Saco river, NH - Maine Thru-Paddle

Trip Overview

I've always wanted to paddle the Saco River from Bartlett NH to the ocean in Saco/Biddeford Maine. I didn't want to do it in whitewater or cold weather, so went in August in low water. Try as I might, I never found any real helpful info on the internet answering all my questions about water level, rapids, portages parking or camping. Having done the NFCT a year ago, I knew I could handle anything the Saco threw at me, so I just went for it and took notes along the way. The following is all the stuff I wish I could have found out before I went:

First of all, get the AMC's "Saco River Map & Guide", an excellent map of the entire river with the rapids, bridges, and dam portages marked, and milage at several waypoints. This will tell you which side of the river to look for the portages.

Parking- It's actually hard to find places you can park and leave a vehicle for several days. I called the Saco police and found out you can leave a car at Diamond Park, river left and the place you have to get out to portage the Saco mills if you want to go the last 5 miles to the ocean. Being an alumni of university of New England, I got permission to park at the college right at the ocean on hills beach. As for the upper end, I had my wife drop me off. I think you can park at the police station ramp in Conway, and in a dirt lot across the River st Bridge in Bartlett

Water Levels / Rapids- I did some scouting and determined that at the water level I had, I'd start at the River Street bridge in Bartlett (The Bartlett USGS gauge was at 230 CFS) Water was low but doable riffles and class I -ish rapids. biggest problem was picking out deep enough water routes, did a lot of scraping over the (smooth) rocks first ten miles or so. Never really banged the boat. After the 302 bridge between N. Conway and Bartlett, the river had more deep sections and better easy rapids to run. (I was doing this in a gear loaded sit on top kayak, hardly a white water set up) Once you reach First Bridge in N. Conway, you are in the beginning of the Tubers sections, (and may have a lot of friends with you if it's a weekend) much easier going.

Beyond this point, there are several named rapids that are marked on the map. Conway rips, Powerline Rapid, Police station rapids, all fearsome in the spring, but no problem at these levels, class I at the most. (N. Conway USGS gauge reading of 500CFS that day) I mean, you could flip if you hit a rock the wrong way, but you'd be able to stand up in the water and drag your boat to the side. Farther down (my second day) are the Limington Rips, the biggest and longest rapid run of the trip. The map talks about a portage river right but I couldn't find it, so I ran the rapids. Stay right, and line around the one 3 foot waterfall like drop( toward the beginning), the rest will be no different than everything up river. (N. Conway USGS gauge down to 400CFS this day). Actually had fun on that run.

Summary: I only got out of the boat once to drag through shallow water and once to line around the above mentioned tough spot. The water levels I listed, or a bit higher, would be a great time to go (unless you want more rapids). Much lower and you should start down farther than I did, like at First Bridge in N. Conway. (Police station ramp in N. Conway would miss all but Limington rapids)

Portages: 8 dams and one broken dam / waterfall to portage, starting with Swann Falls dam in Fryberg. That one is well marked and easy to follow. Several of the others are not well marked or easy to follow. Let me just say this; they are all there, on the side the map says. if no sign, just go all the way down to the cable with the orange warning barrows, and you'll see a spot to get out, and you'll eventually figure out where to go, as I did. I do have to mention two portages specifically; The 3rd dam, Bonny Eagle, stay in the right channel and go all the way to the cable on the right. There is no sign and no visible path. Take out and drag through the woods up to the grass, INSIDE the gate marked with all kinds of No trespassing signs. Go left down the road Toward the dam and you will eventually actually see a "Canoe Carry" sign with an arrow pointing right. Then take a left at an unmarked grass trail at some cement barrier blocks, follow till you see another "Canoe Carry" sign pointing to nothing on the right. Go down the grass hill and find a trail headed left toward the river. follow that several hundred yards to the put in. Good luck! And then there is the Saco dams portage, not described on the Map. take out river left at Diamond Park. go right to the end of Irwin street, turn right and go over the Bridge, then left at a gas station, right on a side road that ends up crossing Main Street Saco, straight down Fore street to a public boat launch. Look at a road map, approx half mile walk. Best to try to time the paddle to the ocean with the outgoing tide.

Camping- I had a small bivy and tarp setup, could go pretty much anywhere. The first 50 miles of my trip had nice sand bars everywhere, I hit one just before the Maine border my first night and near Hiram bridge second night. After that, there are almost no more sand bars or good camping spots. The river becomes wider, slower, deeper, and mostly steep clay riverbanks. My third night was spent on a little flat spot in pine trees on an island in Buxton, ME. larger groups would have a hard time finding a group site after Fryberg.

Timing: I did two 12 hour paddling days bookended by two 7 hour days, with 3 night camps. So about 40 hours total paddling. I did about 120 miles, so about 3mph average paddling speed.

Questions? I'd be happy to email. jtranger6@yahoo.com

Jim from Amherst, Ma