Hiking the Mighty Quin - February 20, 2022

Along the Mighty Quin

I wanted to do some paddling, but both Pauls had other plans and it ended up being a really cold day anyway, so I decided to join Papa Joe and the crew for one of my favorite hikes along the “Mighty Quin”.

The Quinapoxet River (aka the “Mighty Quin”) arises in Princeton, MA, and is part of the MWRA system supplying drinking water to greater Boston. The Quinapoxet Dam in Holden impounds a billion gallons of water in the Quinapoxet Reservoir. Below the dam, the Quinapoxet River flows 8-miles east to the Wachusett Reservoir, joining the Stillwater River to become the South Branch of the Nashua River in West Boylston. The section of the Quinapoxet from Canada Mills to the Wachusett Reservoir is a well-known whitewater run.

The crew (with half of Al)

We met at the Mass Central Rail Trail (265 Manning Street, Jefferson (Holden), MA) for a 5.2-mile hike down to the old Springdale Mill. The Mass Central Rail Trail follows the route to the old Massachusetts Center Railroad that connected Boston to Northampton. The rail trail itself was wide and clear, but we broke off into the woods in several places to follow the river. 

I have now done 5 hikes along the Might Quin, but only 4 paddling runs – I'll need to work on that. The river was running a little over 9-feet, which looked low and boney in places, but my open boater friends say it is a good level. I have run it clean at 10-feet (two runs) and 11-feet with a swim at 10.5-feet.

Links:

My Pictures

Mass Central Trail

Quinapoxet River Gage