Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend

My trip from Cornwall to Kent got me thinking that it would be great to spend a weekend on the Housatonic. I decided to do a fall foliage trip with RICKA paddling two flatwater sections on Columbus Day weekend - Sheffield, MA to Ashley Falls, MA on Saturday, and Ashley Falls, MA to Falls Village, CT on Sunday.

Sheffield, MA to Ashley Falls, MA

This 8-mile trip begins at the Covered Bridge on Covered Bridge Lane in Sheffield, MA and ends at Rannapo Road in Ashley Falls, MA. The river twists and turns through fields and meadows along the foothills of the Berkshires.

Ashley Falls, MA to Falls Village, CT

This 10.5-mile trip begins where the previous trip ends. We will put in at Rannapo Road in Ashley Falls, MA and take out at the Great Falls Dam in Falls Village, CT. This section also meanders through fields and meadows including Bartholomew’s Cobble – a National Natural Landmark. There is one dam to portage in Canaan.

I originally thought we would stay at Housatonic Meadows, but it is not particularly close to these sections of the river, and I wasn't sure of availability. Instead, we camped at Taconic State Park just over the border in nearby NY - I booked site 87 for Friday and Saturday night.

There are plenty of activities to enjoy at Taconic State Park in addition to paddling - bike the Harlem Valley Rail Trail or hike to Bash Bish Falls (the highest single drop waterfall in MA) or up Brace Mountain (the highest point in Dutchess County).

Links:

Taconic State Park
Campsite Map
Book site on Reserve America