A beautiful secluded river in south central NH, great for Class 2 paddlers to develop skills. Put in just below Lower Suncook Lake. Be prepared for muddy road access in spring to reach the Valley Dam Put-In and be sure NOT to tresspass on private land... the locals are not fond of anyone crowding their narrow gravel road. Best choice is to paddle all the way to the Lower Take-Out. Park on the backside of the public parking gravel lot behind the Barnstead Parks and Rec Center on the Big River. Find the Big River access ramp and see below how to access it by water from its junction with the Suncook.
The Suncook River is narrow, 20-30 ft wide on average, but strainers can squeeze you into 5 ft passages. Look out for overhanging trees and strainers that force paddlers to pick their routes precisely or portage. Use caution on blind corners or drops. It is worth scouting the Rt 28 bridge section, the Schoolbus Lot section, and the Depot St section while shuttling. The river starts out with easy class 1+2 rapids just down from the rushing water of the dam outlet, but there are likely river-wide strainers that may force paddlers to start lower down. These more gentle rapids continue past the Rt 28 bridge. In this next section there is a very-low-head 'dam crossing' (probably created to make a swimming hole) that can hang up a boater who is not paying attention. It presents little to no whitewater, just a river-wide drop over a minor horizon line, not even noticeable in high water. After the campground, the water changes to quikwater for over a 1/2 mile. This is the 'scenic nature' moment, slow, wide, and meandering, giving you a chance to look for wild ducks, blue herons, otters, and beavers. A sharp right hand corner signals the most challenging section on this river, enhanced after being nearly lulled to sleep by the casual paddle of the wetland marsh section. You will pass under a steal bridge near ball fields on river right up on a high bank, then approach the Schoolbus Parking Lot. Large boulders suddenly appear and things ramp-up to Solid Class 2+ rapids. Less experienced paddlers typically swim just above the Rt 126 bridge, but there is a short 150 ft stretch to get out of the water on river right near a stream entrance, though not easy as there are no large eddies. Rapids continue another 1/4 mile (not kind to swimmers) and pass an island river split - preference for the LEFT main channel, though in higher water (6 ft plus) both channels are open and both can have strainer danger! It is possible for the less experienced to takeout above the Schoolbus Lot or just after the island split at the Depot St bridge. With all the excitement done, it slows down to meandering again for a 1/4 mile, then you will come to a river junction with the Big River on the left. Paddle UPSTREAM on flatwater a few hundred feet (a slight workout, usually no trouble) to the Rec Center boat ramp on the left when paddling upstream.
Historical Note: Suncook River Canoe & Kayak operated out of Center Barnstead at the Junction of Rt 126 and Rt 28 for many years. Many paddlers bought boats and supplies here through the 1980's and 1990's. The Mother's Day Flood of 2006 washed out the Lower Suncook in Epsom, NH (literally changed the river path) and dropped many large trees across the Suncook in various sections. Now this river is seldom paddled by WW enthusiasts, but once a year many paddlers continue to flock to the nearby Little Suncook dam release of Northwood Lake in the fall. For more info about the Mother's Day Flood event, see https://www.nhfishandwildlife.com/diary-post.php?nature=79&year=2006
Directions
Valley Dam Put-In (43.35993721323281, -71.26578523109133)
Take interstate 93 north to Concord, NH
Take exit 15E (NH route 4 / 393) east towards Loudon/Portsmouth
10 miles to the Epson traffic circle take NH rt 28 north
Approximately 10 miles take a left onto Oxbow Road
After 1/2 mile, come to the Suncook River and take a right before the small bridge onto Valley Dam Road
Drive 1/4 mile to the Put-In on left just below the dam. Parking here for 4-6 cars.
Lower Take Out (43.338800957287766, -71.26012533565223)
Return to the intersection NH route 28 & 126, follow Rt 126 into Center Barnstead
Follow the driveway down on right just after the town library
Park behind the Barnstead Parks and Rec Center, plenty of room for many cars