Broad Brook
Above Powerlines to Lower Ashuelot
| Difficulty | IV+ |
| Length | 1.5 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 200 fpm |
| Gauge | Ashuelot River at Hinsdale, Nh |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 3.25 ftbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 1, 2018 |
This is the hidden gem of southern NH. Although it is a very short run, the quality of rapids and natural scenery are comparable to that of the boulder-strewn White Mountain creeks. When arriving at the put-in you will be immediately confronted with what this creek has to offer, looking up at the Fungi Express rapid while getting changed and ready to hike-in will get you excited for what's in store. This run could be considered an intro to creeking run but also has one rapid that most people walk. Three out of the four rapids have multiple lines to run depending on the level, where the difficulty can be significantly increased.
Directions:
Use the directions on AW to get yourself to the Lower Ashuelot putin on 119. From the covered bridge putin for the Lower Ash, drive towards Hinsdale about 1-2 miles, see Broad Brook Road on your right side and go up Broad Brook road for about 1/2 mile. Park on the river-left side in small pull-off out of the way of the dumpster. Hike from here upstream on the river-left side for about 20 minutes to just above the power lines and cut in just above Percolator. (There is a trail that goes up the river right side which is much easier, but to access it you walk up someone's driveway. The locals here have always been nice to me but I would certainly ask if it's ok to cross their land to get to the trail.)
To get to the takeout, drive out Broad Brook Road to 119, take a right, go to the bottom of the hill, see Broad Brook coming in on your right and take the next left across the bridge that goes to the dam. Park in the far back parking lot as far out of the way as you can. You can also park at the takeout for the lower Ash and continue on down and run the dams in your creek boat if you want.
The easiest walk is to take the old Broad Brook Road across the pictured bridge, up 100 yards to
...
This rapid is one of the most beutiful ones on the river. I usually put-in a 100 yards or so above this rapid and then eddy out river right to pick my line. Formed by a couple large mossy boulders there are a couple lines depending on the level. The river left slot line is good at all levels. Simply line up at the top have a little bit of right angle at the bottom and prepare to go deep in the hole/percolate. The river right line which is considerably harder can be run from 1.75' and up. This requires a very well placed sliding rock boof where you land in between two rocks at the bottom and then paddle out the left slot. After this is a bit of boogie for about a 1/4 mile then a short section of flat water, After the flat water is a log that can be snuck around by going as far river left as possible. The next rapid Fungi Express comes within the next 100 yards, scout from river right.
This is a wide boulder strewn area but the rapid takes place on river right. Its best to eddy our river left just above where the river goes off to the right. Then you can start heading river right and eddy out in a small eddy on river right. From here you can see the line very well. The key to this rapid is to drive a little bit right just before the boof as it has a tendency to carry you left into nasty rocks, then plant a big boof and continue down and eddy out immediatley left. By eddying out left you set yourself up for the cleanest line down through the runout. From there it is a cool ferry/attainment across the front of a big boulder then continue down the right side making sure to boof the man made ledge hole under the bridge. The next couple 100 yards are fun boogie. When you see a nice little cabin on the right side start thinking about getting out on the left and scouting the next rapid, potential.
This is a long multi stage drop. Begin by staying river left, punching a couple holes and passing a couple boulders in the river center, then drive back river right. At 2' and above you can stay left through the whole rapid running a slot on the left as oppose to driving right.
After driving right prepare to punch a good size ledge then staying right to avoid getting pushed into a boulder spike type thing and eddy out immediatley right. There will be one more little two stage drop that is boofed directly off the center and then immedialtey eddying out on the left. The gangler lurks directly below.
The gangler is the hardest rapid on the run. At 2.5' and below there are two lines, one river right and one river left. Neither line are particularly good looking and you must be willing to take a bit of a hit when running them. The right line requires setting up river center then driving as far right as you can and boofing with a big left boof off the corner of a boulder. The landing sometimes requires a little finagling through a slot. The left line has a harder lead in and requires precise landing between two rocks that offer pin potential. At 3' and above you could probably boof directly off the center over a big hole. From there down to the Ashuelot its mostly class 3 boogie. Have fun and as always use your own good judgement.
Aug 30, 2011
The easiest walk is to take the old Broad Brook Road across the pictured bridge, up 100 yards to the power line easement, then turn right and take the trail that winds beneath the power lines to the riverside. I enjoy walking up to do Percolator; another not-hard 100 yards towards the beaver dam and old dam to get all the whitewater in as a warm-up and scout.
Jan 1, 1900
The put-in is localated in a quite rural neighborhood so you get noticed fairly quickly. This nice local decided to give us a ride to the put-in.
Libby klein setting up to make the move and drive back river right, in front of the boulder.
This is pretty much the only eddy between Potential and the Gangler, good place to get out and scout from.
This is The Gangler, the last big rapid on the run. It's hard to see the line from this picture because the line is as crappy
as this picture makes it look.
This is Roger Hodson discovering his potential after making the drive back to river right.
Jan 1, 1900
Heading into the woods past the powerlines to put-in above the percolator. This is tony hiking on a beutiful February day.
This is the beauty of Broad Brook. Nice boulders, tight slots, and as tony demonstrates the perfect set-up.
Tony runs the line, gets percolated, and paddles away with a smile.
Jan 1, 1900
Getting busy with the fungi.
Brad is running the line perfect in this picture, but in general its not a very boater friendly line. At this level its really the only line. At 1.75' and up there's a river left line although still just as boat abusive and a higher pinning potential.
