White Water Kayaking

The Appalachian Mountain Club New Hampshire Paddlers Chapter has a website where you can find a wealth of information about routes, trips, equipment and more.

Suggested trips:

Saco River - North Conway to Conway
Preview: The Saco River has something for everyone, from technical whitewater diehards to flatwater enthusiasts paddling with boats full of tents and coolers. This trip is somewhere in between—an easy day trip that consists mostly of quickwater and flatwater paddling through the scenic countryside of North Conway and Conway. This trip is best run at medium water levels in May and early June, or after a heavy summer rain.

To find out about different trips on the Saco River check out Saco Bound and Northern Extremes Canoe and Kayak.

Ammonoosuc River - Littleton to Lisbon
The Ammonoosuc River also tends to be shallow for most of the summer, so plan to run this trip by Memorial Day in most years. Big-rapid paddlers know the Ammonoosuc for its Class III and IV rapids further upstream between Twin Mountain and Littleton. This section requires some experience maneuvering in technical Class II water, but its long stretches of rapid-free paddling make for a relaxing day in the White Mountains.

Lamprey River
A diverse paddle on the longest river on the New Hampshire seacoast. During the course of its 60 mile journey from Northwood to Newmarket, the Lamprey changes from a small rocky stream to a large tidal river. In between it alternates from slow meanders to rocky rapids, reaching Class III at Packers Falls in Durham. This trip explores 7.0 miles of this National Wild and Scenic River as it winds its way through Epping. It starts out rough and rowdy and then slows to flat water. Along the way you will see beautiful hardwood forests and farms as well as signs that this is one of the fastest-growing areas in New England. 

You can find information about routes and put-ins on the Lamprey at lampreyriver.org

Lower Winnipesaukee River
A flatwater lake paddle followed by some easy Class II that is runnable throughout the summer. The lower section of the Winnipesaukee River in Tilton is a relatively easy Class II paddle. While this trip starts with 2.5 miles of flatwater paddling, the final 2.0 miles are notable because they can often be run in summer when most other Class II rivers in the state are out of runnable water. A series of dams above the river keep water flowing all year long, though it can still get pretty bony in an extremely dry year.

Pemi-Baker River Adventures and Outdoor ESCAPES both lead trips on the Winnipesaukee River.