Deerfield River, Massachusetts

Difficulty: Class II to IV

Season: April to October

Trip Length: One day

Perhaps the last wild river in southern New England, this river flows through the New England of your fondest imagination. Rapids get as intense as Class IV. The river passes through some real wildlands as well as some classic New England small towns, including Shelburne Falls, site of the famous Bridge of Flowers. We recommend the stretch between the Bardwell Ferry Road Bridge and the US Highway 5—MA 10 bridge. This 10.25-mile stretch is a calming stretch of riffles and smooth water, with no portages. If you want something more rollicking, the upper Deerfield has some rough-and-tumble rapids. Zoar Gap is a well-known rock ''em, sock ''em run.

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