Narrow River – July 21, 2020

Gregg and Jean Marie at the put-in

I got an email for Bill that Gregg and Jean Marie were organizing a trip in the Narrow River. Michelle had a doctor’s appointment anyway so I decided to join in.  

The Narrow River (also known at the Pettaquamscutt River) is the tidal extension of the Mattatuxet River. It begins below the Carr Pond Dam at the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and flows south for approximately 6.3-miles forming the border between South Kingstown and Narragansett before entering Pettaquamscutt Cove and then flowing out into Narragansett Bay. The Narrow River gets its name from either the long narrow section from Lacy Bridge (Bridgetown Road) and the Mettatuxett Yacht Club (Middlebridge Road), or the narrow mouth of the river where it empties into Narragansett Bay. 

Into the Upper Pond

We put in at the town boat launch near Bridgetown Road (40 Pettaquamscutt Ave, Narragansett, RI 02882). Not wanting to paddle back up stream, I decided to do a bike shuttle from the Sprague Bridge. There were 7 kayaks (Gregg O’Brien, Jean Marie Josephson, Bill Luther, Bill Hahn, Bill Rush, Mike Rinaldi and Mike Krabach) and one canoe (me).  The day was sunny and warm with a slight breeze from the south 

We headed upstream into the Upper Pond. After a quick break at the old Girl Scout Camp Nokewa (now owned by the Nature Conservancy) we paddled up the narrow section of the river that leads to the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace (too shallow for me) before heading back downstream.

Through the Narrows

After paddling through the Upper Pond and the Lake, we entered the Narrows between Lacy Bridge (Bridgetown Road) and the Mettatuxett Yacht Club (Middletown Road).  I had never paddled this section before. From there, we paddled through the Flats (Pettaquamscutt Cove) and under the Sprague Bridge to the beach.  

The beach was crowded with motor boats and every type of paddlecraft imaginable. Unfortunately, it was low tide, so paddling out through what I think of as the Narrows into Narragansett Bay wasn’t an option.  I paddled back to my car at the Sparague Bridge and the rest of the crew continued back to the put-in.  

Approaching the Beach

Links:

My Pictures

Narrow River Preservation Association
Paddle Map - Upper Narrow River
Paddle Map -  Lower Narrow River