Bearcamp
Bennett Corner to Whittier
| Difficulty | II-IV |
| Length | 3.6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 36 fpm |
| Gauge | Bearcamp River at South Tamworth, Nh |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 3.47 ftbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 1, 2023 |
At the put in the Bearcamp is quickwater with a sandy bottom. Between here and where NH rt 25 comes into view the river contains a couple of easy class II rapids. Once NH rt 25 comes into view the action picks up. Cold Brook rapid (class III+) starts about 50 yards above a bridge. Cold Brook enters on the right just above the bridge. The section just past the bridge is the toughest. Below Cold Brook rapid the river splits around an island. The right channel goes through a small narrow gorge with 20' vertical walls. A relatively easy rapid leads to a sharp vertical drop of about 5' to 6' depending on water levels. The left channel is easier but does not always have enough water to run without scratching. Below the Gorge is a short flatwater section leading up to a delapitating concrete dam. This dam is usually protaged but can be run in a break on the far right or far left through a steep sluice. Scout this should you decide to run it since logs and other debris often clog the line. This dam is slated to be removed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services sometime in 2003. The rest of the river contains a couple mostly class II-III the last one just above the takeout being the toughest and longest.
Put in elevation........580'Take out elevation......455'Total drop..............125'Average drop/mile.......36'Distance................3.5 milesRiver width average.....50'1st mile drop...........15'2nd mile drop...........55'3rd mile drop...........35'3.5 mile drop...........20' (40' average)River geology...........granite ledge, small bouldersRiver water quality.....Good to excellent, clarity excellent.Scenery.................A mix of wooded isolated scenery to small town with small homes and camps. Old concrete dam.Wildlife................Deer, hawks, merganzers.The first rapid you will approach after a relatively long stretch of quickwater. This rapid is pretty straightforward but drops several feet over its 50 yard length.
Once you loose sight of NH route 25 on your right you will approach Cold Brook rapid. Cold Brook is one of the longer and more complicated rapids of the Bearcamp. You can recognize it by the Mill Brook road bridge visable downstream from the top of the rapid. The first portion of the rapid should not prove to be difficult. Eddy out on river right just a short way downstream from the start and check out Cold Brook as it comes in from river right. Continue through the rapid and eddy out river left downstream from the bridge. Below the bridge is the most difficult section of the rapid. Snake your way or punch through several very wide stickey holes then plunge through the bottom hole. The very last ledge drop is seperated midstream by a high point in the ledge, going to the right of the seperator will drop you into a fairly shollow hole/wave. The best route is to the left of the seperator into a large (but easily punched) hole.
Just downstream of Cold Brook rapids the river seperates around an island. Take out at the head of the island and scout the Gorge. The gorge is 75 yards long and starts with a large breaking wave/hole. More turbulance follows around a sweeping right hand turn. Catch the eddy river right just after the right sweep and before the left sweep of the river. Gorge Exit Falls is just downstream. Old guide books claimed this drop was only 2' to 3' high but as the downstream dam has been washing out over the years the drop has increased significantly. It now is in the range of 5' to 6' depending on water levels and dam debris. From the eddy power out to the current and paddle hard towards just left of river center of the drop. You will then drop through a powerfull hole at the bottom that will upset and ender almost any boaters punching through. The river tries to push upsidedown boaters towards the rock ledge on river right, sometimes making a roll difficult. Should you choose not to take on Gorge Exit Falls take the river left channel around the island. This route is very shallow at low water but much easier than the gorge.
Just downstream from the gorge lies the removed remains of the Bearcamp dam. This dam has been removed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. It is now a Class II drop. This photograph of a paddler going over the old dam has been kept for historical reference.
Good drop amoungst ledges and holes just upstream of the USGS river flow gage.
This is a rather long section of river that has lots of surf and play spots along the way caused by a series of low ledges. As the river takes a sharp left away from NH 25 the river drops into that largest and most powerful hole in this section. This hole can be very stickey depending on levels. Usually only the best boater will attempt. You can skirt the hole on the left. Further downstream for the next .5 miles you will encounter a series of easier holes better suited for most boaters.
The last major rapid on the Bearcamp. Takeout shortly downstream at the 113 bridge.
Jul 17, 2023
Ran for the first time today with Darryn DuShane at 5.5ft on this page's gauge - so much fun! I would say it is class III if you skip the gorge drop as we did.
No wood to worry about other than a riverwide tree immediately after the put-in bridge that has a tiny sneak route - which works fine since the river is pretty much still water at that point.
Cold Brook rapid can be scouted from the bridge on Mill Rd., and we beached at the head of the island at Bearcamp Gorge and scouted both sides. We did the easier left channel after taking a look at the class IV drop.
After that there are lots of fun surfs as noted in the 'Ossipee Surf' rapid description. The hole it mentions is there but not menacing - could be punched at this level without too much trouble. To give a bit more context - the river goes behind a house next to old bridge abutments on both sides (with a really fun surf in between) and then suddenly turns left from the road. Right at that point is the almost riverwide hole.
Overall, very enjoyable rapids with nice variety and lots of fun surfs at this level. Cold Brook rapid was the hardest probably, but still I would hesitate to call it a III+.
In a way this reminded me of Fife or the West, iust a great time.
Jan 15, 2020
There is currently a large oak tree in the rapid just above where the Cold Brook enters the Bearcamp and could cause serious problems. It is easily seen from the bridge on Mill street. When the flat water section meets the rapids I would advise taking the left channel around the island and you will be in the clear. You wont miss much of the rapid with the goods being below to tree. All others strainers on the river have washed out in the last big rain!
