River Bend Farm - November 24, 2024

Lining Practice

I had some paddling options today since last week’s rain brought some rivers up. Tville my first thought. It was around 500 cfs, which is low unless you are desperate. I’m kind of desperate. It didn’t matter anyway because I didn’t have time to drive there. Instead, I headed over to River Bend Fam to do the Blackstone Canal/River loop.

The river was at 3.5 feet - low but still fluid. At this level you need to be careful to avoid the blowdowns that block most of the fast moving water on the outside of turns. I brought a rope to make a bridle and a dry bag to use as ballast and practiced lining. Otherwise, the river section went quick. There were a couple of strainers across the canal as I paddled back upstream, but I was able to get around or over them without portaging.

Blackstone Arch

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River Bend Farm - May 4, 2024

Visitor Center at River Bend Farm

There were a lot of trips that I would have liked to do today – dam releases on the West and Otter Brook, or camping on the Baskahegan. Unfortunately, I have to leave leave for a business trip tomorrow, so I needed to stay close to home. I decided to do the canal/river loop at River Bend Farm.

River Bend Farm is part of the Blackstone River Canal and Heritage Park – a 1,000-acre state park in Uxbridge, MA with hiking trails, paddling on the Blackstone River and Canal and historical sites like the Blackstone Canal’s Goat Hill Lock, King Philip’s Lookout and the Stanley Woolen Mill. I arrived at River Bend Farm at around 7:30, and noticed that the staff was setting up for an event. I didn’t think about it too much as I launched my boat and headed up a section of the old Blackstone Canal.

Up the Blackstone Canal

The Blackstone Canal opened in 1828 and utilized a series of 49 locks to move the canal boats up and down the 450-foot difference in elevation from Providence to Worcester. The canal operated until 1847 when it was replaced by the Providence & Worcester Railroad.

Following the demise of the Blackstone Canal, the section of the canal through what is now River Bend Farm was purchased by the Taft family who converted it to a mill race for their Central Woolen Mill. Later known Stanley Woolen Mill, it would become one of the most successful woolen mills in the country.

Down the Blackstone River

Rather than portage over into Rice City Pond, I crossed over to the Blackstone River. The river was low (3.5-feet on the Northbridge gage), but still fluid. At this level you need to be careful to avoid the gravel bars and blowdowns that block most of the fast moving water on the outside of turns. The river section went quick and I was soon at the take-out for the portage over to the Blackstone Canal.

There were a couple of strainers across the canal as I paddled back upstream, but I was able to get around or over them without portaging. When I approached River Bend Farm I was surprised to see fishermen lining the banks. Turns out today was the Family Fun Fishing Day, and the turn-out was great. I loaded up my boat and headed home.

Family Fun Fishing Day at River bend Farm

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Northbridge Gage

Plummers Landing - February 11, 2024

At the put-in at Plummers Landing

I needed to stay local again this weekend. When I saw a post from José on the RICKA Flatwater message board, I decided to join her for a run on the Blackstone River from Plummers Landing. While I was scouting the take-out at the Stanley Woolen Mill, I saw Bob and Ozzie who would be poling upstream.

I met José at the Plummers Landing put-in on Church Street, and we decided to do the run down to the Tri-River Medical Center at River Bend Farm. The river was at a nice level – 4.2-feet on the Northbridge gage.

Running the twists and turns

This section of the Blackstone is in a considerable state of flux with the river constantly eroding its banks and creating new channels. About a mile downstream, the river has breached the old Blackstone Canal on the right, and much of the water now flows down the old canal trench - stay left to remain in the river. From there the river twists and turns, and it is a challenge to maneuver around the s-turns and through the strainers.There was one strainer that we needed to portage.

Eventually, we entered the calm water of Rice City Pond and paddled over to check out the Goat Hill Lock from the old Blackstone Canal. We meandered our way through Rice City Pond and over to the take-out at the Hartford Avenue Bridge. José wants to paddle River Bend Farm next – sounds good to me. I never did see Bob and Ozzie again.

In the Goat Hill Lock on the Blackstone Canal

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Trip Description for BRVNHC

Plummers Landing from Rhode Island Blueways

Rice City Pond with the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club - June 20, 2023

Up the old Blackstone Canal

It was my turn to lead the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club at River Bend Farm. I scouted the canal/river loop last weekend, but the water was a little low and there were too many strainers, so we decided to stay on Rice City Pond.

