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Mad River — Streams 13.5 Miles SW of Chapman Inn
Oxford County, New Hampshire · USGS Wild River Quadrangle · GNIS 581109
13.5 miles southwest of Chapman Inn, on the USGS Wild River topographic quadrangle, Mad River is a stream recorded in Oxford County, New Hampshire by the federal Geographic Names Information System.
Wikidata short description: “tributary of Cold River, river in Maine/New Hampshire, United States”
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
The USGS Wild River 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle places Mad River in Oxford County, New Hampshire (FIPS 23/017), classified as a stream in the federal GNIS (Feature ID 581109). Last revised by the Board on Geographic Names on 04/30/2015.
Coordinates & physical setting
Mad River sits at 44.28534° N, 71.00480° W (DMS 44°17′07″ N, 71°00′17″ W).
As a linear feature its source lies near 44.30251° N, 71.01332° W (DMS 44°18′09″ N, 71°00′48″ W) — useful for anglers and paddlers tracing the upstream end.
Other streams in Oxford County, New Hampshire
Oxford County, NH contains 26 streams catalogued in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, counting Mad River itself. The ones closest to Mad River:
| Feature | USGS Quadrangle | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Mad River | Wild River | 0.1 mi |
| Middle Branch Mad River | Wild River | 0.4 mi |
| Basin Brook | Wild River | 1.2 mi |
| Shell Pond Brook | Chatham | 2.9 mi |
| Bradley Brook | Center Lovell | 7.6 mi |
| Wild River | Gilead | 7.7 mi |
| Langdon Brook | Center Lovell | 8.8 mi |
| Little Cold River | Center Lovell | 9.3 mi |
| Province Brook | North Conway East | 12.5 mi |
| Weeks Brook | Fryeburg | 17.3 mi |
Features on the USGS Wild River Quadrangle
The Wild River 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 34 catalogued natural features alongside Mad River. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Branch Mad River | Streams | Oxford County, NH | 0.1 mi |
| Mad River Falls | Waterfalls | Oxford County, ME | 0.2 mi |
| Middle Branch Mad River | Streams | Oxford County, NH | 0.4 mi |
| Birch Knoll | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 0.5 mi |
| Basin Brook | Streams | Oxford County, NH | 1.2 mi |
| West Royce Mountain | Summits | Coos County, NH | 1.4 mi |
| Basin Brook Reservoir | Reservoirs | Carroll County, NH | 1.4 mi |
| Bickford Brook | Streams | Oxford County, ME | 1.5 mi |
| East Royce Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1.5 mi |
| The Basin | Basins | Carroll County, NH | 1.6 mi |
Historical record
The Mad River is a 1.4-mile-long (2.3 km) mountain brook on the Maine–New Hampshire border in the United States, within the eastern White Mountains. It is a tributary of the Cold River, part of the Saco River watershed. More on Wikipedia →
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Chapman Inn sits 13.5 miles southwest (bearing SW) of Mad River. At moderate back-road speeds the drive runs about 23 minutes — comfortably inside a half-day outing window after breakfast.
Best time to visit
Best observed in late spring and early summer when flow is strong and banks are visible. At this latitude (44.285°), the shoulder seasons are workable — April and November can be comfortable on mild years. At 13.5 miles from the Inn, plan on a comfortable day trip with time for lunch on the road. Conditions at Mad River track the nearby South Branch Mad River stream (essentially adjacent) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Mad River
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Branch Mad River | Streams | Oxford County, NH | 0.1 mi |
| Mad River Falls | Waterfalls | Oxford County, ME | 0.2 mi |
| Middle Branch Mad River | Streams | Oxford County, NH | 0.4 mi |
| Birch Knoll | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 0.5 mi |
| Sugarloaf Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1.1 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mad River located?
Mad River is in Oxford County, New Hampshire, approximately 13.5 miles southwest of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Wild River topographic quadrangle.
How far is Mad River from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 23 minutes, 13.5 miles southwest (bearing SW) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Mad River?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Mad River as a stream, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 581109 on the Wild River quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Mad River?
Best observed in late spring and early summer when flow is strong and banks are visible.
How many other streams are in Oxford County, New Hampshire?
GNIS lists 25 other streams in Oxford County, New Hampshire.
Wikidata: Q14715229.