Reservations are required for all existing sites in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Canoeing and kayaking are done at eight fresh-water kettle ponds, which are glacial formations, fed by rain and underground streams. … Kayakers in the lower portion of the river can paddle past Harvard, MIT and the Boston skyline or explore the upper river above Watertown Dam, which meanders through small towns and rolling farmland. Visit Connecticut River Paddlers' Trail or Vermont River Conservancy online for more information or contact: Connecticut River access points within the states of VT and NH are depicted on Trail Finder's interactive map; access points have parking available. The four Connecticut Lakes are natural impoundments along the river, although hydro dams have raised the levels of First and Second Lakes. Check out the Paddling.com Message Boards for resources to help you get started. The temperatures are typically above freezing from April through November for the warm weather paddler! Click on a parking icon to get custom directions. We have two ON THE WATER locations one in Sandwich and one in Mashpee. Please visit www.connecticutriverpaddlerstrail.org for more information about the current status of the trail and for more information for visitors. Check out all kayaking trips in Massachusetts for every level of kayaker. Haverhill to Orford: 16 Miles. However, many campsites are only suited for smaller groups. A new password has been emailed to you. The Boston Kayaker found kayaking a truly enjoyable sport that takes you to places you will otherwise never see. Quinebaug River Below Route 6 Class III, 0.5 miles 14. One of our favorite ways to take advantage of Connecticut’s stunning scenery is from the water top perch of a kayak. Whether you're looking for a guided trip, kayak rentals, self-guided, day trip, multi-day trip, or anything in between, there's a kayak trip in Massachusetts for you! Here are a few popular paddling destinations in Massachusetts: ~Sponsored by the USCG and Watersports Foundation~. You'll find river access with public boat ramps all along the river. … The Vermont River Conservancy currently coordinates this collaborative effort in VT and NH. Help support this effort! Paddle one of nearly 250 inland lakes, organize a shuttle for a river paddle, or cruise around some of the coastal waters of the state of Massachusetts. The Connecticut River was the best option. Check out all kayaking trips in Massachusetts for every level of kayaker. Enter your username, and we will send you a new, randomly generated password to your email account. The Connecticut River Greenway connects parks and other areas along the Connecticut River. Generally, the maximum group size at a river campsite is twelve people or 3 tents. The Park is located at 68 Damon Road, Northampton, Massachusetts 01060.. Drive past the River Run apartments, to the end of the road, into and to the left of the Lane Construction area. Come visit our store today! The NFCT enters by way of the Nulhegan River from Vermont 1. Rent a kayak for an easy paddle down the Deerfield River in Massachusetts to get a taste of whitewater kayaking or get some lessons on how to up your advanced whitewater game: There is helpful instruction (up to a full day’s worth), a guided tour or an easy rental for every level of paddling experience at … Can I make a reservation? There was an issue with your submission. How many people can stay at the campsites? Flowing roughly southward for 406 miles (653 km) through four U.S. states, the Connecticut rises at the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island Sound. Boy, did we have a good laugh. Put in on the, lakes, or rivers of the great state of Connecticut! Paddle one of nearly 250 inland lakes, organize a shuttle for a river paddle, or cruise around some of the coastal waters of the state of Massachusetts. The primary goal of this new partnership is to close the gaps in primitive campsite availability, focusing on the 85 mile stretch where no official campsites are available to the public. Since their initial effort, many others have developed additional campsites and completed access improvement projects in the upper watershed. Once you buy your gear--which a long long time-- the rivers … The Friends of the Connecticut River Paddlers' Trail, a collaborative of partner organizations and community members formed in 2009 to work together in trail planning and development, building and maintaining campsites, improving access points and portage trails, and disseminating information to visitors. Affording beginner kayakers mostly flat water, the Ipswich River is a great place for … Since 2009, the Vermont River Conservancy has taken a leadership role in facilitating this collaborative effort. The Millers River is a 50.5-mile-long river in northern Massachusetts, originating in Ashburnham and joining the Connecticut River just downstream from Millers Falls, Massachusetts. Take out at Pine Meadow Road in Northfield MA. The Connecticut River Watershed Council's Boating guide is the best printed reference for the entire river. Ride Away brings the adventure to you!! Zoar Outdoor offers canoeing and white water kayaking lessons on the Deerfield River in the Berkshire hills of Massachusetts to suit every level of paddler, from beginner to advanced. See a full description on our State & Local Parks page. The Connecticut River runs 67 miles through western Massachusetts and plays a significant role in the area’s