| Location |
Distance |
Access |
| Plainfield Recreation Area |
0 |
Left bank of river |
| East Montpelier |
5 miles |
Right bank of river |
| Montpelier |
12-13 miles |
Right bank of river |
To reach the Plainfield Recreation Area take a left off Route 2 (heading west) at the light in the center of town. The Plainfield hardware store is on the corner here. Then take your first right, follow this road over a small bridge and take your first right. There is a Plainfield Recreation Area sign but it is set back off the road. Put in near the basketball court.
From this access point until nearing the Route 2 bridge, there is a considerable set of class II rapids. Do not attempt these rapids if you are ill prepared. Use caution. Access can be found below the rapids on the right side, just before the river passes under the Route 2 bridge. Continuing downriver the currant is swift as the river meanders through alternating wooded and pasture lands.
Approximately 5 miles downriver, you will approach East Montpelier where a store can be found for supplies. As you canoe into East Montpelier you will be paddling right along Route 2. At the end of the Route 2 guardrail you can beach your canoe on the right. Continuing downriver you will pass under Route 14 and, on your right, the confluence of Bennett Brook.
On the left, just downstream from Bennett Brook, is an access which can be used to reach the Green Valley Campgrounds and is the recommended spot to end paddling this reach.
Paddling beyond this point involves portaging three dams with only short paddling distances between each. All can be portaged on the right, with the first dam requiring the use of ropes to lower the canoe and the last dam requiring take out 200 yards before the dam just under the power line crossing. Detailed portage maps are not provided.
HAZARD SIGNS ARE NOT PROVIDED FOR DAMS ABOVE MONTPELIER. CANOE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
