Put In

The Mad River put-in at Campton provides access to a substantial whitewater river system in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. The Mad River is a large stream order 7 river with significant gradient averaging 41.3 feet per mile, making it suitable for whitewater paddlers seeking moving water conditions. With an average flow of 1407 cubic feet per second and velocity of 3.18 feet per second, this river presents strong current conditions that require intermediate to advanced paddling skills depending on water levels and the specific section being paddled.

This put-in location serves the upper portions of the Mad River system, which drains a 494 square mile watershed across the White Mountains. The river drops approximately 4714 feet over its 114-mile course to the Connecticut River, creating numerous opportunities for different skill levels along its length. Paddlers should be aware that whitewater conditions vary significantly with seasonal flow and recent precipitation, and proper knowledge of current conditions and hazards is essential before launching.

The Campton area provides vehicle access to this section of the Mad River, with the put-in located at the coordinates provided. Paddlers planning trips on this river should research current water conditions, obtain detailed river maps and guidebooks specific to their intended paddling section, and consider the technical difficulty of individual sections before launching.