thing. The money ( $20/pp or $25/pp ( maybe $30?????) I don't recall) is collected at the gate. If you plan on camping overnight ( given the free beer, I suggest you have a designated driver or camp out) is included. Get there earlier for a better tent /camper site.

Last year we had a "bring a side to share" and it worked really well, Make a side dish you enjoy, and make it really , really big. The gate donation gets you pig, corn & beer. No glass allowed ( its an active farm before & after the roast) .BYO beer mug(s), camping plates, knifes, forks etc.

Don't forget this saturday (august 2) is the work weekend to prep the field. The more who show, the quicker we get it over with. Don't forget, there is no direct access from Bristol anymore, the brdige is being built. I'll let someone else describe the back way in. Also, please respond to the t-shirt poll so we have an idea how many shirts to get printed. In past years we've had way too many and eventually donated them to charity.

The roast is a good time to try and unload all that extra Paddling "stuff" you no longer use. A couple of vendor tables are usually present, but feel free to bring an old boat, paddle, etc to try and sell. Feel free, as well, to donate a portion of your procedes to the MVP conservation fund. ( hint hint).

Given the amount of rain we have had lately I suspect we will have plenty of water for the river festivities, Whatever gear the club has that isn't rented out that weekend should be available to run down the river, ie: rafts, shredder, duckies etc. If the water conditions change, several of us had discussed bringing our touring boats to hit Newfound lake. I'm not sure if that's still in the works but it is also an option.

Directions to Bruning Farm.

Site of the 20th annual and final MVP pigroast August 16th 2008

From I-93, head towards Bristol, west on route 104. BEFORE crossing the river, take a left turn onto Route 132. Follow it into downtown New Hampton and take a hard RIGHT onto Old Bristol Road.

Follow Old Bristol Road... At the instersection of Carter Mountain Road, bear right to stay on Old Bristol Road. At the intersection with Blake Hill Road, take a right to stay on Old Bristol Road. You will pass the dam on your right, and then a short way further down the road, you will see the farm on your right. Coolidge Woods Road (the takeout) is just a bit further down the road on your left).