Kayak Love

New Hampshire · river

Contoocook River at Peterborough

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

68of 100

Fair

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Contoocook River at Peterborough
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Dean Phillips campaign event Post & Beam Brewing Peterborough NH January 2024 02.jpg by Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

13 mph

gusting to 28 mph

Air temp

78°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

25.4 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Friday · 95

  • Today

    32

  • Fri

    95

    Best

  • Sat

    78

  • Sun

    69

  • Mon

    85

  • Tue

    72

  • Wed

    70

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
3p1427
4p1428
5p1226
6p926
7p611
8p611
9p59
10p510
11p59
12a58
1a56
2a56

Is this flow normal for September 10?

Today's 25.4 cfs is 41% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 18 cfs, across 80 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind13 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-22
  • GustsGusting to 28 mph — 15 mph over sustained-10

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in New Hampshire