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Vermont | Bolton–Richmond / Chittenden County

Winooski RiverBolton Dam Access to Bolton Canoe Access Area

A short lower-Winooski reach below Bolton Dam to the public Bolton Canoe Access Area, useful when a shorter day is preferred.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 4 river miles
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAllow 2–4 hours with scouting
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Winooski River passes through Montpelier, Vermont.
River contextWinooski River at Montpelier; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Michael Calore via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 4 river milesBolton Dam Access to Bolton Canoe Access Area
DifficultyeasyThe Bolton–Richmond guide describes mostly flatwater to Class I with one rapid below Bolton Dam that should be scouted and portaged when needed. Dams, strainers, cold water and changing access remain active hazards.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the named public access, then drive to the upstream launch.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm Richmond, Green Mountain Power and local parking rules before unloading.
CampingDay tripNo overnight camping is included; both accesses are day-use sites. Use established campgrounds outside the route.
SeasonApr-OctSnowmelt and rain can raise the Winooski quickly. Check the Essex Junction gauge, trend, weather, wood and dam notices before launch.

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 short lower-Winooski reach below Bolton Dam to the public Bolton Canoe Access Area, useful when a shorter day is preferred.

Access map

Skip map

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Start

Put-in

Bolton Dam Access, Green Mountain Power
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use documented public access only and follow posted parking limits.

Finish

Take-out

Bolton Canoe Access Area
Open mapDirections to take-out

Portage the Bolton rapid or any hydraulic feature when current conditions exceed your ability.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use documented public access only and follow posted parking limits.
  • Portage the Bolton rapid or any hydraulic feature when current conditions exceed your ability.
  • Recheck flow, trend, weather, wood and seasonal closures on launch day.

Watch for

  • USGS 04290500 trend and fast rises
  • Rapid below Bolton Dam, strainers and cold water
  • Private banks and limited shoulder parking

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

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Route gallery

Photos

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

The Winooski River passes through Montpelier, Vermont.
Winooski River at Montpelier; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Michael Calore via Wikimedia Commons
CC BY 2.0

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
Checking live inputs.

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Gauge inputChecking

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Weather inputChecking

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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteWinooski River near Essex Junction, VT
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range400 cfs to 1,200 cfs
Low threshold200 cfs
High threshold3,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreWinooski River paddling guide, Bolton to Richmond
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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.

  • Named reach and accessBolton Dam Access to Bolton Canoe Access Area

    Richmond and the Winooski paddling guide document the public access sequence and route context.

    Source

  • Scoring band200 cfs minimum cue; 400–1,200 cfs preferred planning band; review above 3,000 cfs

    The band is a conservative planning interpretation around the documented lower-Winooski day-paddle corridor. Verify live telemetry, trend, weather and wood before travel.

    Source

  • Direct gaugeUSGS 04290500 near Essex Junction

    Direct lower-Winooski River telemetry.

    Source

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 Vermont

All 38 routes
Vermont route guideBrowse every tracked Vermont route.Bolton–Richmond / Chittenden CountyJump to routes in this region.

More on Winooski River

All 7
Bolton Canoe Access Area to JonesvilleBolton–Richmond / Chittenden CountyEasy · About 6.5 river milesBolton Dam Access to JonesvilleBolton–Richmond / Chittenden CountyEasy · About 10.5 river milesMarshfield Old Schoolhouse Common to Middlesex town accessCentral Vermont / Winooski ValleyModerate · About 19 river milesMarshfield Old Schoolhouse Common to Montpelier Gateway ParkCentral Vermont / Winooski ValleyModerate · About 24 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Lamoille RiverCadyville Falls to Waterman Brook · about 18 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 5 river milesLamoille RiverCadyville Falls access below the falls to Dog Head Falls access below the falls · about 18 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 6 river milesLamoille RiverCadyville Falls access below the falls to Dorothy Smith Access · about 18 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 16 river milesLamoille RiverCadyville Falls access below the falls to Fairfax Falls below-dam access · about 18 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 28 river miles

Quick answers

Winooski River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Bolton Dam Access to Bolton Canoe Access Area route on the Winooski River?

Paddle Today watches Winooski River near Essex Junction, VT and treats 400 cfs to 1,200 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Bolton Dam Access to Bolton Canoe Access Area route on the Winooski River start and end?

This route starts at Bolton Dam Access, Green Mountain Power and ends at Bolton Canoe Access Area, about 4 river miles on the water.

Is the Bolton Dam Access to Bolton Canoe Access Area route on the Winooski River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.

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