Winooski Falls

This wide cascade between the Chace Mill (Burlington shoreline) and Champlain Mill (Winooski shoreline) is the nearest whitewater to downtown Burlington. It can be frustrating waiting for the optimum levels for the main features, but there is always some whitewater to be had. In normal summer flows the ledges are fun to run. At higher levels huge holes form, making it very dangerous. There are several smaller features and waves that form at a variety of levels, about and below the main falls, so go check it out. These features are very level dependent. Just downstream of the road bridge is a large dam, constructed on top of a large fall. Usually there will be plenty of time to rescue swimmers but take care at higher levels. Except at levels below 1,000 cfs, paddling to points downstream of the bridge is strongly discouraged.  The trash rack on the river-right side of the dam amounts to a giant strainer where paddlers are concerned. The river flows through this rack into the power generation turbines or through fish bypass channels. Fortunately, there are very large eddies on river-left and river-right at levels up to at least 4,000 cfs, so if one is sensible and has decent skills one should be able to stay well upstream of the bridge. A notable feature between the mills is the so-called Green Wave, which normally develops at flows between roughly 2,900 and 4,200 cfs at the upstream end of the large river-right eddy alongside the Champlain Mill. This wave gets better as the level above the dam drops, which happens occasionally as dictated by dam operations. (The dam is normally under automatic control.) Downstream of the dam is Salmon Hole, where some more features form at various levels. Salmon Hole itself is a very large, slowly rotating pool, which empties into a wide Class II rapid running between an island and the river-right shoreline. At flows from 800 to 2,000 cfs, this rapid can be a good place for inexperienced paddlers to practice basic moving water skills. Salmon Hole is accessible by trail from Riverside Park, which is on Riverside Avenue less than two hundred yards from the bridge (and the dam). A pleasant flatwater trip can be had heading upstream from Winooski Falls, for about 3/4 of a mile under the interstate bridge, and up to the next dam (downstream of Lime Kiln Road). There is a short rapid under the interstate bridge which is easy to carry around. It also offers some modestly sized play waves which are well worth stopping to enjoy at flows above 2,500 cfs and below 6,000 cfs or so. Directions:- Head towards Winooski from Burlington. Take a right just before the bridge. Park uphill in the rear unpaved parking lot (at the bend in the river).  Putting in from the grassy bank next to the Winooski River Walk is also an option, but the free parking near the river are limited. Flow Info: The gauge is located upstream. There is no historical correlation data (?) so the range has been estimated based on the 75th percentile. If you run this section, please leave a comment with the level on the gauge.