Deerfield River -
Monroe Bridge Dryway
Monroe Bridge Dryway
Location - Monroe Bridge, MA
Difficulty - Class III-IV Length - 4 miles
Level - 900 - 1,100 cfs
Date - 1995 - 2004
Difficulty - Class III-IV Length - 4 miles
Level - 900 - 1,100 cfs
Date - 1995 - 2004
I will always consider the Deerfield River to by my home run. I grew up
just over a half hour away from this river and learned to canoe and
kayak on the class II rapids of its lower reaches. When it came time to
run my first more difficult section of river, the Monroe Bridge Dryway
was the logical choice. With scheduled summer releases, a pool drop
character, and many supportive paddlers on hand, the Dryway is a
New England classic that has kept hordes of boaters entertained for
many years.
The Deerfield River flows for 73 miles from its headwaters in southern
Vermont before dropping into Massachusetts and ending in the
Connecticut River. In all there are ten dams on the Deerfield that
create reservoirs of various sizes and tightly control the amount of
water running between them at any given time. Prior to 1994, water
levels on the Deerfield River were notoriously difficult to predict, with
levels rising and falling at the whim of the utilities that operated the
hydroelectric facilities. I remember calling the “flow phone” to get the
day’s release report while planning trips with my dad. Generally
speaking, you could count on the dams releasing water in the
afternoon when the demand for electricity was generally highest and
making power most profitable.
Some stretches of the river, like the Monroe Bridge Dryway, were
permanently dewatered, save for when spring floods overwhelmed the
reservoir system and forced water to be spilled back into the natural
riverbed. Although infrequent, these unplanned releases happened
often enough so the word spread and boaters throughout the
Northeast knew of the potential for great whitewater on the upper
reaches of the Deerfield River.
Then, in the early 1990’s routine dam maintenance shut down the
diversion around the Monroe Bridge Dryway and put water back into
the river for several weeks in the middle of the summer. Word spread
quickly and soon many of the best boaters in New England were
getting runs on this great piece of whitewater. As luck would have it,
the discovery of this gem could not have come at a better time for
paddlers.
just over a half hour away from this river and learned to canoe and
kayak on the class II rapids of its lower reaches. When it came time to
run my first more difficult section of river, the Monroe Bridge Dryway
was the logical choice. With scheduled summer releases, a pool drop
character, and many supportive paddlers on hand, the Dryway is a
New England classic that has kept hordes of boaters entertained for
many years.
The Deerfield River flows for 73 miles from its headwaters in southern
Vermont before dropping into Massachusetts and ending in the
Connecticut River. In all there are ten dams on the Deerfield that
create reservoirs of various sizes and tightly control the amount of
water running between them at any given time. Prior to 1994, water
levels on the Deerfield River were notoriously difficult to predict, with
levels rising and falling at the whim of the utilities that operated the
hydroelectric facilities. I remember calling the “flow phone” to get the
day’s release report while planning trips with my dad. Generally
speaking, you could count on the dams releasing water in the
afternoon when the demand for electricity was generally highest and
making power most profitable.
Some stretches of the river, like the Monroe Bridge Dryway, were
permanently dewatered, save for when spring floods overwhelmed the
reservoir system and forced water to be spilled back into the natural
riverbed. Although infrequent, these unplanned releases happened
often enough so the word spread and boaters throughout the
Northeast knew of the potential for great whitewater on the upper
reaches of the Deerfield River.
Then, in the early 1990’s routine dam maintenance shut down the
diversion around the Monroe Bridge Dryway and put water back into
the river for several weeks in the middle of the summer. Word spread
quickly and soon many of the best boaters in New England were
getting runs on this great piece of whitewater. As luck would have it,
the discovery of this gem could not have come at a better time for
paddlers.
The license to operate many of the dams on the Deerfield was due to expire within several years and a unique opportunity to become involved in the licensing process
presented itself. The licenses are administered through FERC or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. To make their argument more effective, boaters joined
forces with other user groups, namely fishermen, to form a group known as FLOW, which worked with environmentalists and other concerned groups to hammer out a
license agreement that held the utilities responsible for the proper management of water in the Deerfield River’s watershed.
After years of fighting and tough negotiations a suitable agreement was reached in 1994 and the new 40 year operating license for the dams accommodated river users
of all kinds while being environmentally respectful. Included in the agreement were improved fish flows, the construction of access points, guaranteed scheduled releases
on two sections of the river, and improvements to the dams allowing for fish passage. The total value of the agreement was estimated at between 27 and 30 million dollars.
