New Haven

The lower New Haven is a great alternative run if the New Haven Ledges are too high. It is a significantly easier run than the Ledges, and is a great playboat run.

Its is not often possible to combine a run down the Ledges with a run on the Lower New Haven, due to the difference in runnable flows, although there is a small overlap.

Putting in at the church, interesting rapids lead down to the next bridge. From there it is fairly easy going until you reach the outskirts of Bristol. One notable playwave awaits where the river runs next to the road. The biggest rapid occurs where the river plunges over some boulders beneath the road bridge on the outskirts of Bristol. After this drop, the river is totally continous for the next mile down to the takeout.

Directions:

Put in:-- From Bristol, take Rte. 116 East for a couple of miles. Just before the second New Haven bridge, lurn left into the White Church parking lot, and park next to the river. Please change conservatively. On a busy church day, park in the last pull-off on Lincoln Rd.

Take out:- Head back into Bristol. At the intersection in the centre of town, take a left, and head downhill on River Street. Checkout the rapid under the bridge, its the hardest on the river. Continue down the road another mile. The takeout is just after the next bridge. Parking is available just off the left after the bridge.

Further downstream is Dog Team Falls