When you are looking for a way to fill a sweet afternoon this is it.
Tad - old school grooving at 6100cfs
The Main Drag Wave at Hartland Rapid on the Connecticut River has been a regional favorite for decades. This popularity is largely due to the fact that it runs regularly for at least half the year, is friendly to a variety of skill levels, and is just a lot of fun. It runs many days in mild winters, comes in again at the end of the spring, and usually runs almost every day of the summer and fall. Flow is dependent on dam releases from Wilder Dam (on the CT River) upstream, the White River, the Mascoma River, and the Ottauquechee River. However, most of the time when the wave is running, all of these flow contributors (save wilder dam) are incidental due to low levels.
Tad - chilling out on surfers' right
The wave is good at what is typically one or two 'tubes' worth of dam release. That usually translates into 3000-6500 cfs. At the lower end of the spectrum shorter boats will be happier and at the higher end vice versa. The wave is about 20ft wide, at lower levels surfers' right being a diagonal breaking wave pushing the surfer into the narrow surfer's left pile. At the higher end the surfers' right side becomes a green wave that's easily surfable in older (longer/faster) playboats, while the surfer's left breaking pocket allows a wider range of boats & boaters a chance to stay retentive on the wave.
At the higher levels pictured here I have had single rides of over an hour, just enjoying carving back and forth and watching the water. Alternatively you can take a more aggressive rodeo approach and throw spins and blunts both ways. Much more than that will probably lead to a flush and a light touch is necessary regardless.
This is a great wave for learning to surf. The eddy access is excellent, at low levels it's easy to stay on, and at high levels it's easy to avoid pearling. Many paddlers have learned to surf here in longer boats, in fact, at even higher levels when the wave flattens out more and allows real ease in dropping on and maintaining the appropriate boat angle. ~8000 cfs. Basically you can surf anything here and have a good time at the right level.
This wave is rarely crowded with the agro-rodeo crowd as 'hard core' & linked moves are not easy. It is much more loved and appreciated by the old schoolers out for a soul surf. Don't have a fashionable playboat? NO WORRIES!!
Jimmy - the wave that loves creekboats
So get out there and enjoy!
You can access the wave either from VT or NH.
For NH drive south out of west lebanon on 12a. Turn right onto River Road and drive a few miles. Stop at the end of a long flat stretch (of road) just before you go up a hill. There is a small pullout on the river side of the road. From here put in and paddle down to the wave. To get back up to your car, paddle back up the VT side eddy to the parking area there , walk up to the top of the rapid, put back on and ferry back above the rapid to NH and your car. This is the best access especially in the seasons (cold half of the year) when the gate is locked on the VT side.
For VT drive south on Rte 5 from White River Jct., past North Hartland. It is a few miles of driving. You will come to a long flat open stretch of road where Mt Ascutney is plainly visible to the south. You are almost there. You will pass a small beef farm on the right. Immediately thereafter on the left is an unmarked dirt driveway with a metal gate about 50 feet in. Drive down here. If you drive over the freeway (I-91) you've gone a bit too far. If the gate is open, drive down as far as you like, put in at the top of the rapid and paddle. To get back to your car paddle back up the VT side eddy to the takeout and walk back up. If the gate is locked just park off to the side of the drive by the road and walk down.
To find out the levels the best forecast is www.h2oline.com. look at the wilder dam forecast and current release. This is pretty reliable. You have four hours from when the water is released before it reaches Hartlands. You can verify the release using the USGS gauge for the CT river at west lebanon, nh. The water takes 3 hrs to get to hartlands from there. Be aware of what the White river, Mascoma River and Ottauquechee are doing as well, as that will affect the level if they have any substantial flow. See USGS website for the White and Ottauquechee and NH DES for the Mascoma.
