Written by Abigail Lyon
Photography by Abigail Lyon & Emily Lord
Over the next year, my husband and I are embarking on a local adventure – to explore each of the tributaries in the Piscataqua Region watershed. Starting first with the Great Bay Estuary, our adventure begins on the Cocheco River.
“How have we never been on the Cocheco River before?!” My husband and I exclaimed as we set out for our first canoe trip of the season. In fact, it was our first, ever, canoe trip since getting our new canoe for Christmas last year. Owning a house unlocks the opportunity for larger toys since now we have some storage (evident by the number of motorcycles in our shed…). Now with our new toy we set out for an evening paddle along the Cocheco River.
Getting to and on the river, couldn’t be easier. Last year the City of Dover completed the paddle dock on the Cocheco River across from George’s Marina. It feels like a hidden gem in Dover – perhaps because it’s slightly hidden behind some construction (i.e., large gravel piles) for the ongoing waterfront development project, but that shouldn’t deter paddlers.
The Cocheco River flows 34.8 miles from the headwaters in Milton, Farmington, Middleton, and New Durham. It meanders through Rochester, cascades down the Central Falls Dam in downtown Dover, and becomes tidal before meeting the Salmon Falls River at the Maine border. On its journey, the river passes forested river corridors, backyards, and urban centers. With the installation of the new dock, paddlers can navigate the Cocheco River all the way to the Great Bay Estuary.
The section of the river we paddled was tidal and we decided to paddle against an incoming tide with the promise of an easy return to the dock. I’ve been nervous about paddling tidal waterbodies, but it was fortunately a lovely trip and didn’t end with the dreaded walk through mudflats I had heard about happening in the estuary. A benefit of paddling a river, I suppose.
We slowly paddled along the river enjoying the lush banks and spotting wildlife along the way including a kingfisher, blue heron, and a curious raccoon. Most shocking to me was that even through there were other paddlers at times we were completely alone on the river. It was hard to believe the city was so close and yet felt so distant. It was a truly beautiful little respite from the bustle of downtown. I cannot wait to paddle on the Cocheco River again, although it might have to wait if we’re going to explore the rest of the tributaries. Until then, I encourage you to check out the boat launch in Dover or to enjoy the river in your community.
See you on the water!
This blog post was provided by the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership, a proud partner of the Every Drop Alliance.
#EveryDropMatters
