Views from the Bow??

[Rick]

Any other flatwater paddlers on the board?
I took a spin out to East Washacum and West Washacum Lakes today (Sterling) and while they are not iced out yet, there are strips of open water. I figure to get the wetsuit & boat out for next weekend.

I don't know of other areas closeby (NW of Boston) for flatwater paddling, but I am open to any suggestions or tips on nice somewhat undeveloped places to paddle?
Thanks
Rick

 

[Tramper Al]

Rick,
Earlier today I posted a little trip report from the Source of the Sudbury (River), in Westboro. I am a solo open boater and I paddle some flat- and quick-water here in Massachusetts, nearly always paddling up first and then down river, so the most I go down without a shuttle is mild Class 1. My favorites are the Assabet-Sudbury-Concord and the Charles. When I really get my act (and calendar) together, I go to Northern New England and paddle a section on the NFCT.

 

[Barbarossa]

I frequently cross the Nashua River on my way to the Monadnock area.

http://www.nashuariverwatershed.org/

It's been a while since I paddled, but it looks canoe-friendly. There is a rental outfit in W Groton called The Nashoba paddler.

 

[MarshallM]

Rick,

I generally prefer moving water but below are some nice flatwater day tours in MA that I've done in the past that are somewhat similar to the Washacum lakes that you recently paddled. Each of the below places to flatwater paddle have undeveloped shorelines for the most part, but might be more W of Boston than NW. Also, no guarantee that that they will be so "flat" when the winds kick up!

Moosehorn Pond (Hubbardston) -- If you paddle clockwise and follow the shoreline through the islands that follow the shoreline, you will be protected from the prevailing westerly winds.

Nashua River (Groton) -- This is the Pepperel Pond section. You can put in on the Groton Boat Launch and paddle up to the Pepperel Dam and then return to your vehicle.

Paradise Pond (Princeton) -- Very easy access and fairly scenic, but note that route 31 runs along the western shore.

Tully Lake (Royalston) -- If you can find the route through the marshy north end, you can extend the trip by paddling up the East Branch of the Tully River.

Whitehall Reservoir (Hopkington) -- Nice lake with many pretty islands and coves, that has a north country look to it. Note that motor boats are allowed.


Marshall

 

[spencer]

Rick,


Tully Lake (Royalston) -- If you can find the route through the marshy north end, you can extend the trip by paddling up the East Branch of the Tully River.

I lived down in Petersham for a while and frequently paddled around in Tully. I went up the E. Branch once. IIRC there were a few small beaver damns to negotiate at the beginning. One of them I was even able to paddle over if I got enough speed!

Also, what is the name of the tributary where the falls were? You could paddle a very short distance to the bottom of htem and then take the hiking trail up through the woods. There was a road that crossed the falls at the top. I think it was a popular, although dangerous cliff jumping spot...

good memories...

spencer

 

[MarshallM]

Also, what is the name of the tributary where the falls were? You could paddle a very short distance to the bottom of htem and then take the hiking trail up through the woods. There was a road that crossed the falls at the top. I think it was a popular, although dangerous cliff jumping spot...

Hey Spencer,

Sounds like you know the area much better than I do! I've only been out there once, a couple of years ago. Actually, during mid-summer in low water, and I had some real problems finding the E Branch of the Tully River in that marshy section at the end of Long Pond. So didn't end up getting very far up the river, so not sure where the tributary is with the falls that that you are referring to.

However, you've piqued my interest so will have to plan another trip out there this year, but in higher water this time. Would also like to explore Lawrence Brook, which as I recall drains into the main Tully Lake from the east and is supposed to be nice.

In addition, I know what you mean about the beaver dams. They can be fun. Sometimes the current going over them can be quite strong indeed. I've been thwarted going over them on occasion, even with a pole in my hands, let alone a paddle! Good times, indeed...

Marshall


PS. My BC ski repair kit next year will include your excellent recommendations from your recent Catamount Trail post.

 

[SteveM]

I've spent many hours canoeing on the Nashua River starting in Groton. My first advice is to skip the Boat Launch on the Groton side of the river. It is heavily used by fisherman and gets pretty full. Instead, use the cartop boat launch, which is just over the bridge on the left.

Down river from 119 (toward the Pepperell dam), the river has many oxbows, which can be interesting to explore. You'll also see a lot of fishing boats in this section once the weather warms up a bit more.

Going up river from 119, you can paddle for many miles before hitting anything where you would need to portage. After about 7-8 miles, there is some quick water that as you approach a train trestle that is difficult to paddle up. In high water, you can paddle down it though. About a mile above this, there is a dam, which must be portaged. Beyond that, you can travel for several more miles, maybe another 10 miles.

