Contoocook River - Henniker, NH

The Contoocook River is a squiggly beast that is one of the few rivers that runs very West-East through New Hampshire. I've paddled this as far west as Hancock and as far east as Boscawen, where it dumps into the Merrimack River. Every section of this river that I've paddled has been very nice, but the spot I found today tops any other so far.

I went hunting for a place to put in here because (like Hopkinton Reservoir) there's a spot on Rt 202 that crosses the river and I always look down and see a beautiful body of water. So I got up early and went to where Google Maps and I were sure was a perfect put in.... Well other than being the edge of an old bridge and 40 feet up it would have been. Undaunted I started taking random roads that followed along the river until I finally found a boat ramp in wonderful Henniker. (The only Henniker on Earth mind you.)

Just look for the Army Corps of Engineers sign. Even the put in itself is very peaceful. I did a little bird watching from the parking lot after my paddle.

So on this trip I decided to head east, for the sole purpose of attempting to connect to Hopkinton Reservoir, one of my favorite spots of all. (See my review of that.) As you'll see by the map below, I went part way up a canal. This is where you hit a small water drop which is what prevented me from going down this way from the lake. Portage would actually be rather easy, I just don't like getting my feet wet.

Tip to tail, a great body of water. A slow meandering "river". You can't even feel the current. Right at the start of this paddle there is a very shallow section where you're sure to scrub a rock or two, nothing bad. Slowed progress a bit on the return just because I couldn't get my paddle deep into the water. Eventually you'll pass under the Rt 202 bridge and deal with a bit of highway noise, but it's short lived. This section of river is pretty low to the surrounding land so overall it was very quiet. If you go out 2.5 miles you'll hit the Hopkinton Dam itself, a pretty neat view.  Great wildlife on this trip! Turtles, otters, fish, variety of birds, the deer was faster than my camera and the best was a horned owl!!!

I'll probably have a report on the west bound side soon. I'll be returning there very shortly.

Dates visited: 06/26/16

Put in: N43.16630° W71.77159°

Motor Boats: Yes* If you go east, I don't believe there is any way a power boat could go this direction.

Scenery:  5 Bisons

Serenity:  5 Bisons

Length: 5 mi (It's a river, as long as you want really)

Rating:  5 Bisons