Source for driving directions: Greg and Sue Hanlon's
Steep Creeks of New England, which has more info on this run. Text used with permission.
Directions: Take I-93 through Plymouth. Take Exit 26 to Rte. 25 West. Head several miles, and stay on Rte. 25 past the Rte. 3A rotary to Halls Brook Rd. on the left. That's the takeout.
To putin: drive up Hall's Brook Rd. 2.4 miles upstream
to a small snowmobile bridge.
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This run begins as a trickle, but soon the fun begins.
As you progress down this tiny creek (which at times feels
almost like a drainage ditch) the volume will increase.
There are chutes, ledges, some small (6-8') waterfalls,
and boulder gardens galore. The action is continuous,
tight, and technical--New England creeking at its best.
Most of it is read and run class IV, and with the exception
of a few stream-spanning logs that you'll need to portage
around, everything is runnable.
Don't be mistaken however, this creek presents an
essentially class V experience that should not be taken
lightly, especially at a high water level. The highlight of
the run is a long continuous class V meatgrinder known as
Federal Express. This rapid is visible from the road, and
begins just after the gage abutement bridge, so scout
before you put on and see if you're up to it. The line is
fairly obvious, but it is steep, and there are definitely a
few spots you will need to avoid. Because this rapid is
formed by rock from the roadblast, it is relatively trashy
and chaotic compared to the rest of the run, but it is a
good indication of the continuous challenges you will face
up and downstream.
All told, this creek is a gem. If you are an experienced
paddler looking to enter the world of steep creeking, or a
seasoned veteran of the bone zone, you will find at least
a dozen beautiful drops and rapids to drool over. Because
the drainage is so small, you will have to catch this creek
soon after a good rainfall, but it is well worth whatever effort
it takes you to get there.