Nulhegan
Hatchery to Connecticut River
October 24, 2018
Trip Report
| Reporter | Noah Pollock |
The rapids run at lower levels then suggested by AW; I'd say if the CT River is above 5k in North Stratford you should have adequate water.
One can access these rapids by following a refuge trail down to the river (5-10 minute walk) or bushwalking down from Route 105 west of the refuge. Open boaters may want to put in at an upstream bridge (Wenlock Crossing) for ~3 miles of flatwater paddling until first gorge (below the railroad bridge). This is a Class II rapid culminating in a Class III+ multipart drop with a portage trail on the left. A couple easy Class II rapids follow. The river then mellows for a mile until the Route 105 road crossing. Open boats may want to take out here. The pace picks up below the bridge, with continuous Class II-III (III-IV at high levels) boulder gardens with three spicer drops that can have hydraulics at high water. Take out river left at conserved land at the confluence of the Nulhegan and its East Branch, where the Vermont River Conservancy has constructed a hut reservable through the Vermont Huts Association. The river continues downstream about three miles through swifts to the confluence of the Connecticut in Bloomfield where a takeout is on the left (walk across conserved field to parking along road near NFCT kiosk).