Halls Brook,

Halls Brook Road to Hwy 25

Usual Difficulty	V (may vary with level)
Length	2.6 Miles
Avg. Gradient	220 fpm
Max Gradient	300 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
COCKERMOUTH RIVER BELOW HARDY BROOK, AT GROTON, NH
usgs-01077400	4.50 - 6.50 ft	V	01h18m	1.74 ft (rc= -1.4 )

River Description

Source for driving directions: Greg and Sue Hanlon's Steep Creeks of New England, which has more info on this run. Text used with permission.

Directions: Take I-93 through Plymouth. Take Exit 26 to Rte. 25 West. Head several miles, and stay on Rte. 25 past the Rte. 3A rotary to Halls Brook Rd. on the left. That's the takeout.
To putin: drive up Hall's Brook Rd. 2.4 miles upstream to a small snowmobile bridge. ______________________________________________________

This run begins as a trickle, but soon the fun begins.
As you progress down this tiny creek (which at times feels almost like a drainage ditch) the volume will increase. There are chutes, ledges, some small (6-8') waterfalls, and boulder gardens galore. The action is continuous, tight, and technical--New England creeking at its best. Most of it is read and run class IV, and with the exception of a few stream-spanning logs that you'll need to portage around, everything is runnable.

Don't be mistaken however, this creek presents an essentially class V experience that should not be taken lightly, especially at a high water level. The highlight of the run is a long continuous class V meatgrinder known as Federal Express. This rapid is visible from the road, and begins just after the gage abutement bridge, so scout before you put on and see if you're up to it. The line is fairly obvious, but it is steep, and there are definitely a few spots you will need to avoid. Because this rapid is formed by rock from the roadblast, it is relatively trashy and chaotic compared to the rest of the run, but it is a good indication of the continuous challenges you will face up and downstream.

All told, this creek is a gem. If you are an experienced paddler looking to enter the world of steep creeking, or a seasoned veteran of the bone zone, you will find at least a dozen beautiful drops and rapids to drool over. Because the drainage is so small, you will have to catch this creek soon after a good rainfall, but it is well worth whatever effort it takes you to get there.