history, ecology, and economy. Barnet (VT), Bath (NH), Bloomfield (VT), Bradford (VT), Brattleboro (VT), Brunswick (VT), Canaan (VT), Charlestown (NH), Chesterfield (NH), Claremont (NH), Clarksville (NH), Colebrook (NH), Columbia (NH), Concord (VT), Cornish (NH), Dalton (NH), Dummerston (VT), Fairlee (VT), Guildhall (VT), Hanover (NH), Hartford (VT), Hartland (VT), Haverhill (NH), Hinsdale (NH), Lancaster (NH), Lebanon (NH), Lemington (VT), Littleton (NH), Lunenburg (VT), Lyme (NH), Maidstone (VT), Monroe (NH), Newbury (VT), Northumberland (NH), Norwich (VT), Orford (NH), Piermont (NH), Pittsburg (NH), Plainfield (NH), Putney (VT), Rockingham (VT), Ryegate (VT), Springfield (VT), Stewartstown (NH), Stratford (NH), Thetford (VT), Vernon (VT), Walpole (NH), Waterford (VT), Weathersfield (VT), Westminster (VT), Westmoreland (NH), Windsor (VT). Each campsite, access point, and portage trail has a designated site steward charged with annual maintenance. Rentals are available along the Charles River, Spot Pond in Middlesex Fells State Reservation, and at Hopkinton State Park. This park area is separate from the State CT River Greenway Park that is closer to the Coolidge Bridge where the bike path goes across the river. Who takes care of the campsites? Call for details! Lake Francis was created in the 1940s to provide flood control. This park is in the pine woods of inland Cape Cod. Ipswich River. All that paddling makes you fitter and healthier. How do I get a map? The three-mile stretch of river between First Lake and Lake Francis is … The Connecticut River Paddlers’ Trail is a series of primitive campsites and river access points spanning 400 miles from the river’s headwaters to the Long Island Sound. Trail partners are working to develop new campsites to close this gap. Canoeing and Kayaking in Massachusetts. The river was formerly known as Paquag or Baquag, a Nipmuc word meaning "clear water". We went with our ‘ole stand by paddle: The Connecticut River. From its headwaters near the town of Hopkinton, the Charles River flows 80 miles through eastern Massachusetts before spilling into Boston Harbor. Bring your own or rent at select locations. Ever since John Ledyard dropped out of Dartmouth College in 1772 and paddled the Connecticut River with a dugout canoe of his own making, paddlers have been taking what is one of New England’s iconic journeys.. Search thousands of put-in and take-out locations on our Paddling Locations Map and be sure to download the Go Paddling app where you can save favorites or create and share a float plan! While most of the river shore is privately owned, a number of generous landowners have agreed to host the public at primitive campsites on their land. If you want to plot your own route, check out all paddling locations in Massachusetts! Find kayaking trips in Connecticut for every level of kayaker. The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States. The New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association is an organization run by volunteers, dedicated to advancing the sport of canoe and kayak racing for paddlers of all skill levels. With its consistently navigable waters, few portages or difficult rapids, and a rich and varied landscape, the Connecticut River provides a unique opportunity to paddle through the heart of New England. In 2012, through the leadership of the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Trust For Public Land, and the Silvio Conte Fish and Wildlife Refuge, an initiative to expand the trail south into Massachusetts and Connecticut was launched and a "southern chapter" was formed. With an all-new layout and design, this easy-to-use guide will help paddlers of all skill levels discover 100 of the best flatwater lake and river trips in … We are conveniently located 30 minutes north of Williamsburg and 45 minutes from Northampton. If you've paddled Massachusetts before, be sure to share your trip with the rest of us! Learn how to stay safe on trails during the COVID-19 pandemic -- check out our new online resource library, Trail Talk! Thank you! When you’re ready for your next kayaking adventure, these state parks offer the perfect spots for paddling. If you witness users disrespectful of these guidelines, please contact the appropriate site steward. Kayaking Trips in Massachusetts. If river trips pique your interest, be sure to paddle some (or all!) This combined forested property just south of the Connecticut-Massachusetts border includes Mashapaug Lake and Bigelow, Breakneck, and Griggs ponds, where boating and pond fishing are done. The Connecticut River Paddlers’ Trail is a series of primitive campsites and river access points from its headwaters in New Hampshire’s Great North Woods south to Long Island Sound. Plum Island, Massachusetts. We must have looked pretty ridiculous with a canoe on our car! Highlight trail segments by permitted use(s). It’s best explored by a canoe or kayak, which will allow you to coast along the shore looking for critters, take in the stunning views of the surrounding hills, and cool off with a swim whenever the mood strikes. A group of partner organizations collaborate on developing and stewarding the trail. Massachusett and Connecticut: Yes. Before heading out on the water, please review the trail’s paddler etiquette guidelines posted on the website and at many of the campsites. If you still have questions after visiting Trail Finder and the Connecticut River Paddler's Trail website, please send an e-mail to [email protected].