West River
Location - Jamaica, VT
Difficulty - Class III Length - 3 miles
Level - Standard release Date - Fall 1996 / 1999
Difficulty - Class III Length - 3 miles
Level - Standard release Date - Fall 1996 / 1999
The West River in southern Vermont is a fall staple for New
England boaters. Typically dewatered by a large flood control
project, the stretch of the West River from Ball Mt Dam to
Jamaica State Park provides about 3 miles of fun class III
whitewater, with one more difficult rapid. While the West is
certainly not the most demanding run around, the fact that it
flows infrequently and during the otherwise dry autumn season
has helped establish it as a New England classic. Although the
hay-day of boating on the West River may be passing, the
releases attract hundreds of paddlers of all skill levels. The
clean and deep rapids are fun, but seeing old friends and
socializing your way down the river is really what makes this run
so special.
Accessing the put in for the West is really one of the most
memorable parts of the run. Boaters must walk up a service road
to the top of the Ball Mountain dam from where they have a bird’
s eye view of the first long class III rapid. To reach the river you
have to hike down the face of the earthen dam, which is several
hundred feet high. Recently a path has been built to make the
hike easier, but prior to the graded switch backing trail a rough
goat trail led over a jumble of rocks to the put in eddy. The West
is commercially rafted and the throngs of clients making their
way down the trail look like some bizarre army haphazardly
marching along.
For beginners and intermediates the put in eddy can be a bit
disconcerting. Water being released from the base of the Ball
Mountain dam emerges from a tunnel and spills over a steep
jumble of rocks before heading downstream. The eddy itself,
while large, has a slight surge to it and the first rapid, a long and
powerful class III, takes off immediately downstream. The first two
hundred yards of the run are probably the most difficult.
England boaters. Typically dewatered by a large flood control
project, the stretch of the West River from Ball Mt Dam to
Jamaica State Park provides about 3 miles of fun class III
whitewater, with one more difficult rapid. While the West is
certainly not the most demanding run around, the fact that it
flows infrequently and during the otherwise dry autumn season
has helped establish it as a New England classic. Although the
hay-day of boating on the West River may be passing, the
releases attract hundreds of paddlers of all skill levels. The
clean and deep rapids are fun, but seeing old friends and
socializing your way down the river is really what makes this run
so special.
Accessing the put in for the West is really one of the most
memorable parts of the run. Boaters must walk up a service road
to the top of the Ball Mountain dam from where they have a bird’
s eye view of the first long class III rapid. To reach the river you
have to hike down the face of the earthen dam, which is several
hundred feet high. Recently a path has been built to make the
hike easier, but prior to the graded switch backing trail a rough
goat trail led over a jumble of rocks to the put in eddy. The West
is commercially rafted and the throngs of clients making their
way down the trail look like some bizarre army haphazardly
marching along.
For beginners and intermediates the put in eddy can be a bit
disconcerting. Water being released from the base of the Ball
Mountain dam emerges from a tunnel and spills over a steep
jumble of rocks before heading downstream. The eddy itself,
while large, has a slight surge to it and the first rapid, a long and
powerful class III, takes off immediately downstream. The first two
hundred yards of the run are probably the most difficult.
This first rapid is called Landslide and while it is really just a
series of clean waves if run down the middle, the water is
powerful and things are continuous. Long swims are not
uncommon, especially since the river is frequented by boaters
of all skill levels. A great surf wave for longer boats lies in the
middle of Landslide. In the run out of Landslide fast current
continues to a low island, but the majority of the flow stays to
the right. Another fun wavetrain waits here with a few waves
that were lots of fun back in the days of long boats. We would
spend hours surfing these fast and glassy waves, while most
paddlers in short new playboats simply paddle on through and
throw a wavewheel or two. However, enough old schoolers still
break out the long boats and rip up these waves on the West.
One of the great things about paddling in New England is that
you see people out in every kind of boat imaginable. On the
West expect to see slalom boats, C1’s, kayaks long and short,
and even a few tandem canoes. In the 1970’s the West River
was considered a great test piece since most paddlers were
running things in aluminum open boats with little or no
floatation. Today a tandem canoe is a rare sight on the upper
West. When my girlfriend and I ran this in my tripping canoe
with minimal floatation a few years ago I was surprised to get
so many stares and words of caution about the rapids.
Although we took on lots of water and had to bail often, we
styled the run and had a great time. However, I have to admit
that a spray deck would be useful and if you plan on tandem
boating the upper West you better know what you are doing or
else there is good chance you won’t be heading home with
your canoe in one piece.
Below the island a pretty heavy class III rapid starts again and
a few large waves and holes are encountered. A giant boulder
sits on the outside of a sweeping bend to the left and it is best
avoided. More good surf spots can be found in this stretch,
again, especially for longer boats. This rapid settles down and
the next landmark is Cobb Brook, which enters on river left.
This serves as an alternate put in for people not wanting to run
the initial heavy water.
The next mile of river is essentially one long class II+ rapid with
many eddies and waves. There are plenty of dry lines for
canoes and plenty of interesting spots for kayakers. There are
no real defined rapids or landmarks until the river makes a
sharp right hand turn and enters another class III rapid. The
outside of the bend holds a nice boof rock while the right leads
cleanly through a fun wave train. Below the river bends 90
degrees back to the left and a deep eddy will probably be full
of every squirt boaters out on the river. Deep mystery moves
are possible here.
A straightaway follows with a heavy class II rapid leading to the
most defined single rapid of the trip. The Dumplings is
recognized where river appears to be blocked by a series of
house sized boulders. The standard line starts far left and
drives right to avoid am idly undercut boulder that can flip rafts.
