Salmon
Jeremy, Old route 2 to covered bridge at Hwy 16
| Difficulty | II |
| Length | 5.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Salmon River Near East Hampton, Ct |
| Flow Rate as of 55 minutes | 2.94 ftbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | June 7, 2013 |
River Description
An alternate put in to the Old Hartford Rd listed in many guide books is the commuter parking lot off of exit 16 on route 2. This avoids the area that passes under the highway which is generally clogged with strainers. Easiest river access is from the end of the parking lot nearest the highway where the slope isn't as steep.
To reach the takeout at the covered bridge head south on route 149. Take a right on route 16 for approximately 2 miles. Take a right on Comstock Bridge Rd and park at the covered bridge.
The initial section is a good warm up and at higher levels is a series of nice wave trains. Watch for strainers through this section. Currently there is a large river wide strainer just before the dam impoundment. It is easily visible from upstream and can be portaged on either side. If the level is over 1400 cfs a small channel opens up through the brush on river left that allow you to get around without a portage. Just after this strainer the river passes under a small bridge and into the dam impoundment. Portage on river left and depending on water level put in at the base of the dam or cross to the other side of RT 149 through the small field. This can also be used as a good put in spot with parking at the abandoned factory.
From here the Jeremy travels away from the road for the next mile until it meets the Black ledge river and forms the Salmon River. The river shortly goes around an island to the right. The left channel is currently not navigable. At this point the river runs alongside the dirt fisherman's access road. This part of the river is a series of smaller rapids. At higher level (>2000 cfs) it becomes a series of wave trains. Approximately 2 miles after the start of the Salmon and shortly after the handicapped fishing area the breached dam comes into view. Take out on river right to scout or portage. The normal line is through the slot about 15 feet off the right bank. An alternate line can be found on the far left side.
...River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportGreat high water run on the Jeremy/Salmon with Matt H. 6.05 feet (2,800 cfs) on the Salmon River gauge at East Hampton. We put in at the CPL on Route 149 in Westchester (off Route 2, exit 16). We pretty much bombed the run in under an hour (5 miles in 50 minutes).Very few rocks showing. Fast current, many wave trains, no problematic strainers. Just a fast and sassy first mile to the site of the former dam near the Route 149 bridge over the river. The lead in drop was a fast chute, straight down the middle. The approach Route was open on the right side, normally too shallow at lower levels. The 'Old Dam' rapid had a larger wave hole wave train than at 4 feet and even 5 feet. Also the river left side ledge was underwater. It looked runnable at first, but runs directly into an undercut ledge just below. So we choose the middle main tongue for a line. The right side was simpler, and smaller, but dropped into a very squirrelly, chaotic eddy. The rest of the run had some holes to avoid, especially about 3/4 mile downstream of the Old Dam drop. Most rocks covered, few eddies, multiple wave trains with surfing possibilities. The Broken Dam rapid had a massive , deep hole in the middle. Definitely stay away. The far left side also looked to have some nasty holes. The normal right chute line about 15 feet off the right bank became more of a rooster tail. The far right ledge which is often a sticky pour over was underwater, and had a steep 4-5 foot drop but a clean outrun with no holes but a couple big standing breaking wave holes. The several river left playspots were fairly long and glassy 3-4 foot waves and waveholes. With a couple nasty holes far left above them.
With the water level at bank full, it was definitely on nearly the highest side of a high level. And overall a Class 3 run, with the two big drops both 3+, with the broken dam pushing easy Class 4. I'd judge the water level could be maybe a half foot higher, before it becomes a low flood level run. So I wouldn't recommend a level over 6.5 feet, even if some people have run it higher. My opinion.
(6/25/06) Because of small stream size and strainers putting in on the Jeremy at Old Rt. 2 (Old Hartford Rd) is not much fun. None of the strainers are particularly dangerous, there are just a lot of them and they are difficult getting around. A far easier put-in with only one easy strainer to deal with, is to put in on the Jeremy downstream of the unrunnable dam in North Westchester. At that point, the Rt. 149 bridge crosses the river and there is easy access to the water on river left. There is also easy parking at the abandoned paper mill across the road. A good level for this river is 675 cfs or 4.3 on the online gage for the Salmon near East Hampton. It is my estimate that the river is running just slightly higher than medium at this level.