The Blackstone Valley Paddle Club was established in 2000 by the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (now Park and Corridor). I became a paddle club leader in 2007. Over the years, the club has led Tuesday night trips throughout the summer, getting thousands of people out on the waterways of the Blackstone River Valley. We had a good turn-out for this trip with around 19 boats.

At the Goat Hill Lock

Rice City Pond is part of the Blackstone River Canal and Heritage Park – a 1,000-acre state park in Uxbridge, MA with hiking trails, paddling on the Blackstone River and Canal and historical sites like the Blackstone Canal’s Goat Hill Lock, King Philip’s Lookout and the Stanley Woolen Mill.

We put-in at the Tri-River Medical Center and paddled upstream under the Stone Arch Bridge at Hartford Avenue and up an old section of the Blackstone Canal to the Goat Hill Lock - one of only two remaining locks. The other is the Millville Lock above the Blackstone Gorge.

Up the Blackstone River

Following the demise of the Blackstone Canal, this section of the canal was purchased by the Taft family who converted it to a mill race for the Stanley Woolen Mill. They built the dam that created Rice City Pond, and constructed new headgates to control the flow of water down to the mill.

We paddled across the top of Rice City Pond and up a section of the Blackstone River before shallow water forced us to turn around and head back to the put-in – nice night.

Heading back to the put-in

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Scouting at River Bend Farm - June 17, 2023

I will be leading the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip this Tuesday at River Bend Farm. We will be offering two trips, so today I scouted them both. The level was 3.5 feet, but the rain will bump it up a little.

First I scouted the Rice City Pond.


Scouting Rice City Pond from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Then I scouted the Blackstone Canal/River Loop.


Scouting the Blackstone Canal-River Loop from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

River Bend Farm – March 19, 2023

At the put-in on the Blackstone River

We had a family party on Saturday, and I needed to help at the Saint Joseph’s Day Mass on Sunday, so I had to stay close to home this weekend. I did want to test out my new drysuit, so I ended up running the canal/river loop at River Bend Farm.

River Bend Farm is part of the Blackstone River Canal and Heritage Park – a 1,000-acre state park in Uxbridge, MA with hiking trails, paddling on the Blackstone River and Canal and historical sites like the Blackstone Canal’s Goat Hill Lock, King Philip’s Lookout and the Stanley Woolen Mill.

Water flowing over the spillway dam

I parked at the Tri-River Medical Center and carried my boat over to the put-in on the Blackstone River below the spillway dam. The day was sunny with a little wind and temps in the mid-40's. The river was high - 4.5-feet, 1,000 cfs on the Northbridge gage. Water was flowing over the spillway dam, which you don't see very often.

At this level the river moves fast, and the trick is to stay in the current on the seam between the fast moving water on the outside of the turn that is often filled with strainers, and the huge eddies on the inside of the turn that will quickly spin you around. The river section went quick and I was soon at the take-out for the portage over to the Blackstone Canal.

Blackstone Arch

The Blackstone Canal opened in 1828 and utilized a series of 49 locks to move the barges up and down the 450-foot difference in elevation from Providence to Worcester. The canal operated until 1847 when it was replaced by the Providence & Worcester Railroad. Following the demise of the Blackstone Canal, the section through what is now River Bend Farm was purchased by the Taft family who converted it to a mill race for their Central Woolen Mill. Later known Stanley Woolen Mill, it would become one of the most successful woolen manufacturers in the country.

I was paddling against a slight downstream current as I headed back up the canal. There were a couple of strainers across the canal, but I was able to get around or over them without portaging. After snapping a few pictures of the River Bend Farm Visitor Center, I was soon back at my car for the trip home.  My new drysuit worked great - a little baggy, but very comfortable.  

River Bend Farm Visitor Center from the Blackstone Canal

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Northbridge Gage

Rice City Pond with the BVPC – June 28, 2022

Hartford Avenue Bridge

For the past two weeks I was out for weeknight whitewater trips with the CTAMC at Tville. This week, I led a flatwater trip with the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club at River Bend Farm.

The Blackstone Valley Paddle Club was established in 2000 by the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (now Park and Corridor) as a way to get folks out on waterways of the Blackstone River Valley. Over the years, the club has continued weekday trips (usually on Tuesday evenings) throughout the summer, getting thousands of people out on the water. We had a good turn-out for this trip with 25 boats including 5 canoes. 

