Boston Kayaker

Kayaking on Winooski River - in Waterbury VT Unrated - The Boston Kayaker does not have enough information or time to make a rating.   Put in at River Road   in Waterbury VT. Take out before dam on Power Plant   Road in Waterbury VT. Portage 2,000+ feet from   river to parking lot. Estimated distance   = 4.5 miles Bolton Dam   Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream   - factory tours available River name came fron Abenaki   word meaning "wild onion". Camel's Hump mountain and   state park on left horizon Little River enters   from right Little River   State Park Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to determine the legality, suitability and safety of this route for yourself.

Download printer-friendly PDF version that fits in one page:

Other resources: Friends of the Winooski Friends of the Winooski: Paddling Guide (16mb pdf), see pages 18 to 19 Friends of the Winooski: Paddling Guide (cached copy) Camel's Hump State Park Little River State Park Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory Tour Number of original photos on this page : 12 All photos in this website are original and copyrighted. Excerpt from Friends of the Winnooski Paddling Guide (page 18): Difficulty: Easy Description: A steady current flows through this section of the river, which is mostly flat. Shortly after Waterbury you will pass the Little River as it enters the Winooski. This stretch of the river passes through the Green Mountains, offering breathtaking views of both the Green Mountain Range and the Worcester Range. Camel’s Hump will be visible on the left. Rapids/Obstacles: None although paddlers should always watch for barely submerged rocks and woody debris. Put In: Waterbury Recreation Fields: access point is on the right, near the mouth of Thatcher Brook. Take Out: Bolton Dam Take Out is located on the left side of the river. It is marked by a small sign. It is a steep and sometimes muddy bank. The river is fairly wide and flat before it takes a turn to the left into the narrow Bolton Gorge. Be on the alert for the take out. Ropes and buoys, if present at all, will only be in the river during warmer months. You will need to carry your boat about 2000 feet. You can carry around the dam on a wide, well maintained, but relatively steep trail to the picnic area below the dam. Or you can park at a gate on River Road (do not block the gate) and carry your boat out along the access road. At the Rowe Field in Waterbury VT. Pictures taken July 2013. I walked along the river edge of this field and can not find a clear path to the Winooski River. At the Winooski Street Bridge in Waterbury VT. Looking downstream at the Winooski River from the Winooski Street bridge in Waterbury VT. An informal and suitable put in is on the left northwest of bridge. At River Road on the northwest of Winooski Street bridge is a small patch of access to Winooski River. Informal put in to the Winooski River at River Road in Waterbury VT. The Bolton Dam at Power Plant Road in Waterbury VT. At the right of this picture is the portage path to the take out above the dam. Canoe portage sign. The portage path is long and on a hilly terrain. Even just plain walking without portaging a kayak, the path to the take out above the dam is too much for me. I turned around and never got to the take out above the dam.