We will explore a beautiful forty mile stretch of the Connecticut River from West Lebanon, New Hampshire to Bellows Falls, Vermont. We will spend two nights at the Wilgus State Park in Vermont. Originally built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this is the only developed state park on the Vermont shores of the Connecticut River.
Monday, October 7, 2024 – Paddling from West Lebanon, NH to Ascutney, VT
We will meet at 7am at the Adventure East shop and shuttle to West Lebanon, VT, approximately two hours away. We will start our paddle at the put-in along the West Lebanon Greenway and paddle 16 miles to the Wilgus State Park Campground where we will overnight. The day includes a portage around Sumner Falls and beautiful views of Mt Ascutney in Vermont. Meals included: Lunch on the river, Dinner. Miles paddling: 16
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 – Paddling from Ascutney, VT to Charlestown, NH
We will set out at 10am and will paddle from Wilgus State Park to Charlestown, New Hampshire. At the end of our paddle we will explore a beautifully restored seventeenth-centurey wood fort. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch on the river, Dinner. Miles paddling: 11
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 – Paddling from Charlestown, New Hampshire to Bellows Falls, Vermont
We set out at 10am with a shuttle down river approximately 11 miles. Where we will then paddle to Bellow Falls. This stretch of the river is very calm as the water is backed up by the Bellows Falls dam. It is a great section for bird watching. Below the dam at Bellows Falls we will explore petroglyphs left by the Abenakis who gathered here to fish salmon and shad. We expect to finish the day around 3pm.Followed by a shuttle back to Sunderland. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch on the river. Miles paddling: 9
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All meals
Round trip shuttle from Sunderland, MA
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will I have my own tent? We will provide a tent for each participant or pair up with your buddy if you’d like.
Will I have to carry all my gear in my kayak? We will shuttle your 40L overnight bag, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Each day you will paddle with your dry bag to carry personal items you will need while paddling and your lunch,
Will there be menu options? We will offer gluten free, vegan options.
What if the weather conditions are less than perfect? We will paddle rain or shine. Our guides will continuously monitor river flow and weather conditions to ensure safe paddling conditions. We will stop paddling and go ashore when there is thunder and lightning.
Will there be mosquitos? Yes, they are less inclined to hang out with us around our campfire. Long sleeves and long pants with socks will minimize their nuisance as well.
Are there showers? There are paid showers at the campground.
What kind of kayaks do you have? We have a variety of touring kayaks with rudders and fore and aft storage compartments. Most are between 14 and 15 feet in length. We will evaluate each guest for best fit when we assign a kayak.
Where do I leave my car? Everyone will ride the shuttle from the Adventure East shop to the put-in. We will provide you with details on the parking location in Sunderland prior to departure. We will shuttle you from the take-out in Sunderland back to your car.