Nearly all of this section of river is undeveloped and wooded - very nice and quiet.

I was on the river this past Saturday. The river is pretty high and the current was difficult in some spots while paddling up river. Paddling back to the car was a blast, though.

Steve

PS - The canoe rental place in West Groton is not yet open for the season.

 

[Rick]

Marshall & Steve - Thanks for the info on these areas. Everytime I look at a map, I am stymied by what is paddle-able and what is off-limits due to municipal watershed regulations (Those same provisions that keep me off Wachusett Reservoir).
I just looked up the Nashua and am surprised to see it is not too far from me.

I have a 17' touring kayak that I keep here and a 12' light-touring kayak that I usually keep at our place on the Finger Lakes - Could I get by with my 17' in the Nashua or is the river too fast and the boat too unwieldly?

FWIW, I paddled the Batista in it those small oxbows and stringers were a nusiance.

Thanks in advance
Rick

 

[SteveM]

I just looked up the Nashua and am surprised to see it is not too far from me.

I have a 17' touring kayak that I keep here and a 12' light-touring kayak that I usually keep at our place on the Finger Lakes - Could I get by with my 17' in the Nashua or is the river too fast and the boat too unwieldly?

While I'm not a kayaker, I would say that the stretches I described are easily handled with your 17' touring kayak. The river is deep and wide with very few downed trees along the edges. If you head up river, you may even see some students from Groton School in their rowing shells, though probably not until May.

The current is only strong due to the recent rain and even that isn't too strong until you are about 5 miles up river from Groton.

When looking at a map of the Nashua River, keep in mind that somewhere in Lancaster, the North Nashua River feeds in. My understanding is that the Nashua River above this is pretty shallow. However, the North Nashua River is supposed to be pretty good, though I've never been on that stretch myself.

 

[MarshallM]

More Nashua R beta

Rick,
I'm not the best person to be talking about the suitability of touring kayaks for paddling on the Nashua River, given that I've got open canoe blood pouring through my veins. What I will say is that the farther upstream you get on the North Nashua in Lancaster (MA) and into Leominster/Fitchburg, you get more river gradient/current (quickwater to easy class I/II rapids), more blowdowns on the outside of river bends, dams (some runnable) and shallower water later in the spring.

If the aforementioned sounds good, a really nice 7-8 mile paddle on the North Nashua is from the Searstown Mall (Leominster) to the Ponakin Bridge in Lancaster. This section goes through the Cook & Lane Comerford Conservation Areas and is quite pretty. You will probably want at least a gauge height of 3.5 feet on the Fifth Street Bridge in Fitchburg.

Another section that you might enjoy is on what they call the Upper Nashua and runs from the Still River Depot Road (Lancaster, I believe) to the Ice House Dam in Ayer. This 5 mile section is all flatwater and runs through the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge and Fort Devens Military Reservation land.

Marshall

 

[Pat T]

Still River Depot Road

Still River Depot Road is located off Route 110 in the Village of Still River (part of the town of Harvard). There is a sign for the Oxbow Refuge on a tree next to the Post Office. The road to the west is Still River Depot Road and it goes down a long hill to the Nashua. The trip to Ayer goes through a very interesting area but be aware that the land on the west bank of the Nashua is part of an active firing range used by the military. You will often hear the sounds of artillery and may even see a tank or parachuters.

The river downstream of the Ayer Ice House Dam is also beautiful and has oxbows and a side stream you can travel up (the Squannacook River) at least a little ways.

More information on the river can be obtained from the Nashua River Watershed Association http://www.nashuariverwatershed.org/. It is a beautiful river with an interesting history.

Pat T

 

[Rick]

The trip to Ayer goes through a very interesting area but be aware that the land on the west bank of the Nashua is part of an active firing range used by the military. You will often hear the sounds of artillery and may even see a tank or parachuters.
Pat T

Thanks for the tip Pat - On a side note, It can't get much worse than having A-10 Warthogs and Army Helicopters flying Nap of the Earth right over you on the AT in PA!!!

 

[MarshallM]

Just adds to the ambience of this section of the 'Nash

You will often hear the sounds of artillery and may even see a tank or parachuters.
Pat T

Artillery? Wow! Surprised the ground doesn't shake out where I live in north central MA!

Last November, we put in on the Nashua R at Still River Depot Road, and we could very clearly hear the sound of machine guns in the distance.

Fortunately, we didn't experience any incoming rounds! No casualties to report...

Marshall