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New Hampshire | Merrimack Valley / Bow, Boscawen and Canterbury

Merrimack RiverBoscawen Merrimack River Boat Ramp (water-entry edge) to Lambert Park public boat ramp, Hooksett (water-entry edge)

A full Merrimack Valley planning itinerary from Boscawen to Hooksett’s Lambert Park ramp.

Access and safety sources last checked September 16, 2026.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 21.4 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timePlan 8–12 hours with wind
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Merrimack River at Thornton’s Ferry in New Hampshire.
River contextMerrimack River in New Hampshire; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Wikimedia Commons contributor

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 21.4 river milesBoscawen Merrimack River Boat Ramp (water-entry edge) to Lambert Park public boat ramp, Hooksett (water-entry edge)
DifficultymoderateThe Lower Merrimack is broad moving water with wind, boat traffic, strainers, bridge current and hydroelectric or low-head dam boundaries. These cards remain planning-only until a route-specific recreational flow band and current manager review are established.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream public access first, then drive to the upstream ramp. Confirm parking, carry paths, gates and trailer congestion before unloading.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm New Hampshire boating rules, town access rules, parking limits and any utility or water-quality notices before launch.
CampingDay tripNo overnight river camping is included. Use an established campground or lodging near Concord, Bow or Canterbury; do not camp at access sites or on private banks.
SeasonMay-OctLate spring through fall is the practical paddling season. Snowmelt, rain, utility operations, wind, cold water and water-quality advisories can change conditions quickly.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A full Merrimack Valley planning itinerary from Boscawen to Hooksett’s Lambert Park ramp.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Boscawen Merrimack River Boat Ramp (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Keep Intervale, Sewalls Falls and Bow as documented intermediate bailouts. Confirm all dam or hydroelectric boundaries, bridge current, parking and the Lambert water-entry edge before launch.

Finish

Take-out

Lambert Park public boat ramp, Hooksett (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to take-out

The Lower Merrimack includes dams, industrial shoreline and limited legal bailouts; do not improvise a take-out.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Keep Intervale, Sewalls Falls and Bow as documented intermediate bailouts. Confirm all dam or hydroelectric boundaries, bridge current, parking and the Lambert water-entry edge before launch.
  • The Lower Merrimack includes dams, industrial shoreline and limited legal bailouts; do not improvise a take-out.
  • Recheck current access, road, parking and water-quality conditions before staging.

Watch for

  • USGS 01081500 trend and weather
  • Strainers, bridge current, boat traffic and cold water
  • Hydroelectric and low-head dam boundaries

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Merrimack River at Thornton’s Ferry in New Hampshire.
Merrimack River in New Hampshire; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Wikimedia Commons contributor
Wikimedia Commons license on linked file page

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Route and distance21.4 miles

    Distance between the named access points in the linked manager guide.

    Source

  • Launch coordinate provenanceMapped launch and landing

    Coordinates are tied to named public Merrimack ramps in the New Hampshire access directory and municipal access pages; confirm the wetted-edge carry and current parking on arrival.

    Source

  • Conditions posturePlanning only

    Planning only: the Lower Merrimack corridor plan and named municipal/state access records support public endpoints, but this pass does not transfer a numeric recreational cutoff to USGS 01081500. Boscawen public ramp to Lambert Park public ramp.

    Source

  • Access and safety review2026-09-16

    Guide and current manager pages checked. Verify notices again before travel; a past review is not a statement of current paddling suitability.

  • Campingnearby_basecamp

    No overnight river camping is included. Use an established campground or lodging near Concord, Bow or Canterbury; do not camp at access sites or on private banks.

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in New Hampshire

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New Hampshire route guideBrowse every tracked New Hampshire route.Merrimack Valley / Bow, Boscawen and CanterburyJump to routes in this region.

More on Merrimack River

All 20
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Nearby routes within 75 miles

Contoocook RiverContoocook Riverway Park to Contoocook River Canoe Company · about 10 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 9 river milesContoocook RiverRiver Road Boat Launch to Contoocook Riverway Park · about 15 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 5.5 river milesContoocook RiverRiver Road Boat Launch to Contoocook River Canoe Company · about 15 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 14.5 river milesPemigewasset RiverCoolidge Woods Cartop Facility to Shaw Cove Cartop Facility · about 15 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 10 river miles

Quick answers

Merrimack River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Boscawen Merrimack River Boat Ramp (water-entry edge) to Lambert Park public boat ramp, Hooksett (water-entry edge) route on the Merrimack River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Boscawen Merrimack River Boat Ramp (water-entry edge) to Lambert Park public boat ramp, Hooksett (water-entry edge) route on the Merrimack River start and end?

This route starts at Boscawen Merrimack River Boat Ramp (water-entry edge) and ends at Lambert Park public boat ramp, Hooksett (water-entry edge), about 21.4 river miles on the water.

Is the Boscawen Merrimack River Boat Ramp (water-entry edge) to Lambert Park public boat ramp, Hooksett (water-entry edge) route on the Merrimack River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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