Walloomsac

Providing this report as both a river description and strainer alert as of April 11, 2022 as the original description provider appears to have not paddled this stretch of river.

This description of the Walloomsac (Roaring Branch Walloomsac) is from the putin at the intersection of Rt 9 and Old Harbour Road to the takeout at Mount Anthony Union High School. Please be respectful of the home/landowners on Old Harbour Road. They have been friendly to paddlers so far, and we should do our best to keep it that way.

While it's possible to run this stretch lower than 1000CFS where it is more in line with it's Class 3 rating, it gets better at levels from 1200-1600CFS where I would consider it a 'no swim' Class 3. The run is very continuous, and has only a few eddies that will fit more than one boat. Any swims are likely to be long, and you're going to get lumped up by endless rocks. As far as I know, there are no rapid names since the whole run is a rapid. This stretch tends to present wood hazards, so road scout where you can on the way to the put in.

As of 4/7/2022 there are 4 wood hazards to beware of. The first can be seen upstream from the very long dirt pull off on the right side of rt 9 if heading east. There are 3 trees in the river left channel. We typically take the right channels where any island separates the flow in the first mile of the run.

The second hazard is large wood pile on the outside corner of a right turn in the river behind house number 542 on route 9. This pile has the potential to catch any new wood so beware. You can skirt the pile by driving river right when coming around the turn, but the current is pushing to river left and into the pile.

The third (river wide) wood hazard is about 50 yards below a feature we call Z-turn. There is a pronounced rock wall peninsula jutting out from river left that forces you right. After this rock wall is a tree suspended just above kayaker's head height. You can limbo under it river center if the level is right, or beach yourself on the rocks on river right to scrape your way under the tree where there is less current.

The fourth (river wide) wood hazard is just upstream from the paved snow tire chain up area on route 9. There is a river wide tree that you can limbo under if in a kayak. Rafts and shredders would have real problems with this tree as the current is moving swiftly through here. You cannot see the tree from the road. Portaging would be difficult given the amount of reeds and brush on river right. River left is a steep embankment.

From below the snow tire chain up area to the takeout is clear of wood (for now). The takeout is river right at the bridge next to the high school baseball field. The eddies aren't great here and tend to be one or two boat sized.

Have fun, be safe.

Strainer alert: There is a significant, river wide strainer in a bad location just upstream from the the tire chain pull off (on the right side of RT 9 if you're driving east from Bennington). Drive up to the next dirt pull off (on the right), walk the dirt trail downstream about 30 yards, you'll see the trees that have fallen across right after a Z-turn. This Z-turn blocks your view when coming down river and you won't see the strainer until it is too late. We will try to clear this one out this winter, but scout regardless.

We've run this stretch a couple of times in the fall of 2017 and summer of 2018. 1400 CFS makes for a fluid and very continuous class III run. There are very few eddys and swimming is discouraged. 1650 CFS and above, the river gets very pushy and I'd consider this more of a class IV run at levels over 1600. It's one giant wave train with holes that would challenge the average class III boater.

If you're putting in at the AT parking lot, the stretch from there to the white church does collect wood, so scout this section carefully as well.

On August 28th, 2011 Hurricane Irene struck New England. The resulting floods caused extensive damage throughout the region, the worst in over 100 years. More than half the rivers in Vermont and northern New Hampshire recorded their highest flow levels ever. Many roads, guardrails, power lines, bridges, trees and other debris now litter several rivers throughout the region. River beds have been scoured and changed course, many new strainers make navigation problematic at best and downright dangerous at worse. Please realize that the river description you see here may not match current situation after the floods. Use common sense and when in doubt scout especially on blind drops. Also, if you run this river in the next year or so please comment on its navigability, even if there are no problems this will be very helpful. Please report any new strainers or changes to the rapids that will impact future boating.
Thank you,