Saxton's River

Grafton to Connecticut River

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DifficultyII-III(V)
Length13.3 mi
Avg Gradientn/a
GaugeSaxtons River at Saxtons River, Vt
Reach Info Last UpdatedMay 1, 2018

River Description

John Arney shared:

There are several drops on this run which deserve notice. First, under the bridge in the town of Saxtons River is a drop worth scouting--pushing class 4-5 when the river is up. Then, entering Bellows Falls, the river takes some BIG drops through Twin Falls, visible from Gage Road. Reminiscent of the big three on the Green--these are twenty-plus-footers, definitely class 5+, local fisherman told me 13 people have died there in diving accidents. Do not know if they have been run in a kayak, assume they have been. The owner has posted the %&$# out of it.

Flow Info

This gauge has been recently added. There is no existing data on good flows. If you run this section please leave a comment with the level.


River Features

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Distance: 11 mi
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JC
Jason Caggiano

Feb 1, 2012


I grew up around this river. I was visiting family over Christmas and took a ride along 123 to see what all had happened since Irene. I was astounded. Not only by the devastation I witnessed ( homes destroyed, 8+ inches of riversilt covering fields) but the way the riverbed itself has changed. It went from a quiet, lazy river with a handful of rapids and a few good size drops, to a wider, shallower bed of boulders. I couldn't get over how a river that had been so consistent for so long, has become primitive once again.

In my opinion, it would be interesting to pick your way down this river now (with the right flow).