Slocum’s River - August 18, 2024

Russells Mills Landing

I wasn't able to paddle last weekend, so when Paul sent a text suggesting that we do the Slocum’s River I was in.

The Slocum’s River (AKA Slocum River or Slocums River) is the tidal extension of the Paskamanset River that arises in the Acushnet Cedar Swamp in New Bedford. While the freshwater Paskamanset River kept its Native American name, the saltwater Slocum’s River took its name from early settlers in the area. The Slocum’s River flows south through the Town of Dartmouth for 4.3-miles before emptying into Buzzards Bay.

Beach at Demarest Lloyd State Park

We met at 10:00 at Russells Mills Landing off Horseneck Road. We had 10 boats with mix of flatwater paddlers and sea kayakers. High tide was at 7:30, and low tide was at 1:00, so we would be paddling down on an outgoing tide. The river winds its way past farms, waterfront homes, and the marshlands of the Slocum's River Reserve and the Demarest Lloyd State Park.

Fishermen lined the banks as we paddled past the beach at Demarest Lloyd State Park and paddled out into the open water where the Slocum’s River opens up into Buzzards Bay between Barneys Joy and Mishaum Point. We could see the waves breaking on the sandbar at the mouth of the river, and the Elizabeth Islands in the distance.

Paddling out into the waves

The water was low, but we managed to work our way out to the sandbar to paddle out into the waves. We had a couple of minor incidents on the way back in (one rescue, one walk to shore) before we paddled/walked back to the beach for lunch.

After lunch it was an easy paddle on an incoming tide back the put-in. Mike called it a Level 2.2 - 7.5-miles round trip. The sun even came out as we were loading the boats – it figures.

The crew at the beach at Demarest Lloyd State Park

Links:
My Pictures
Tides at Slocum's River
Russells Mills Landing
Alternate put-in - Gaffney Town Landing
Slocum's River Reserve

Lloyd Center for the Environment

Demarest Lloyd State Park