New Boston Section of the Farmington

The Farmington is often run during the autumn drawdown of Otis Reservoir.
The following info was provided by ChuckB on the Northeast Paddler's Message Board, and Don Getzin of the AMC.

Upper Upper Section: Otis to Tolland State Forest Bridge, Class I+-II, 5 Miles

ChuckB - "This should be a fairly easy class II, although it is a lot more rocky and techical than Fife Brook. It is pretty steep for a class II, but the small volume keeps the pace slow."
Don Getzin - "The uppermost section is CL1+. Turn left (north) on MA 8 as you leave the American Legion Hall parking lot. In a few miles you will see many boats and cars on the right in the rest stop where the whitewater slalom races are being held. These races are sponsored by AMC and AWA. The take-out for the CL1+ section is just above the bridge near the start of the racecourse. Continue north on MA 8 for a few miles more until you see an open field on the right where there are boats and cars. This is the CL1+ put-in. Drive to the far end of the field and turn right onto the grass/dirt road."

Upper Upper Section: Otis to Tolland State Forest Bridge, Class I+-II, 5 Miles
ChuckB - "This should be a fairly easy class II, although it is a lot more rocky and techical than Fife Brook. It is pretty steep for a class II, but the small volume keeps the pace slow." Don Getzin - "The uppermost section is CL1+. Turn left (north) on MA 8 as you leave the American Legion Hall parking lot. In a few miles you will see many boats and cars on the right in the rest stop where the whitewater slalom races are being held. These races are sponsored by AMC and AWA. The take-out for the CL1+ section is just above the bridge near the start of the racecourse. Continue north on MA 8 for a few miles more until you see an open field on the right where there are boats and cars. This is the CL1+ put-in. Drive to the far end of the field and turn right onto the grass/dirt road."

Upper Farmington Section: Tolland State Forest Bridge to New Boston Route 8 Bridge, Class III-IV, 3 Miles

ChuckB - "The middle section is probably the one most commonly run and is rated conservatively as class III-IV. It is actually pretty steep, averaging about 75 ft/mi drop, but the low volume keeps the pace down so it isn't that difficult. It is very rocky and technical, but the moves aren't hard to make because the current is fairly easy, at least at lower levels. There are, I think, three spots that are a little harder than the rest which probably contributed to the IV rating. It's probably overrated, but this section is probably tough for canoes as there is not much maneuvering room. The common takeout for the middle section is at the American Legion field downstream of the New Boston bridge. There may be a fee involved but I can't remember."
Don Getzin - "The middle section is CL3+. The put-in for this section is just below the finish line of the racecourse. The take-out for this section is the American Legion campground, but only if you have permission! This section is very bony and has many pinning possibilities. You must be very, very quick to be successful here. Those who wish to avoid the somewhat harder parts can put in below Decoration Rock. However, there are still several difficult and unavoidable drops below that."

Upper Farmington Section: Tolland State Forest Bridge to New Boston Route 8 Bridge, Class III-IV, 3 Miles
ChuckB - "The middle section is probably the one most commonly run and is rated conservatively as class III-IV. It is actually pretty steep, averaging about 75 ft/mi drop, but the low volume keeps the pace down so it isn't that difficult. It is very rocky and technical, but the moves aren't hard to make because the current is fairly easy, at least at lower levels. There are, I think, three spots that are a little harder than the rest which probably contributed to the IV rating. It's probably overrated, but this section is probably tough for canoes as there is not much maneuvering room. The common takeout for the middle section is at the American Legion field downstream of the New Boston bridge. There may be a fee involved but I can't remember." Don Getzin - "The middle section is CL3+. The put-in for this section is just below the finish line of the racecourse. The take-out for this section is the American Legion campground, but only if you have permission! This section is very bony and has many pinning possibilities. You must be very, very quick to be successful here. Those who wish to avoid the somewhat harder parts can put in below Decoration Rock. However, there are still several difficult and unavoidable drops below that."

Lower New Boston Section: Class II(III), 2.25 Miles

ChuckB - "The third section would be from the American Legion down to Bear's Den rapid. This is mostly class II with Bear's Den probably being an easy III."
Don Getzin - "The lower section is CL2. The put-in is at the AL campground. To reach the take-out, turn right (south) on MA 8 out of the campground. Turn left just before the bridge over the Farmington, and continue until you see cars parked on the left. This section ends at a CL2+ drop called either Bear’s Den or Bear Trap, depending on to whom you talk. You may take out either above or below this drop."

Lower New Boston Section: Class II(III), 2.25 Miles
ChuckB - "The third section would be from the American Legion down to Bear's Den rapid. This is mostly class II with Bear's Den probably being an easy III." Don Getzin - "The lower section is CL2. The put-in is at the AL campground. To reach the take-out, turn right (south) on MA 8 out of the campground. Turn left just before the bridge over the Farmington, and continue until you see cars parked on the left. This section ends at a CL2+ drop called either Bear’s Den or Bear Trap, depending on to whom you talk. You may take out either above or below this drop."

ChuckB - "Each of the sections (Upper Upper, Upper Farmington, and Lower New Boston) is a couple/few miles long and any one or two or three of them can be run together. Those three harder spots are pretty cool, especially one that has a four foot drop 'cause you can watch your probe disappear for a moment before reappearing behind the horizon line (unless you are the probe). This is a great river to work on your eddy hopping and boat scouting skills. Keep an eye out for strainers as the narrowness of the river could easily make a strainer impassable. There is not much in the way of play on this river, but idiots like me still try as evidenced by the scratches on my helmet and the gouges in my boat. The release level is really boney so pray for some rain to supplement it."

Don Getzin - "One alternative that I usually like is to put in at the top of the upper CL1+ section, and paddle the entire length of the river down through Bear’s Den, avoiding additional shuttles. Those who wish only to do the CL1+ and CL2 sections can take out above the racecourse, cartop their boats to the AL campground, and then do their shuttle to the Bear’s Den take-out, while the rest of us continue on through the racecourse and paddle the CL3+ section. Everyone can then meet at the campground for lunch. Those who wish only to paddle the CL3+ section, can do their shuttle back up to the put-in below the racecourse and run that section again."