Swift
2. Rocky Gorge to Lower Falls(Middle Swift)
| Difficulty | II-III(IV) |
| Length | 2.1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 55 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 25, 2025 |
River Description
The Middle Swift is a very good intermediate run. This section of the Swift is sandwiched between two class V drops that can easily be by-passed. The rapids in between are a lot mellower mainly class III. The biggest drop in this section is Triple Drop; it is two 3' drops about 50' apart with a big wave/hole at the bottom. At lower water Triple drop should be considered class III+. A look at the take-out for this section is advised since you don't want to run Lower Falls without scouting.
The Swift runs along side the scenic Kancamaugus Highway in the White Mountain National Forest. It is not wild but still scenic, the road and tourist areas at the put in and take out can be crowded with curious people taking pictures or just gawking especially late in the Spring. Note: the above mentioned gradient information does not include Upper and Lower Falls. See also the Upper and Lower Swift.
Technical info
Put in elevation.......1123'Take out elevation.....940'Distance...............2.6 milesTotal drop.............183'Average drop/mile......70'.....Including Upper and Lower falls1st mile drop..........85'......Includes Upper falls2nd mile drop..........58'......Includes Triple Drop2.6 mile drop..........40'.....Includes Lower fallsRiver width average....50'River geology..........large granite boulders, some ledges at fallsRiver water quality....Excellent, crystal clearScenery................Excellent mountain and forest scenery.Wildlife...............Some deer, moose, perrigrine falcons, touristNote: The technical information above includes Upper and Lower falls which greatly adds to the total and average drops on this relatively short river. The section in between the falls has less but very consistant gradient.
Directions
Put in
F
...River Features
Upper Falls
Upper Falls is located in a tourist area called Rocky Gorge. From the parking lot at the put in class II-III water leads up to a 15' falls into a small box canyon. If you are running the upper section along with this section make sure you scout this area carefully. Pull out well upstream once the river starts dropping over small ledges with sticky holes. Carry around below the tourist foot bridge for an easy put in on river right or a 10' seal launch from either side of the box canyon. Should you choose to run the falls the usual line is from river right over a 45 degree slide to the 10' verticle drop below. Keep the nose of your boat up on the slide to keep from pitoning off protruding ledges at low water levels.
Triple Drop
The biggest drop in this section, not including the put in or take out rapids, is Triple Drop; it is three 2' to 3' drops about 50' apart with a big wave/hole at the bottom. When the Kancamaugus highway disappears and is replaced with a high cliff wall on your right, make your way to river left just above the first drop and scout your line through the holes at each drop.
Lower Falls
When picnic tables and tourist with sneakers and cameras appear on river right takeout and scout Lower Falls. The river gradually picks up pace and difficulty as one heads down through the entrance rapid. Lower falls is a series of 6' to 8' ledges that run parallel to the river from the center with the ledges dropping off from left to right. You must scout this drop. It is necessary to run a route through a series of blind drops. A far left route leads the paddler over a more gradual slide. But the approach requires you to punch two large stickey holes. The slide itself contains numerous holes and boulders along its path. The other route (the usual one) requires a precise drop over the 8' ledge between a boulder and some shallow water. Take a sharp left after this drop paddle hard to launch over the next ledge over a stickey hole at the bottom of the drop. Below lies a fairly large calm pool for an esier put in for the lower section.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportUnfortunately, many gauge links and flow information have been lost since the latest AW code update.
Upper Swift
https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Gauge2/detail/id/45492/
Lower Swift
https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Gauge2/detail/id/45943/
All NH Gauges
https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Gauge2/view/state/NH/
I will stick with the 'Low Flow' designation, as I know this river can go much higher, but 0.6 ft on the calculated gauge was fluid and powerful the entire trip. Took 45 minutes and we only boat scouted Triple Drop from the river, though I did stop on the road and made sure that the path was free of wood (always important to get eyes on a blind drop).
Ran the Middle Swift today at 0.85 ft. Great run, starts scratchy and I would say that it requires Class III technical skills to avoid a potential pin. We cleared a strainer and the whole river is quite clear, assuming new high water does not pull something into the river. The low level does leave a nasty piton rock exposed on a drop too difficult to identify in a comment, just use caution. I love this run, how it starts slow and really picks up about half way and then never stops. The run takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, depending on how much you pause on the river. Like the guide says, pay attention at the end or you will end up unwittingly running Lower Falls.
Ran it on 10/22/11 at about .7 ft. This is well below what AW says is minimum, but I though it was a great level. We did shorten the run on both ends though. This was my first run, so I can not say what changed after Irene. Other members of the group said the changes were minimal. All the rapids were fine.
Has anyone run Rocky Gorge? The story about that gal in '49 or whenever it was that got sucked in that underwater cave gave me second thoughts, if anyone has please post best route (straight through on river left or snaking through a little to the right). Thanks!
This launching point is just below Upper Falls in the Rocky Gorge; the foamy water in the pic is from the falls and they are launching into the Rocky Gorge. I do know a few people who have run Upper Falls, but no one in our group did. This is also the put-in for the Rocky Gorge to Lower Falls (middle) section.