RiverUnited States · US
Piscataquog River
The Piscataquog River is a quietly beautiful 63-mile waterway in south-central New Hampshire, flowing through rural towns and small cities before meeting the Merrimack River in Manchester. Its name — meaning "to the place of the dark river" — hints at the forested, shaded character of much of its course. Despite running close to urban areas, the river remains remarkably wild, free-flowing for 96% of its length and draining approximately 220 square miles of gently rolling woodland and meadow. Designated a protected river under New Hampshire's Rivers Management and Protection Program in 1993, the Piscataquog offers paddlers, anglers, birders, and hikers a genuine outdoor experience without the crowds that draw visitors to more famous rivers. The three branches — North, Middle, and South — merge near Goffstown before the combined river flows east through the town and into Manchester, passing scenic pools, riffles, historic mill ruins, and 4,356 acres of protected open space along its banks.