Bigelow Brook – March 15, 2026

Heading out from the put in

With the recent rain and snow melt, Mike put a trip on the whitewater message board for Bigelow Brook. It would be rare chance to do a natural flow run on this very pretty Connecticut river. The last time Mike ran it was about 10-year’s ago.

Bigelow Brook arises at the Mashapaug Lake in Union and flows generally south/southeast through Bigelow Hollow State Park, Bigelow Pond and Myers Pond. It then forms the border between Ashford and Eastford before joining the Still River to form the Nachaug River. We would be running the section from Westford Road to the Natchaug State Forest.

Below the Route 44 Bridge

I met Mike and Aaron at the commuter lot at the intersection of Routes 44 and 198 in Eastford to run the shuttle. We put in at Westford Road and headed downstream. The river twists and turns through pretty woodlands lined with Hemlock trees and Mountain Laurel. It is mostly quickwater with some easy class I/II rapids – the largest being under the Route 44 Bridge. Dodging rocks and staying in the deepwater channel was the order of the day.

We continued downstream past the confluence with the Still River and on to the Natchaug River. We took out at the Natchaug State Forest – about a 6-mile trip. The gage on the Natchaug River above Diana’s Pool spiked at about 1,000-cfs last week, and was about 300-cfs today. There is no gage on Bigelow Brook itself.

Taking a break at the confluence

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My Pictures

Aaron's Video
Natchaug River - Marcy Road (Diana’s Pool) Gage