Sumner Falls

Sometimes called 'Hartland Rapids.' From the Northeast Paddlers' Message Board: Sumner Falls/Hartland Rapids is a series of ledges sprawled out across a wide section of the Connecticut River. Putin is at the beginning of the clearly marked portage trail. The simplest route down the rapids is to stay river left the entire time. In higher water you can drop down several of the small falls/chutes on river right. The wave is the first significant drop on river left, situated next to a large swirling eddy. Directions: Take Interstate 91 North into Vermont to the Hartland exit (exit 9). Go left at the end of the exit ramp and go through the center of Hartland on Route 5 North. Continue on 5 North until you cross back over route 91. You will then immediately cross over a railroad bridge. After crossing the railroad take the second right (about 200 yards after the railroad bridge) onto a small dirt road and follow it to the end. Check out the description in New England Nuggets from the AW _Journal_ archives.