Branch River - Forestdale to Slatersville - July 2, 2011

I decided to try something different this morning, so I headed over the Branch River to paddle the section from Forestdale to Slatersville.

1826 Slatersville Mill

I wasn’t sure where to put-in, but as I drove up School Street in Forestdale I saw two guys carrying a boat down the river at the old Forestdale Mill site, so I put-in there. The Forestdale Pond was dotted with white, pink and purple water lilies. Once I got past Village Haven, the river was too shallow (2 ft., 42 cfs) to paddle, so I hiked up the river to Slatersville. I should have brought my poling boat. Across from Village haven would be a good place to put-in for poling.

The Village of Slatersville was established in 1803 and became the model for industrial development in the Blackstone River Valley.  Unfortunately, you can’t see much of the village from the river.  There are some nice views of the 1826 Mill, the Providence Pike Bridge and the Lower Dam.  The short section from Slatersville to Village Haven would be a fun section to paddle in higher water.


Branch River from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Links:
My Pictures
Slatersville from woonsocket.org