Croydon Brook
Newport(North Branch of the Sugar)
| Difficulty | II-III |
| Length | 1.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 48 fpm |
| Gauge | Sugar River at West Claremont, Nh |
| Flow Rate as of 45 minutes | 2.49 ftbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 12, 2025 |
River Description
Thanks to Allan Berggren for the following description
The whitewater section of the Croydon Brook is 3 mi. north of Newport on hwy 10. We leave a shuttle where the brook crosses under the highway, and drive upstream 1.5 mi. to the put-in, where the brook arches close to the road.
Narrow, secluded, creek-like, with large mossy rock eddies. A narrow passage around a 100-ft island on the right is runnable except at low levels.
The Final Four is behind the second s-turn, with a brisk left-to-right flow, with a sneak route far left at higher levels. The main 4-5 foot pour-over is behind an initial ledge wave, and is followed by a series of 1-ft. ledge drops continuing for the next 75 yds beneath the highway bridge. Take-out is on the left. Parking is possible immediately south of the bridge on the west side, but the adjacent road is private. Usual put-in is at a discontinued iron bridge 1.7 miles upstream directly across from Glidden Road, where there is enough parking space for about 6 vehicles (when there are no snow banks on the highway!)
Additional Information on Flow:
Word of warning: at higher flows, this is no longer a II/III. For example: at 5ft this was probably III+/IV-, if not class IV.
River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportPut-on at roughly 5ft today for two runs. It was fun but definitely no longer a class II/III at this level. Our group's assessment was at least a III+/IV-, if not class IV. Especially the very end of the run: the last quarter-mile or so before the bridge. There were a few strainers, but none were river wide and they were all easily/seen avoided (at least at this level.)
There do appear to be runnable sections above the two ponds, but we chose to do the shorter laps instead.
We had wanted to extend the run, but were unsure of any dams/takeouts further downstream.
5 of us (2 OC1, 3 K1) ran it on 12/3/2011. We put on upstream of the two ponds to extend the trip and catch a couple early rapids. The entire run was clear except for a few strainers in slow flat water sections, like by the cemetery, that were easy to navigate. The sun is low in the sky this time of year which made the run more challenging. Sun visors and sun glasses recommended.
Posted by Pauline on 1/14/08
Strainers in Croyden Brook
After abandoning Allen's group on Eastman Brook, Skip
and I paddled Croyden Brook. There is a new, very
nasty strainer just at the top of the big drop. It
goes almost entirely across the channel although if
you paddle hard right, you can squeeze by on the right
side. Most of the tree, including many branches
sticking down into the river obstructs the channel and
there is another, smaller strainer, lodged along the
bottom of the channel if you manage to avoid the big
one. I pinned hard on this- many thanks to Skip for
all his help- but the two of us were able to get
ourselves and our boats over the tree and start again.
The tree is not visible from the last possible eddy
above the drop and will definately be problematic.
Croyden Bill has very nicely offered to work on
getting the tree out but in the meantime, use great
caution. The second strainer, in the drop, is not a
problem if you are upright but would certainly snag an
upside-down boater or swimmer.
Thanks again to the group who headed out today, it was
lots of fun being on the river again and we had a good
day (well, maybe that should read 'most of us...')
-Pauline
This photo representative of the character of the brook.
Turn around, it's easier going forwards. This is the most significant rapid on this section of the brook.
This is the biggest rapid on this section of the brook.
Phil Werner tries to tame Croyden Brook.
Looking upstream near the end of the run.