After my first run down the Dryway in the fall of 1995, I was addicted, and found myself on the river every chance I had. I would spend every minute of each 4 hour release
surfing, catching eddies, and working on taking new lines through the drops. In 1997 I took a job with Zoar Outdoor, a local raft company, and was soon guiding trips
down the Dryway. Hardly a weekend went by with me paddling the dry way and the river and its string community of boaters soon became family.
presented itself. The licenses are administered through FERC or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. To make their argument more effective, boaters joined
forces with other user groups, namely fishermen, to form a group known as FLOW, which worked with environmentalists and other concerned groups to hammer out a
license agreement that held the utilities responsible for the proper management of water in the Deerfield River’s watershed.
After years of fighting and tough negotiations a suitable agreement was reached in 1994 and the new 40 year operating license for the dams accommodated river users
of all kinds while being environmentally respectful. Included in the agreement were improved fish flows, the construction of access points, guaranteed scheduled releases
on two sections of the river, and improvements to the dams allowing for fish passage. The total value of the agreement was estimated at between 27 and 30 million dollars.
After my first run down the Dryway in the fall of 1995, I was addicted, and found myself on the river every chance I had. I would spend every minute of each 4 hour release
surfing, catching eddies, and working on taking new lines through the drops. In 1997 I took a job with Zoar Outdoor, a local raft company, and was soon guiding trips
down the Dryway. Hardly a weekend went by with me paddling the dry way and the river and its string community of boaters soon became family.
The Dryway starts in the town of Monroe Bridge, population 93, a short
ways below the Number 5 Station Dam. What used to be a heavily
eroded slope leading down to the river had been replaced by a set of
wooden stairs with a ramp for rafts. Many boaters flock here on summer
weekends for the 10:00 am releases which vary between 900 and 1,100
cfs. While those intimately familiar with the river can differentiate
between the various levels, the lines do not change in any of the rapids.
Class III factory Rapid starts the trip. This shallow rapid is somewhat
lengthy with the cleanest line starting right and ending in the wave train
down the middle at the bottom. Some debris from the factory lingers on
river right so be careful. For kayakers, eddies are plentiful, but
playspots are limited to the bottom of the rapid.
Below Factory Rapid the river swing to the right and runs through a
splashy class II rapid with a few small surf waves, splat rocks, and a
couple of nice deep eddy lines. The river soon bends back to the left
and enters a longer class II+ stretch with a nice breaking wave in the
center of the river. There is solid eddy access from river left and
boaters often stop here to play for a while when the levels are right.
While it is a good surf spot the wave has the dubious distinction of
being called the “Let Down Wave” because it is never quite as good as
it looks.
After this class II+ section the Dryway briefly pools up before entering
the first bigger rapid of the trip. Split Hair is a solid class III or III+ with
lots of eddies and some of the better surfs on the run. Clean lines are
found on the left and right side of the huge boulder splitting the river
halfway through the rapid. For skilled boaters in faster boats Split Rock
is a playground, with attainment moves and lots of slalom style play. I
generally get a great workout here, especially after stopping to surf the
breaking wave in the middle of the rapid and the glassy one near the
end.
Easier class III continues from the bottom of Split Hair with many more
eddies and a shallow hole that offers up some play on river left. This is
another feature that looks better than it is, and the truth is that rafts
typically have better surfs here than kayakers. When the two major raft
companies run their boats through this stretch quite a crowd can form.
Again, motivated boaters can get a phenomenal workout through this
section and the next class II bit that leads into Left Turn. Left Turn is
another solid class III rapid that builds in intensity as the river swings to
the left. A row of boulders at the top make holes at some flows and
some big waves lead to the bottom a few hundred yards below. This is
one of the longest rapids on the river and a great play wave can be
found in its midst, with touchy eddy service on river right.
Left Turn eventually eases into class I and the Deerfield enters it
longest calm stretch, which lasts for about three hundred yards. A some
what non descript class III follows with a fun slot move on river right and
some nice waves. Easier water is found again before the confluence
with Dunbar Brook and the last four rapids of the trip. The confluence
with Dunbar Brook is marked by a bouldery creek that is most often
carrying just trickle of water. This is the last place on the river where a
boater in way over his head could exit the river. By following the creek a
trail can be followed up the takeout parking lot.
ways below the Number 5 Station Dam. What used to be a heavily
eroded slope leading down to the river had been replaced by a set of
wooden stairs with a ramp for rafts. Many boaters flock here on summer
weekends for the 10:00 am releases which vary between 900 and 1,100
cfs. While those intimately familiar with the river can differentiate
between the various levels, the lines do not change in any of the rapids.
Class III factory Rapid starts the trip. This shallow rapid is somewhat
lengthy with the cleanest line starting right and ending in the wave train
down the middle at the bottom. Some debris from the factory lingers on
river right so be careful. For kayakers, eddies are plentiful, but
playspots are limited to the bottom of the rapid.
