Lawrence Brook : Doane's Falls
Location - Royalston, MA
Difficulty - Class V Length - 0.5 miles
Level - High Date - May 2006
Difficulty - Class V Length - 0.5 miles
Level - High Date - May 2006
Doane's Falls is a series of 7 or 8 closely spaced drops on tiny Lawrence
Brook. Tucked away in a forgotten part of Massachusetts just south of the
New Hampshire border this stretch of river offers some of the best steep
whitewater in the state. A trail on river gives easy access for scouting and
repeat runs of the falls. Unfortunately, the land around the river is privately
owned by a conservation trust that has decided to prohibit swimming and
paddling in the river. The decision was spawned by the drowning death of
several swimmers over a relatively short period of time, but the closure to
boating and the land trust's unwillingness to negotiate really represents
close mindedness on their part. Regardless, Lawrence Brook is out of the
way and the area is not aggressively patrolled. In fact, few people know
about this treasure.
The run starts with a bang as you exit from underneath a gorgeous stone
arch bridge and boof hard left off of the first ten foot ledge to avoid a
shallow shelf. Whether or not you catch the small eddy may or not be up to
you, but the next bouncy ten foot ledge is immediately downstream. This
flows quickly into a clean twelve foot falls best run by boofing left. By this
point you will surely be pretty fired up and eager to start charging
downstream, but be careful. The next drop is a pretty sliding ledge between
twelve and fifteen feet tall, but it runs directly into a larger slide full of nasty
rocks at its base. I haven't heard of anyone running this chunky slide and
getting out of the gorge after the lead in slide is very tough. It is wise to take
out after the first three drops were there is access to the river right trail. Use
that trail to make an easy portage. Access back to the river is pretty simple
below the jumbled slide. Its really ashame this whole piece if river isn't clean.
Brook. Tucked away in a forgotten part of Massachusetts just south of the
New Hampshire border this stretch of river offers some of the best steep
whitewater in the state. A trail on river gives easy access for scouting and
repeat runs of the falls. Unfortunately, the land around the river is privately
owned by a conservation trust that has decided to prohibit swimming and
paddling in the river. The decision was spawned by the drowning death of
several swimmers over a relatively short period of time, but the closure to
boating and the land trust's unwillingness to negotiate really represents
close mindedness on their part. Regardless, Lawrence Brook is out of the
way and the area is not aggressively patrolled. In fact, few people know
about this treasure.
The run starts with a bang as you exit from underneath a gorgeous stone
arch bridge and boof hard left off of the first ten foot ledge to avoid a
shallow shelf. Whether or not you catch the small eddy may or not be up to
you, but the next bouncy ten foot ledge is immediately downstream. This
flows quickly into a clean twelve foot falls best run by boofing left. By this
point you will surely be pretty fired up and eager to start charging
downstream, but be careful. The next drop is a pretty sliding ledge between
twelve and fifteen feet tall, but it runs directly into a larger slide full of nasty
rocks at its base. I haven't heard of anyone running this chunky slide and
getting out of the gorge after the lead in slide is very tough. It is wise to take
out after the first three drops were there is access to the river right trail. Use
that trail to make an easy portage. Access back to the river is pretty simple
below the jumbled slide. Its really ashame this whole piece if river isn't clean.
Not to worry, the action starts again with Outer Limits, a steep
slide roughly thirty feet tall that is much steeper and way faster
than you might think from the scout. There is a good chance you
get up close and personal with the river right wall at the bottom of
this one. A moving pool leaves outer Limits and ends at the last
horizon line where the final twenty five foot falls waits for you to
nail a sweet boof. At low water do you best to avoid the auto boof
and try to plus this one since the landing is notoriously hard.
Doanes Falls is sweet. All of the pictures on this page are from a
scouting trip made in late May of 2006. Doanes runs often, but I
have only managed to run it a handful of times. Bring your "A"
game for sure, although noting is too tough.
slide roughly thirty feet tall that is much steeper and way faster
than you might think from the scout. There is a good chance you
get up close and personal with the river right wall at the bottom of
this one. A moving pool leaves outer Limits and ends at the last
horizon line where the final twenty five foot falls waits for you to
nail a sweet boof. At low water do you best to avoid the auto boof
and try to plus this one since the landing is notoriously hard.
Doanes Falls is sweet. All of the pictures on this page are from a
scouting trip made in late May of 2006. Doanes runs often, but I
have only managed to run it a handful of times. Bring your "A"
game for sure, although noting is too tough.
It doesn't get much better than this. The first three drops on Lawrence Brook at
Doane's Falls are pretty much perfect.
Doane's Falls are pretty much perfect.
If you run this fun slide be prepared to run the always portaged ledge that ends in a
blocky mess of upturned rocks.
blocky mess of upturned rocks.
The last falls is a really nice 25 footer with an auto boof ramp, although at lower levels
the landing is hard and plugging this drop is best.
the landing is hard and plugging this drop is best.
Outer Limits is the hardest drop on this short run. The top two thirds are seen
here. Don't underestimate this one.
here. Don't underestimate this one.