Up the Blackstone Canal

River Bend Farm is part of the Blackstone River Canal and Heritage Park – a 1.000-acre state park in Uxbridge, MA with hiking trails, paddling on the Blackstone River and Canal and historical sites like the Blackstone Canal’s Goat Hill Lock, King Philip’s Lookout and the Stanley Woolen Mill.

Usually, we offer the opportunity for paddlers to do either the River/Canal Loop, or Rice City Pond. I scouted the River/Canal Loop over the weekend, and found it low and tricky in spots. The current often takes you into strainers that can be difficult to avoid. The bottom of the canal was also green with duckweed. We decided to skip the River/Canal Loop and just do the trip to Rice City Pond. Even with Monday’s rain the water level was still low – 2.5 feet on the Northbridge Gage. 

Bob poling up the shallows

We put-in at the Tri-River Medical Center and paddled upstream under the Stone Arch Bridge at Hartford Avenue. After paddling under the bridge there are great views of Rice City Pond with the rolling hills upstream. We paddled up an old section of the Blackstone Canal to the Goat Hill Lock - one of only two remaining locks. The other is the Millville Lock above the Blackstone Gorge. Unfortunately, it was too shallow to get such a big group up to see the lock itself.

The Blackstone Canal opened in 1828 and utilized a series of 49 locks to move the barges up and down the 450-foot difference in elevation from Providence to Worcester. The canal operated until 1847 when it was replaced by the Providence & Worcester Railroad. 

Heading up the Blackstone River

Following the demise of the Blackstone Canal, the section through what is now River Bend Farm was purchased by the Taft family who converted it to a mill race for their Central Woolen Mill. They built the dam that created Rice City Pond, and constructed new headgates to control the flow of water down to the mill. The Central Woolen Mill, later known as the Stanley Woolen Mill, would become one of the most successful woolen manufacturers in the country.

We paddled across the top of Rice City Pond and up a section of the Blackstone River before shallow water forced us to turn around and head back to the put-in – nice night.

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Northbridge Gage
Rice City Pond from RI Blueways

River Bend Farm - May 21, 2022

My first thought was to paddle Tville with Paul, but they were starting a little late. My second thought was the Upper Wood River with RICKA, but even that would take most of the afternoon. I had some family stuff to do this afternoon, so I decided to do a local run at River Bend Farm.

The level was 2.8 on the Northbridge gage – a low but fluid level. This is a tricky little run with lots of twist and turns. In many places, the current pushes you into trees hanging into the water on the outside of bends. I am supposed to lead a BVPC trip here in June, but if the level is much lower we will probably stay off the river.

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so no pictures.

River Bend Farm - September 12, 2021

Jim and Phil head downstream

I had family obligations this weekend, so I stayed close to home and did an early morning run at River Bend Farm. The river was at a nice level – 4.5 feet on the Northbridge gage after peaking at over 10 feet after Hurricane Ida. I put in at the Visitor Center and paddled up to the Goat Hill Lock in Rice City Pond before crossing over for the run down the river. I met a couple of kayakers (Jim and Phil) as I was beginning the river run, so I ran the river section with them.

Hartford Avenue Bridge

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Northbridge Gage

Trip Description from the BRVNHC

River Bend Farm - April 2, 2021

River Bend Farm Visitor Center

It’s always tough to get out on Easter weekend. This year I had Thursday and Friday off from work, so I was able to sneak out for an early morning run at River Bend Farm. It was a brisk 29° when I put my boat in the water at the Visitor Center. The level was OK – around 3.7 feet on the Northbridge gage. There are a few tricky strainers on the river, but a nice run just the same.

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Trip Description from BRVNHC

Lonsdale to Ashton - Canal/River Loop - March 22, 2020

With everything going virtual, I decided to do a virtual tour of my morning paddle from Lonsdale to Ashton on the Blackstone Canal/River Loop. Great level – 2.5 feet, 800 cfs. Several blowdowns in the canal - one I had to get out and carry around. The run down the river was fun, but my battery died half way down. 

Canal/River Loop - Lonsdale to Ashton from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Flatwater Leader Training - June 8, 2019

Classroom session

I spent the day running a flatwater leader training for the Blackstone River Heritage Corridor and RICKA at the River Bend Farm.

We met at 10:30 in the conference room in the visitor center for the classroom session on Trip Planning and Logistics. After a break for lunch on the patio (pizza from Harry’s), we went out to the river for the on-water session. We did the canal/river loop starting from River Bend Farm. The river was low (3.2 feet) but runnable. We also did demonstrations with tow ropes and throw bags.

