Rock, Vermont, US |
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Usual Difficulty | III-IV (for normal flows) |
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Length | 2.6 Miles |
Avg. Gradient | 63 fpm |
Hurricane Irene Changes: This section of the Rock River changed because of the flooding of August, 2011. The flood was so violent in the section a half mile upstream that houses were washed away. This section is still runnable, but most rapids have changed. The river has changed course completely in the section between the dam and the cement bridge.
The river is still a class 3/4, but please scout it carefully, both because there may be strainers and flood debris in the water, and because all rapids differ somewhat from the old description, which is below.
Pre Hurricane Irene River Description:
The river starts out gently, with some surf spots and a few rapids. Watch out for strainers which
often fall down the steep side hill on the right hand side. You'll reach the old dam (now
broken), the first major rapid, about a half mile down river. This is described as a class 3 or 4
rapid, depending on whom you talk to and the water level. This rapid, like most on the Rock
River, changes from time to time, depending on where the rocks have moved during the last storm.
The rest of the section through Williamsville is straightforward fun, with some splashy waves and
rocks to dodge, but no difficult rapids. At the bottom of this section, you'll reach the
cement bridge and the beginning of the ledges.
About 200 yards below the cement bridge, you'll reach Double Drop. The top drop plunges over
a blind ledge, and then slides down to the second, smaller drop. There is a pool below the second
drop if you miss, so hold on and you can roll at the bottom. Run the first ledge of Double Drop
right middle or left middle, but avoid running it down the center. Also, avoid the far right.
There is a hole at the bottom of the first drop that can hold you for a whilebut will usually
spit you out, butitcould hold you at high water.
Down river is a neat ledge which you can barrel over on the left side or sneak around on the
right side. Barreling over it is usually pain-free at most water levels – it's really a
big chute.
About .3 miles down river is Triple Drop, the hardest on the river. Triple Drop is Class 4 except
at very low water levels. This rapid can easily be scouted on the left hand side, or walked on
this side if you don't want to run it. The second drop of Triple Drop is the most difficult,
as it can drop you into a hole that can hold you at low and medium water levels, and can really
recirculate you and work you at higher levels. To run Triple Drop, run tight to the right of the
two large rocks at the top of the first drop, and pull into the eddy below it. From there, you
need to build up enough speed to cross the second ledge and pull you over the hole. If you run
this ledge a little right of center, once you get past the hole, there is lots of green water to
ride you right over the third, smaller drop. If you run it left-middle, you can usually poke your
way through some more narrow and less powerful rocky drops to make it through to the bottom. Once
again, there is a pool below the bottom rapid if you flip, so hang on until you reach the bottom
if you can't roll above.
Below Triple Drop, the Rock continues another 1.5 miles through a beautiful gorge. This passage
is much more straightforward class 2+ and class 3 rapids. The most difficult rapid in this
section is a neat chute on river right, about a mile south of Triple Drop. There are many bouncy
waves, sometimes steep, and many surf opportunities before you connect with the West River.
A note to all: watch out for strainers, particularly in the section past the cement bridge. This
river is frequently run after a heavy rain, and the heavy rains frequently generate strainers in
Double Drop, Triple Drop and the gorge below. The river is class 3 / 4, and difficulty varies
significantly depending on the level. There is no gauge.
Carl Askegreen says, on the Northeast Paddlers' Message Board:
"Pretty flashy. I describe it as one world-class rodeo hole after another with class 3/4
rapids in between. Super fun.
"Runoff patterns are similar to West Branch, Green, South Branch of Ashuelot...yada yada.
"Way fun and way cool, should really check it out. Put in at the covered bridge then run
down; strainers in the first rapid but easy to pass by. Nice rodeo hole. About .62 miles from
bridge is a weird strainer on the river right, so I just kind of stay left there. Has this habit
of grabbing boaters... got two in one day last year.
"Expect to find good technical play all the way down."
Posted by Eric Bishop
A warm sunny day. We put in about 2 miles upstream from S. Newfane and planned to paddle to the
confluence with the West, about 6 miles. The water was fairly high. The run to S. Newfane was
uninterrupted class II-III. A large tributary doubled the size of the river in S. Newfane. The
broken dam in Williamsville sits at the start of a long section of III-IV past the village. We
lined the dam, and Fred broke a paddle in the drop below. After a run down the creek without a
paddle he bailed out and made shore. After recovering the boat, we decided to call it a trip as
the water had risen noticeably. This is definitely a river to try again. -- Eric Bishop
Directions:
Take out: Take Route 30 from Brattleboro. The West River will be on your right. After
approximately 6 miles, you'll pass a covered bridge on your right. Continue for another two
miles. The take out is on the right hand side, just before you cross a bridge. There is a large
parking area there (in summer, you could see fifty cars squeezed in there). The confluence of the
Rock River and the West River is at that point. There is also a seasonal hot dog stand located
there. You can walk across the bridge to get a view of the Rock.
Put in:
From Route 30, turn left on the road directly across from the put in. This is called both Depot
Road and Williamsville Road by the locals. Follow this road for about two miles until you cross a
cement bridge and reach a T. (Scouting Note: you can scout Triple Drop from Duke Road, a dirt
road you'll pass on the right hand side, just before you reach the cement bridge). Turn left
at the T and pass through the village of Williamsville (you'll see the Dam on the Rock River
in the center of town). Pass through the covered bridge and park at one of two pullouts on the
left hand side, just past the covered bridge.
Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
---|---|---|---|
0.4 | Rapid Above the The Dam in Williamsville | III+ | ![]() ![]() |
0.4 | View of Dam and the Rapid Above It | III+ | ![]() ![]() |
0.4 | Running the Dam | III+ | ![]() ![]() |
0.4 | Another View of Crossing the Dam | III+ | ![]() ![]() |
0.8 | Double Drop | IV | |
1.1 | Triple Drop - Top | IV | ![]() ![]() |
1.1 | Triple Drop - Sneak Route Left | IV | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
2.2 | The Chute - Top | III | ![]() |
2.2 | The Chute | III | ![]() |
2.2 | The Chute - Bottom | III | ![]() |
Top of Triple Drop - pull into the eddy behind the big rock on river right to get into position to cross the 2nd ledge.
NOTE: Triple Drop has changed since Hurrican Irene and is more difficult now. The biggest warning is BE WARY OF GOING RIGHT. At the bottom of the right side, it is pretty manky - the rocks won't be friendly if your line isn't right, and this will vary by flow. Scout this rapid carefully if you don't know it.
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