Location:
Warren
Length:
3.50 miles
Class:
IV-
Flow Direction:
North
Starting Elevation:
1230′
Ending Elevation:
905′
Average Gradient:
92′ / mile
Rapid Type:
Bedrock ledges and slides
The Upper Mad is a good addition to a day along the route 100 corridor or as a nearby stop after getting off the slopes of Sugarbush or Mad River. The interesting bedrock ledge rapids are varied in difficulty, if not somewhat limited in quantity, with a couple standouts. Though the Upper Mad may not be a classic, it is worth a paddle for its crystalline waters, some quick fun, and to admire Warren Falls, even if done so from the portage trail.
Head south for 3 miles from the takeout. Look for a picnic area off the west side of the road with lots of parking along the river. Put in here where several tributaries converge. The rapids along the picnic area may or may not be runnable depending on levels and acceptable levels of boat abuse.
The takeout is just south of Warren on Bobbin Mill Road which comes in on the west side of route 100 immediately north of the bridge across the river. There space to leave a car or two off the side of the road < 200ft from the intersection.
Online Gauge:
Mad River Near Moretown, VT
Flow Range:
1500 – 5500
Visual Gauge:
There is no known dedicated visual gauge on this section of the Mad. The river is easily visible at several points along the road and an inspection of the rapids at the put in will let you know what to expect on the run.
Photos: S Gilbert
Be sure to give yourself plenty of eddies downstream when approaching Warren Falls.
The Upper Mad may not be the classic of its downstream counterpart, and will often get passed by in pursuit of nearby Patterson Brook. However, it is certainly worth a stop. The hard rapids, though limited in quantity, are both fun to run and fun to watch run. The boogie and easier rapids are satisfying enough to keep those looking for a mellower day content. The proximity to Sugarbush and Mad River Glen make it a great apres-ski option for a dual sport day, and in snowmelt the water can be a beautiful aqua-marine. All these factors result in a river that is a great option when in the area.
One note, this stretch varies significantly with water level. At lower levels, and with a portage or two, it is appropriate for an intermediate group looking for an experience in the easier class IV range. Once flows get high this becomes a much different run with several rapids thrown in that will keep a seasoned class V boater on their toes.
The shuttle is easy, leave a vehicle at the pull-off ~200’ up Bobbin Mill Road (just outside of Warren) and then head 3 miles south on route 100 till you come to a picnic area on the right.
The picnic area is situated at the confluence of The Mad and Austin Brook. If the water looks high enough to run the messy rapids above the confluence, you have a solid flow. This can be good for the boogie, but will make the larger rapids formidable. If the constricted rapids right below the picnic area look low, the rest of the run will be worse, and it’s probably best to head to the Lower Mad which holds water well.
From the put-in there is no warm up. The first rapids are the hardest of the run, excluding Warren Falls, and can be easily scouted from river right. The sequence consists of some quick lead-in before tumbling over a ledge into a pool. This ledge can have a rather ugly looking hole at higher water. At the outlet of the pool, the river twists through constricted bedrock with a few spots to avoid, namely the protruding piece of ledge at the bottom. If these aren’t your cup of tea, you can easily put on just below. The next drops are similar in nature but a step down in difficulty, and quite fun. From here you are treated to boogie, with the occasional ledge or slide thrown in. At lower levels the boogie is class II and the ledges are fairly small but can be worth a look when the line isn’t obvious from above. At higher levels expect the boogie to move quickly and the ledges to be class IV in nature. After a little under 2¼ miles of this, start to keep an eye out for where the river curves to the left. The sound of the falls will likely be audible here, but keep on your toes, as blundering into them would not be good.
Take out on river right to scout / portage Warren Falls. If the weather is nice there will be MANY spectators. This is one of the most popular swimming holes and tourist attractions in the area. Be friendly, be enthusiastic, you never know who’s whitewater origin story begins with an interaction here. Warren Falls themselves are infrequently run. The middle tier is what sends most for the portage trail, as ending up on the right side at the bottom would make for a very unpleasant time. Those who are up for running the series undoubtedly won’t be needing a guide to describe to them how to do so. If something is to go wrong you will likely have some overzealous and underequipped spectators eager to help so be safe and aware of those around you. From the falls to the takeout is another ¾ of a mile similar to what came above. The takeout is easily identified as it is on river left 200’ upstream of the route 100 bridge.
While the greatest bang for your buck is found in the run listed here, there are several more short sections of whitewater between the takeout and the popular stretch known as the Lower Mad. And while it is beyond the scope of this guide, word on the street is that a source-to-Winooski trip is a great adventure on a high water day. A video of such a trip can be found here Mad River Source-to-Winooski, and features some rapids of this section between the 40 second and 2 minute marks.
Still looking for more after the run? Patterson is a great option if the water is up and is only 15 minutes south. Or if you’re looking for a great park and huck head up Lincoln Gap road to run the impressively steep series of slides ending with the ~20’ Lincoln Falls.
