Saxtons River facts for kids
The Saxtons River is a river in the U.S. state of Vermont. It flows for about 22.9 miles (36.9 km) and eventually joins the Connecticut River. The area of land that drains into the Saxtons River, called its watershed, covers about 78 square miles (202 km²). Most of this land (about 80%) is covered by forests, and only a small part (3%) is used for farming.
The upper parts of the river are home to wild brook trout and brown trout. Atlantic salmon can also be found, but mostly in the lower parts of the river, below a spot called Twin Falls.
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What's in a Name? The Saxtons River Story
You might hear that the Saxtons River was named after a surveyor named Saxton. People say he either drowned or almost drowned in the river back in 1736 while surveying the land. However, this story might not be true!
The first time the river was written about was in 1724 by a group from Fort Dummer. They spelled the name "Sexton's." It seems "Saxton's" was just a different way to spell "Sexton's." We don't know for sure where the name "Sexton's" came from. A "sexton" is a person who works for a church or synagogue, so it's possible the river was named after someone with that last name.
Where Does the Saxtons River Flow?
The Saxtons River starts its journey east of Glebe Mountain in the town of Windham. From there, it flows through the towns of Grafton and Rockingham. It even passes through a village called Saxtons River, which is named after the river itself!
After that, the river continues into the town of Westminster. Finally, it joins the mighty Connecticut River in Westminster, just south of the Rockingham town line. The land that drains into the Saxtons River is located south of the Williams River and north of the smaller streams in Westminster and Putney.
Bridges and Waterfalls Along the River
The Saxtons River is known for its two historic covered bridges. The Kidder Covered Bridge crosses the South Branch Saxtons River in Grafton. The Hall Covered Bridge crosses the main river in Rockingham. The Kidder Bridge was built around 1870. The original Hall Bridge was built in 1867 but was replaced in 1982 after a heavy truck damaged it.
You can also find three beautiful waterfalls along the Saxtons River:
- Saxtons River Falls: These falls are in the village of Saxtons River, just below the Centennial Bridge.
- Gages Falls: Also called Gageville, these falls are in North Westminster, below the bridge on Covered Bridge Road.
- Twin Falls: These falls are a short distance downstream from Gages Falls in North Westminster.
Smaller Streams Joining the Saxtons River
Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into the Saxtons River. Here are some of the larger ones, listed from upstream to downstream:
- Hinkley Brook and South Branch Saxtons River: These flow north in Grafton.
- Bull Creek and Weaver Brook: These are found near Cambridgeport.
- Leach Brook: This stream flows south between Cambridgeport and the village of Saxtons River.
- Pleasant Valley Brook: This brook joins the river on the west side of the village of Saxtons River.
- Signal Hill Brook: This stream flows south and joins the river near Oak Street.
- Barnes Brook: This brook flows north and joins the river behind a trailer park.
East of the village of Saxtons River, you'll find:
- Marks Brook: This stream starts near Paradise Hill and flows south.
- Bundy Brook: This brook flows north, crosses Back Westminster Road over a small stone dam, and joins the river near where Vermont Route 121 crosses Interstate 91.
