Otter Brook, New Hampshire, US

Roxbury to Keene (Lower Otter Brook)

Usual Difficulty	II (varies with level)
Length	3.1 Miles
Avg. Gradient	53 fpm
Max Gradient	72 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
OTTER BROOK BELOW OTTER BROOK DAM, NEAR KEENE, NH
usgs-01158600	190 - 800 cfs	II	01h01m	53.7 cfs (too low)

River Description

STRAINER ALERT-

Posted 3/29/07
oak tree, entirely across river, exact location is 2.0 miles downstream of dam, visable from the Branch Rd., 0.2 miles upstream of Route 101.

Lower Otter Brook is traditionally one of the first spring rivers run in NH. It is mostly a class II run appropriate for novice and intermediate paddlers.
There is a nice hole/wave play spot formed by the dam outflow at the put in. Use caution here since the concrete walls on either side could trap a paddler should the hole be the more prominent feature. It is also very shallow so watch out not to roll here.
The river starts out with class II, winding its way through an alder thicket. This section is very narrow and occasionally contains strainers and overhanging alders. Recent beaver activity has added to the hazard. As of March 2002 a rather large beaver dam has been built about 1/4 mile below the Middletown road bridge. Currently this dam is breaching in the middle and creating a very nice drop and surfing wave, but the dam is being washed away slowly with each release or high water event.
The lower section of the river is wider with the additional flow from the Miniwawa river. Just above the intersection with the Miniwawa there is a nice two foot ledge (Otter Ledge) drop with a steep channel on river right. At levels above 600 cfs this river should be rated class II/III.

Technical info

Put in elevation........656'
Take out elevation......492'
Total drop..............164'
Average drop/mile.......53'
Distance................3.1 miles
1st mile drop...........66'
2nd mile drop...........36'
3rd mile drop...........62'
River width average.....25'
River geology...........small granite boulders some ledge
River water quality.....Good, clarity average.
Scenery.................Suburban a few homes and mobile homes on upper reach,
                        more urban near takeout.
Wildlife................Beaver, deer, hawks, Otters?. 

Directions

Put in

Interstate 93 to NH 101 West(south of Manchester).
West on NH 101 for approximately 45 miles to Marlborough.
Just past the Keene town line take a right on Branch rd (should be a small sign for Otter Brook dam).
Approximately 2 miles to put in at the base of the dam.

Take out

Head back in the direction you came to NH route 101.
Take a right (west).
Approximately 1/2 mile take a left just before NH Route 101 spans the river.
Park on the right at any convenient takeout location.