Pemigewasset River

The Pemigewasset River, known locally as "the Pemi", is a 65-mile river in central New Hampshire that drains about 1,021 square miles. It begins at Profile Lake in Franconia Notch State Park and flows south through the White Mountains, past Lincoln, Woodstock, Thornton, Campton, Plymouth, Holderness, Ashland, Bridgewater, Bristol, New Hampton, Hill and Sanbornton. In Franklin it joins the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack River. Below Ashland, the Ayers Island hydroelectric dam impounds the river for more than five miles along the Bristol–New Hampton line. Farther downstream is the Franklin Falls Dam, which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built between 1939 and 1943. Its reservoir has a 440-acre permanent pool, and the area it can flood reaches 12.5 miles upstream to Ayers Island Dam. Since 1991, all of the river except a 10-mile segment through Lincoln and Woodstock has been protected under the state Rivers Management and Protection Program.

Canoeing, kayaking, tubing and whitewater rafting are common on the river. Much of it is shallow and runs over gravel beds. Flow released from the Ayers Island Hydro Dam supports an eight-mile stretch of Class II rapids. Public boat launches are located in Bristol, Franklin, Holderness and Plymouth, and there are also cartop launch areas, shore access points and walk-in fishing sites. Bridge crossings are often used as informal access points.

The river holds about 10 fish species. Anglers mainly target eastern brook trout and Atlantic salmon, and New Hampshire Fish and Game stocks trout every year. Bass clubs hold tournaments on the southern segments. Livermore Falls in Campton has the river's largest drop, at 50 feet.