Since 1992,
the
Upper Valley Land Trust has managed a series of primitive canoe
campsites along the Connecticut River. Many of these campsites are made
possible by private landowners and are maintained by volunteers for the
enjoyment of the public. Please respect the generosity of campsite
landowners by following the Guidelines
for Campsite Use
UVLT
and its partners currently manage the following campsites and cartop
boat launches:
Howard Island
(Haverhill, NH - river mile 260) Campsite
managed by UVLT. In
Haverhill, about 2 miles below the Woodsville bridge. The campsite is
located at the northwest end of this island with access on gently to
moderately sloped cobblestone banks. The camp is located at the
forested edge of the island's hayfields. Capacity: okay for large
groups. Amenities: cleared tent site, box privy, fire ring.
Knoxland
Farm Cartop Boat Launch (Newbury, VT - river
mile 260) Knoxland Farm
provides a public
boat launch site for muscle powered cartop boats such as canoes and
kayaks. The surrounding 280 acres of farmland has a historic round barn
and currently operates as a dairy farm. The fields around the farm
buildings are used to grow forage (livestock food) so it is important
to minimize any damage to these crops when you are looking for the
launch site. Please park in the designated parking area located back at
the edge of the farmstead. Overnight camping is not allowed at this
site. Directions: From the Town of Newbury
continue north on Route 5 for approximately 4 miles. Turn right onto
Round Barn Road (formerly Leete Rd.) and continue to the farmstead
where you will see a cartop boat launch directional sign. Turn right at
the “T” and you should see a sign at the field edge for the designated
parking area. This is where all vehicles should be left after launching
your cartop boats. To launch a boat continue past this parking location
and over a concrete pad, turn right onto the farm road which travels
through the field. Looking to the left, keep your eyes open while
driving along this road for a boat launch sign located near the top of
the river bank. There is often irrigation pump equipment at this same
spot. Drive to the sign taking care to minimize any crop damage (use
the same route previous visitors have used), prepare your boat for
launching, and return your vehicle to the parking area before heading
out on the river.
Harkdale Farm (Newbury, VT - river mile 254) Campsite managed by UVLT. This campsite is on the
Vermont side of the river between North Haverhill and Newbury and is
located on the second large river meander (oxbow) downstream of Howard
Island. At the beginning of this second meander, the river takes a
sharp turn to the east, producing a large sandbar on the NH bank. A
quarter mile downstream there is a high sand cut bank on the NH
side. The bank dwindles away as it meets a small brook which
flows into the Connecticut There is also a small landslide where trees
have fallen into this section of the river. The Harkdale campsite is
located directly across from this brook on the VT side of the river,
amongst the large willows and silver maples. In low water
conditions you'll see the campsite sign at the edge of the brush above
a large sandy beach. Amenities: cleared tent site, box privy, fire
ring, picnic table.
Vaughan Meadow
(Newbury, VT - river mile 248) Campsite
managed by UVLT. In South Newbury, about 1 mile below the old Bedell
Bridge abutment. Located on a wooded bank after the river turns from SE
to S, a few hundred yards north of the Bradford line. Capacity: 12
campers. Amenities: cleared tent site, box privy, fire ring, picnic
table.
Birch Meadow (Fairlee, VT - river
mile 233) Campsite
managed by UVLT. Two miles below the arch bridge. On the low wooded
point just above the marshland at the outlet of Lake Morey. The Hulbert
Outdoor Center are stewards of this site. Capacity: 12 campers.
Amenities: cleared tent site, box privy, fire ring, picnic table with
shelter/lantern supports.
Roaring Brook
(Thetford, VT - river mile 230) Campsite
managed by UVLT. In Thetford, about a mile below Clay Brook a grassy
campsite is located between two streams, one of them being Roaring
Brook. The landing is located a few canoe lengths up the lower stream.
Capacity: 12 campers. Amenities: cleared tent site, box privy, fire
ring, picnic table with shelter/lantern supports.
Hewes
Brook Cartop Boat Launch (Lyme, NH - river mile
224) Located on River
Rd. in Lyme,
this 1.1 acre property provides access to the Connecticut River at the
mouth of Hewes Brook. No overnight camping is allowed at this site.
This site is managed by the Lyme Conservation Commission. Directions: From the
Thetford/Lyme
Bridge
in Lyme, head south along River Road for 4.2 miles. On your right you
will see a light blue and white Hewes Brook Cartop Boat Launch sign.
Leave your vehicle on the gravel parking area. Please walk your boats
along the designated path that leads to the brook. In low flow
conditions you will need to launch at the second access point along the
brook.
Burnaps
Island (Plainfield, NH - river mile 207)
Campsite
managed by UVLT. Located about 3 miles below the mouth of the Mascoma
River and the I-89 bridge at West Lebanon, and just above the mouth of
the Ottauquechee River. Access is from the west side of the island, on
the main channel. The island is owned by the Town of Plainfield and the
campsite is maintained by members of the Plainfield Conservation
Commission. Capacity: 8 campers. Amenities: cleared tent site, box
privy, fire ring.
Burnham
Meadow (Windsor, VT - river mile 200)
Campsite
managed by UVLT. Four miles below Sumner’s Falls, 1 mile below Hart
Island, and 3 miles above the Windsor-Cornish covered bridge. On an
elevated bench just below Bashan Brook, where the river bends to the
east. Capacity: okay for large groups. Amenities: cleared tent site,
box privy, fire ring, picnic table.
Planning
Your Stay
Participating landowners have
generously made these campsites available for canoe and kayak access
only -- land based access is prohibited;
All UVLT campsites are available
on a first-come-first-served basis;
To help with maintenance
planning, record your visit in the campsite register;
Maximum stay at any one campsite
is 2 nights;
Campsites are first come-first
served -- reservations are not accepted;
See UVLT’s Trip Planner
below for more information
While
there is no charge for the use of UVLT campsites, their maintenance
depends on the good stewardship and financial support of users.
Donations for the campsites program may be
sent to::
Campsites,
Upper Valley Land Trust
19 Buck Road, Hanover, NH 03755.
UVLT relies on volunteers to
maintain its campsites. To find out more about volunteer opportunities
at our campsites, check our volunteer
listings, or contact UVLT
Vice President Stewardship Pete Helm at 603-643-6626.
Connecticut
River Watershed Council
publishes The Complete
Boating Guide to the Connecticut River.www.crwc.org, 413-772-2020, crwc@crocker.com
Connecticut
River Joint Commissions
publishes Boating on the
Connecticut River in Vermont and New Hampshire, with maps, put-in points,
portages, safety information, boating regulations, and more. www.crjc.org/recreation.htm
Appalachian
Mountain Club publishes River Days: Exploring the
Connecticut River from Source to Sea, as well as other paddling guides
for New England. www.outdoors.org/publications