Nashua River – Ayer to Groton – November 29, 2020

On the Bike Shuttle

Last weekend we were hiking along the banks of the Nashua River in the Groton Town Forest. This weekend we decided to go back and paddle that section of the river.

We would be paddling on the South Branch of the Nashua River, which arises at the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton, MA and flows generally north for 56 miles through north-central MA and southern NH before emptying into the Merrimack River in Nashua, NH. The North Branch of the Nashua River arises west of Fitchburg and flows generally south for 30 miles until it joins the South Branch near Lancaster.

Approaching Groton Town Forest

This would be the third trip on the Nashua River this year for me, Jonathan and Conrad.  Our first trip was at the Oxbow Wildlife Refuge in Harvard, and the second was the confluence of the North Branch and the South Branch of the Nashua in Lancaster.  Today we would be paddling the section from Ayers to Groton.  I have also paddled the section of from Groton to Pepperell with RICKA, and the section of the North Branch from Leominster to Lancaster.

We put in at the northern end of the Oxbow Wildlife Refuge (Filter Bed Rd E, Ayer, MA 01432) and took out at the Petapawag Canoe Launch (Nod Rd, Groton, MA 01450) – about 6.5 miles. Jonathan and I did a 6-mile bike shuttle on the Nashua River Rail Trail. The river is pretty with huge pine trees lining the banks. It opens up significantly after the Squannacook River enters at the southern end of the Groton Town Forest.

And I earned another poem from Tom on p-net:

New England river badges,

begin to form its Morningstar.

Like diamond midst the granite rough,

she travels timeless far.

And in the flow path’s oft not seen,

so passage finds scar and scrape.

But pressing on comes wondrous light

through these facets in nature’s shape.

TW

Links.

My Pictures

Oxbow Wildlife Refuge

Nashua River Rail Trail

Nashua River Watershed Association