Connecticut Water Trails Association
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Connecticut Water Trails Association |
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Connecticut Water Trails Program Connecticut Rivers Mount Hope River
Site
Location: Basic Information: The Mount Hope River is formed at a swampy drainage about 2 miles north of Westford, Connecticut and flows about 14.5 miles to Mansfield Hollow Lake just south of Atwoodville, Connecticut. Type:
Season: Site Contact Information: Site Coordinates:
Longitude
72.16188
° W
USGS Quadrangles: Westford and Spring Hill Driving Directions: Directions Map: Regulations: Toilets: Parking: Parking Spaces: Parking Fees: Boat Launch Information: ADA Access: Site Description: Environment: Additional Info:
The Mount Hope River is formed at a swampy drainage about 2 miles north of Westford, Connecticut and flows about 14.5 miles to Mansfield Hollow Lake just south of Atwoodville, Connecticut. A popular whitewater paddling route starts along Route 89 about 1/10th of a mile north of the junction with U.S. Route 44. After about 1 mile of mostly quickwater, the river flows through occasional Class II whitewater with difficult Class III whitewater near Mansfield Hollow Lake for a total of about 7 miles of whitewater paddling.
USGS Quadrangle:
Spring Hill
Paddle Length:
8 miles.
On The Water: This river is a small tributary of the
Natchuag River. A great paddle when water levels are up. The
rapids run the whole length and move from Class II – Class III+. The river can be paddled for another 5.5 miles above
Juniper Road – which is a mix of flatwater and several easy rapids.
Cautions: Watch out for fallen trees.
USGS Real Time Water Data / Gauge
Warrenville – Juniper Road
USGS Quadrangle:
Spring Hill
Type of Water:
Lake, Flatwater, Quickwater, Class I & II
Paddle Length:
5.5 miles
Portage: Put In: Westford Road & Connecticut Route 89 Bridge Longitude:
72.178972 W
Latitude:
41.920312 N Or Put In: Westford Hill Road & Connecticut 89 Longitude:
72.167776 W
Latitude:
41.888091 N Put In : Tremko Lane Longitude:
72.162969 W
Latitude:
41.86446
N Put In: Varga Road Longitude:
72.16853399999999 W
Latitude:
41.840522 N Put In: Mount
Hope Road Longitude:
72.178832 W
Latitude:
41.824856 N Put In: Laurel
Lane, Mansfield Longitude:
72.16628400000001 W
Latitude:
41.812088 N Take Out:
Juniper Lane, Mansfield Longitude:
72.171198 W
Latitude:
41.796303 N
On The Water: The put in is at the Connecticut Route 89 Bridge – a
½ mile above US 44 in Warrenville. A mixture of flatwater and quickwater
will be what you’ll encounter foe the next 3.25 miles after the US 44
bridge a ½ mile in and the next bridge on Connecticut Route 89 – 2.25
miles away. The river then narrows for the next 100 yards of Class II
rapids at a left hand turn. Intermittent rapids continue for ¼ mile to
Mount Hope Road Bridge at
3.25 miles in which is next to a traffic light. These rapids are more
difficult to navigate in high water levels. For the next 2.25 miles you hit flatwater and
quickwater as you pass the next small bridge as you continue on to
Juniper Lane bridge at 5.5 miles in. Take out above the bridge on the
right side or continue in Class II+ rapids to
Mansfield Hollow Lake.
Cautions: Watch for fallen trees and beaver dams.
Juniper Road –
Mansfield Hollow Lake Boat
Launch
USGS Quadrangle:
Spring Hill
Type of Water:
Class II+
Paddle Length:
2.5 miles
Portage: Double Ledge – Atwoodville Class III+ - 1.25 miles
in Put-In: Juniper
Lane, Mansfield Longitude:
72.171198 W
Latitude:
41.796303 N Take Out:
Mansfield
Hollow Lake Boat Launch
Longitude
72°10'31.99"W Latitude
On The Water: You put in above Juniper Road bridge which you can
reach by taking a right onto Connecticut Route 89 from Route I-84 and
driving 2.5 miles to Juniper road. The rapids below the bridge maybe shallow and scrape
the bottom of your boat if the water is low. For the next several hundred yards you’ll travel in
rapids to a drop with several large boulders in a left turn. You’ll then
pass a low rock dam and downstream form that several islands split the
river – with your best route on
the right. Watch for fallen trees here. As the river gets steeper on its approach to
Atwoodville. There is a sharp right hand turn above Atwoodville bridge
with Class III+ double ledge which can be a problem during high levels
of water. This section should be scouted from all sides. The ledges drop
about 2 feet and then 1.6 feet. The top ledge can be run on the left or
on the right through a narrow turning channel. Be aware of several rocks
on the left side of the approach. The second drop should be run down the
center to avoid rocks on both sides of the run. Below the bridge is a ¼ mile of Class II+ rapids
which start out as a 50 yard chute of fast water. When the river turns
right – you encounter several large rocks to navigate with the best
route to the left. The next section has rocks and sharp drops. The
rapids end in a steep Class III drop which must be paddled on the left
because of sharp rocks on the right side of this section. From here it’s
a ½ mile paddle in the
Mansfield Hollow Lake to the take out.
Cautions: Watch out for fallen trees. Site History:
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