We had 14 for the class and 12 for the paddle - no swims!

On the river

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Slides from Presentation Trip Planning and Logistics
Trip Description from the BRVNHC
Northbridge Gage

Ashton - Canal/River Loop - May 5, 2019

It was a rainy morning, but I decided to go down to Ashton to paddle down the river, and back up the canal.  The river is clear, but there are a couple of bad blow-downs in the canal.


Ashton - Canal River Loop from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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River Description from BRVNHC

River Bend Farm - June 9, 2018

Rice City Pond

I’m leading the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip at River Bend Farm this week, so I went up to scout it out. The river was just over 3’ on the Northbridge gage.

I paddled up into Rice City Pond as far as Lookout Rock. It was low, but OK if you stayed in the main channels. The river was low, but with good current, including the usual tricky side currents. The water in the canal was covered with pollen, but as you move upstream it clears up. No greed duckweed yet.

I brought my camera, but I forgot to put the memory card in. Guess how many pictures my camera will hold without the memory card - just two, so here they are.

Stone Arch Bridge at Hartford Avenue

Canal/River Loop - Lonsdale to Ashton - May 26, 2018

It was such a nice day that I decided to skip the gym and go paddling. I did the canal/river loop from Lonsdale to Ashton. There were a lot of blow-downs in the canal, but I only had to get out of the boat for one. The river was at a nice level – 2 feet, 500 cfs on the Woonsocket gage. I took a lot of video, but unfortunately I deleted it before down loading it to the computer. Here is all I ended up with.  

Aston Dam from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

River Bend Farm - August 12, 2017

Visitor Center at River Bend Farm

With the RICKA crew off to the Adirondacks, there weren’t any local trips planned this weekend.  Traveling wasn’t an option, so I posted a trip on the Flatwater Massage Board for a canal/river run at River Bend Farm.

River Bend Farm was the former Vose Farm, and is now the Visitor's Center for the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park. It’s a popular place to hike or paddle with great views of the Blackstone Canal, the stone arch bridge at Hartford Avenue, Rice City Pond and the Stanley Woolen Mill.

Portage into Rice City Pond

I met up with Mike and Bill at 9:00 at the Visitor Center.  From there, we paddled up the Blackstone Canal before portaging over to Rice City Pond. The pond itself was shallow, so we paddled up the old canal to the Goat Hill Lock before turning around and heading back to the river. 

The Blackstone River was low but fluid - 3 feet on the Northbridge gage.  We crossed over at the dam and headed downstream.  Even at a low level, the river can be tricky with lots of twists and turns and low hanging trees. We crossed back over to the canal above the Stanley Woolen Mill for the trip back to the take out – nice morning.

Quickwater on the Blackstone River

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Northbridge Gage

Trip Guide from BVHC

Lonsdale Ashton Loop – April 22, 2017

It was gray and rainy, but the water levels were great, and we are starting to see some green on the trees.

Blackstone Canal in Ashton

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Albion to Ashton - November 26, 2016

I usually get out to paddle on Black Friday, but the weather was bad and nothing was running.  Instead, I put up Christmas decorations.  On Saturday, I decided to stay local, so I put-in below the Albion Dam and paddled down to the Blackstone Canal in Ashton. I portaged the Ashton Dam on the left to catch the wave below the dam before portaging over to the canal.  The Blackstone River Watershed Council cleared out the canal a couple of weeks ago, and it looks great.

Reflections on the Blackstone Canal

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Ashton to Manville Loop - September 18, 2016

I haven't done one of these in a while, but here's a video of yesterday's trip on the Blackstone from Ashton up to Manville and back. Two portages on the way up, two portages on the way back down, and I carried my boat up to the Manville Dam for the run back down. The water was low below the Ashton and Albion Dams, but otherwise it wasn't bad. I didn't paddle much of the canal, but it didn't look bad either.

Ashton to Manville from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Canal River Loop - May 15, 2016

There were lots of people on the bike path, but as usual, I had the only boat on the water.  I put-in in Lonsdale to do the canal/river loop.  The fish were jumping and the turtles were out sunning themselves as I paddled up the Blackstone Canal.  I followed a Herron up the canal, until he finally got tired of me and flew off.  The river was at a nice level (2.5 feet, 600 cfs) - especially for the play spot below the Martin Street Bridge.    

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Trip Description from the BRVNHC