Once you snake between these first few boulders it is a clear
shot to the bottom. Other lines exist through the slots in the
middle of the river. If you head over there be ready to do
some pillow moves and deal with pourovers. A huge eddy is
found on river right near the bottom of the Dumplings and back
in the day this used to be one of the best playspots in New
England. The water dropping down next to the huge river right
rock at the head of the eddyline creates the perfect ender
spot. Big old boats used to get thrown completely out of the
water. Even C2’s and tandem kayaks can get launched here. A
huge line used to form in the eddy and people would hang out
here for hours working on pirouettes and other old school
moves.
series of clean waves if run down the middle, the water is
powerful and things are continuous. Long swims are not
uncommon, especially since the river is frequented by boaters
of all skill levels. A great surf wave for longer boats lies in the
middle of Landslide. In the run out of Landslide fast current
continues to a low island, but the majority of the flow stays to
the right. Another fun wavetrain waits here with a few waves
that were lots of fun back in the days of long boats. We would
spend hours surfing these fast and glassy waves, while most
paddlers in short new playboats simply paddle on through and
throw a wavewheel or two. However, enough old schoolers still
break out the long boats and rip up these waves on the West.
One of the great things about paddling in New England is that
you see people out in every kind of boat imaginable. On the
West expect to see slalom boats, C1’s, kayaks long and short,
and even a few tandem canoes. In the 1970’s the West River
was considered a great test piece since most paddlers were
running things in aluminum open boats with little or no
floatation. Today a tandem canoe is a rare sight on the upper
West. When my girlfriend and I ran this in my tripping canoe
with minimal floatation a few years ago I was surprised to get
so many stares and words of caution about the rapids.
Although we took on lots of water and had to bail often, we
styled the run and had a great time. However, I have to admit
that a spray deck would be useful and if you plan on tandem
boating the upper West you better know what you are doing or
else there is good chance you won’t be heading home with
your canoe in one piece.
Below the island a pretty heavy class III rapid starts again and
a few large waves and holes are encountered. A giant boulder
sits on the outside of a sweeping bend to the left and it is best
avoided. More good surf spots can be found in this stretch,
again, especially for longer boats. This rapid settles down and
the next landmark is Cobb Brook, which enters on river left.
This serves as an alternate put in for people not wanting to run
the initial heavy water.
The next mile of river is essentially one long class II+ rapid with
many eddies and waves. There are plenty of dry lines for
canoes and plenty of interesting spots for kayakers. There are
no real defined rapids or landmarks until the river makes a
sharp right hand turn and enters another class III rapid. The
outside of the bend holds a nice boof rock while the right leads
cleanly through a fun wave train. Below the river bends 90
degrees back to the left and a deep eddy will probably be full
of every squirt boaters out on the river. Deep mystery moves
are possible here.
A straightaway follows with a heavy class II rapid leading to the
most defined single rapid of the trip. The Dumplings is
recognized where river appears to be blocked by a series of
house sized boulders. The standard line starts far left and
drives right to avoid am idly undercut boulder that can flip rafts.
Once you snake between these first few boulders it is a clear
shot to the bottom. Other lines exist through the slots in the
middle of the river. If you head over there be ready to do
some pillow moves and deal with pourovers. A huge eddy is
found on river right near the bottom of the Dumplings and back
in the day this used to be one of the best playspots in New
England. The water dropping down next to the huge river right
rock at the head of the eddyline creates the perfect ender
spot. Big old boats used to get thrown completely out of the
water. Even C2’s and tandem kayaks can get launched here. A
huge line used to form in the eddy and people would hang out
here for hours working on pirouettes and other old school
moves.
Today the scene has changed. The ender spot is no fun for
today’s playboats unless you are into getting unspectacularly
devastated by an eddy line. The spot is created by water
pouring over the edge a boulder and there is no hole or wave
to play on. A few waves can be found in the runout, but in
general this is only the place to be if you have a huge old
kayak. The rest of the run is unremarkable enough in a new
generation playboat that it would almost be more to paddle
the West River in a big boat.
Lots of fun class II with a few interesting spots that could give
up cartwheels and loops follow the Dumplings. The standard
takeout is on river right at the town’s soccer field where a
yearly fundraiser charges for parking. About five more miles
of heavy class II and II+ whitewater leads to the Vermont
Route 100 bridge where you will find limited free parking. This
stretch is popular with canoers and kayakers looking for less
excitement than the upper stretches of the river have to
offer. It is a scenic float with a few fun spots. In particular is a
rapid made by some ledges within site of the take out bridge.
A few of the holes in there can get sticky, trust me.
today’s playboats unless you are into getting unspectacularly
devastated by an eddy line. The spot is created by water
pouring over the edge a boulder and there is no hole or wave
to play on. A few waves can be found in the runout, but in
general this is only the place to be if you have a huge old
kayak. The rest of the run is unremarkable enough in a new
generation playboat that it would almost be more to paddle
the West River in a big boat.
Lots of fun class II with a few interesting spots that could give
up cartwheels and loops follow the Dumplings. The standard
takeout is on river right at the town’s soccer field where a
yearly fundraiser charges for parking. About five more miles
of heavy class II and II+ whitewater leads to the Vermont
Route 100 bridge where you will find limited free parking. This
stretch is popular with canoers and kayakers looking for less
excitement than the upper stretches of the river have to
offer. It is a scenic float with a few fun spots. In particular is a
rapid made by some ledges within site of the take out bridge.
A few of the holes in there can get sticky, trust me.