Below Factory Rapid the river swing to the right and runs through a
splashy class II rapid with a few small surf waves, splat rocks, and a
couple of nice deep eddy lines. The river soon bends back to the left
and enters a longer class II+ stretch with a nice breaking wave in the
center of the river. There is solid eddy access from river left and
boaters often stop here to play for a while when the levels are right.
While it is a good surf spot the wave has the dubious distinction of
being called the “Let Down Wave” because it is never quite as good as
it looks.
After this class II+ section the Dryway briefly pools up before entering
the first bigger rapid of the trip. Split Hair is a solid class III or III+ with
lots of eddies and some of the better surfs on the run. Clean lines are
found on the left and right side of the huge boulder splitting the river
halfway through the rapid. For skilled boaters in faster boats Split Rock
is a playground, with attainment moves and lots of slalom style play. I
generally get a great workout here, especially after stopping to surf the
breaking wave in the middle of the rapid and the glassy one near the
end.
Easier class III continues from the bottom of Split Hair with many more
eddies and a shallow hole that offers up some play on river left. This is
another feature that looks better than it is, and the truth is that rafts
typically have better surfs here than kayakers. When the two major raft
companies run their boats through this stretch quite a crowd can form.
Again, motivated boaters can get a phenomenal workout through this
section and the next class II bit that leads into Left Turn. Left Turn is
another solid class III rapid that builds in intensity as the river swings to
the left. A row of boulders at the top make holes at some flows and
some big waves lead to the bottom a few hundred yards below. This is
one of the longest rapids on the river and a great play wave can be
found in its midst, with touchy eddy service on river right.
Left Turn eventually eases into class I and the Deerfield enters it
longest calm stretch, which lasts for about three hundred yards. A some
what non descript class III follows with a fun slot move on river right and
some nice waves. Easier water is found again before the confluence
with Dunbar Brook and the last four rapids of the trip. The confluence
with Dunbar Brook is marked by a bouldery creek that is most often
carrying just trickle of water. This is the last place on the river where a
boater in way over his head could exit the river. By following the creek a
trail can be followed up the takeout parking lot.
The first of the last four rapids, Dunbar Brook, is a long class IV boulder garden with more great slalom practice, surf waves, and a couple of bigger features that most
paddlers chose to avoid. A variety of slots can spice up the drop and some nice splat rocks can be found down near the bottom of the rapid as briefly pools up before
swinging to the right. False Tooth is up next, because it is the last rapid above Dragon’s Tooth, the biggest rapid on the run. On early runs nervous boaters worried
about the hole in Dragon’s Tooth would prematurely think they had reached the crux rapid.
False Tooth is somewhat nondescript, but entertaining nonetheless. A small pool with some large boulders and plenty of eddies follows the rapid and boaters find
themselves sitting above the largest horizon line on the run. Dragon’s Tooth sits at the bottom of a deep valley and huge house sized boulders line the banks of the
river. The standard line starts right, moves center to punch a big hole, and finished by running out through some crashing waves. For solid boaters there are many
eddies, lots of great moves to make, and some excellent surfing.
paddlers chose to avoid. A variety of slots can spice up the drop and some nice splat rocks can be found down near the bottom of the rapid as briefly pools up before
swinging to the right. False Tooth is up next, because it is the last rapid above Dragon’s Tooth, the biggest rapid on the run. On early runs nervous boaters worried
about the hole in Dragon’s Tooth would prematurely think they had reached the crux rapid.
False Tooth is somewhat nondescript, but entertaining nonetheless. A small pool with some large boulders and plenty of eddies follows the rapid and boaters find
themselves sitting above the largest horizon line on the run. Dragon’s Tooth sits at the bottom of a deep valley and huge house sized boulders line the banks of the
river. The standard line starts right, moves center to punch a big hole, and finished by running out through some crashing waves. For solid boaters there are many
eddies, lots of great moves to make, and some excellent surfing.
Immediately following Dragon’s Tooth the river enters Labyrinth, a long
technical boulder slalom with a few holed and a couple of nasty spots
to avoid. For rafters this stretch of the river is really the crux of the run,
and many kayakers that celebrate after having made it through Dragon’
s Tooth end up getting munched in the last part of Labyrinth.
Depending on the level of the reservoir that the river flows into this
final quarter mile of boulder gardens may be completely buried under
the placid waters of the lake.
technical boulder slalom with a few holed and a couple of nasty spots
to avoid. For rafters this stretch of the river is really the crux of the run,
and many kayakers that celebrate after having made it through Dragon’
s Tooth end up getting munched in the last part of Labyrinth.
Depending on the level of the reservoir that the river flows into this
final quarter mile of boulder gardens may be completely buried under
the placid waters of the lake.
