Piscataquog

The Piscataquog is a great novice river and is fairly dependable even early in spring. The dam at the put-in causes the river to rise and fall regularly throughout the winter; this keeps ice from building up under all but the coldest conditions. The first mile has most of the whitewater, with several nice class II drops. There are good play opportunities along the way--the best being just past a clearing for power lines that run overhead. This play spot is called the Toilet Bowl. Depending on level it is either a hole or series of waves. Just before the bridge to Pinardville, there is a small drop that contains some rebar from an old dam. The bridge to Pinardville (1 mile) is an alternate takeout if you are only interested in the upper section or your time is limited. Below the bridge the river flattens out with only two good drops, although these drops are more intense (but shorter) than the ones above. There is also a nice squirt line at a river bend where the river takes a sharp right.

Take out:  The takeout (as of Oct 2020) is off Mast Road behind the Goffstown District Court and The Hillsborough County Office Buildings (329 Mast Road). Follow the dirt road at the back right of the parking lot across the Goffstown Rail Trail. Ample parking. Go here for a YouTube video of boaters surfing on the Piscat.

Thanks to Sunshine for the following description. The beginning of the river is the hardest in my opinion. I usually lead newbies directly through the upper section just left of the middle through a rock garden. For others there is a large eddy at the beginning of the class II rapid on river right. From there you can catch an easy wave right beside the eddy. This is an excellent section to practice your eddy hops. At the end of the rapid (marked by the last large boulder on river left) there is a playspot that is nearly river wide. This is good to surf and mayb

...