The Pemi River in New Hampshire starts at Profile Lake in Franconia Notch State Park, directly below the once-famous-but-eroded Old Man of the Mountain. Popular spots on the river such as Flume Gorge bring thousands of sight-seeing tourists each year to gaze at its natural beauty.
The Pemigewasset River flows south, getting wider and deeper until it absorbs the Winnipesaukee River in Franklin NH. From there it's named the Merrimack River all the way to the Atlantic Ocean in Newburyport, Massachussetts. The full length of the Pemi River is part of the New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program, with the exception of the ten miles between Lincoln and Woodstock.
Throughout history, the Pemi River was very important to the towns along its banks. Before many roads were built, the river corridor was the primary means of travel and transport, so that camps and communities naturally grew along its banks, especially at junctions with other rivers. The Pemigewasset River was also employed for fishing and furnished water power for mills along its shores. When major roads (and some railroads) were finally built in this part of New Hampshire, the difficult terrain made the Pemi River corridor the obvious route, adding to the prosperity of towns all along this route.
The Pemigewasset River supports many fish species but Atlantic salmon, trout and bass are probably the most popular fish sought by anglers. The southern Pemi is often used by New Hampshire’s many bass clubs for annual fishing tournaments, while the northern Pemi provides excellent fly fishing for trout. Atlantic salmon are annually stocked in the river through efforts of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Read more on
Pemigewasset River Fishing here.
Boating, canoeing and kayaking are all water activities popular on the Pemi, offering both whitewater and flat water experiences. In particular, the northern section in Franconia Notch offers many stretches of whitewater and the southern Pemi has many miles of flat water for boating and fishing. Note that NH State law requires that there is a personal flotation device (PFD) for everyone aboard a water craft and boat drivers with a 25+ horse powered engine must have a New Hampshire Boating Education Card.
More on Pemigewasset River Boating.
Biking is a popular activity along the Pemigewasset . Up north in Franconia Notch there is the well known Lincoln Woods Trail and the Pemi Trail, a largely flat path that mirrors six miles down the Pemi River. Along the southern Pemi in Franklin, the handy Franklin Falls trail system was mostly built and maintained by the New England Mountain Bike Association. With scant rocks it's known for its rolling, bare single track.
Click here for more details on Pemi River biking.
The Pemigewasset River valley has several areas designated for hunting. Some popular hunting spots are the Pemigewasset River Wildlife Management Area in Campton and the Old Hill Village Trail, near the Profile Falls Recreation Area. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department stocks game birds, maintains wildlife habitats and supports a fur-bearer trapping program. Hunting for pheasant, deer and small game is only permitted during the state hunting season. For more info on
hunting along the Pemi click here.
