South Royalston to Athol (Upper Millers)Class II-III
7 Miles
Avg Gradient 32 fpm
Max Gradient 60 fpm
Broken Dam Side View
Broken Dam Side View Photo of Broken Dam Above the Put-In by Bob Dunn taken 10/16/2005 @ 1,600 cfs Gauge Information
Millers
South Royalston to Athol II-III
River DescriptionThanks to Will Kranz for the following description.The river is rated 2-3. My personal description is that it is a moderate sized river with strong current and significant standing waves. There are no places on this run that require technical maneuvering or precise boat control. If you can ferry back and forth across a river with 2-3 foot sanding waves in some locations you should be fine. The biggest risk is that the road is NOT close to the river for most of the run. Once you start you must go the distance (aprox 7 miles). Thanks to Julie Smith for the following description. The restaurant people frown upon paddlers occupying their lot (at the put in). Some people put in just above the unused bridge to enjoy the wave train to the gauge, where the usual put in is. The beginning is the most difficult part of the run. There are several busy class 3 drops. The standing waves under the first railroad bridge are big and hearty at release levels. This is a great place to spend some time practicing surfing, ferrying and peeling out. The stretch of flatwater below the busy drops has its usual windy character. Just before the second railroad bridge, there is a restaurant sometimes visited by paddlers for lunch. Just below the second railroad bridge there are two consecutive big wave drops next to the railroad on river left. Following that is easier stuff and one more technical drop. After that it is easy class 2 stuff to the takeout. The carry to the cars is a walk up and down hills through a sandpit and the woods. There is another restaurant located at the takeout. Be carefull when parking in this area also. By the way, there is an outhouse behind the general store across the street from the river available to use. DirectionsPut inThe put in is located in South Royalston, MAFrom route 2, take the route 202 North exit. It is the last exit before the divided highway ends. Stay on route 202 North until you reach route 68. There will be a sign on the left that says BIRCH HILL DAM 4 MILES. Go that way. Once you cross the river, go left with the road and immediately park on the left between an unused bridge and a restaurant. People from western NH can take 202 from the north side. At the putin there also appears to be a parking area on river left above the Rt 68 bridge which could be used if you wanted to run the broken dam which is just upstream of the putin below the restaraunt. Take outTake Chestnut Hill rd all the way north to 68, then back south on 68. Chestnut hill meets 68 at an acute angle in a little village with a typical new england church and common area. The alternate approach which might be worth mentioning is to go South from putin on 68 to 202 south to 2A west to 32 north in Athol. Almost as soon as you get on 32 you cross the river and keep bearing right. First onto Chestnut hill rd. and then almost immediately onto Cresent which is a dead end side road. Go up to the end of Cresent were an iron gate blocks auto access to a park area. A dirt road/path leads to the river and takeout.Shuttle DirectionsView Larger Map StreamTeam Status: verified
Last Updated: 2008-03-15 10:29:38
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