Blackstone Gorge - July 22, 2026

After the thunderstorms past it turned out to be a great night for the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip at the Blackstone Gorge. I paddled tandem with Danny in my Spirit II. We put in above the Rolling Dam and paddled up past the Triad Bridge site to the old Millville Lock. We continued upstream, but the water was too shallow to get up to the Millville Rapids - at least for Danny and I. 

The sky around sunset

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Blackstone Gorge - October 17, 2025

Confluence of the
Branch and Blackstone

I had the day off from work today, so I did some work in the yard in the morning, and got out for a foliage run up to the Blackstone Gorge in the afternoon. 

I put in at the Bike Path in Blackstone. After carrying down the steep hill, I paddled upstream past the old Tupper Mill and Power Station. This section of the river can be shallow, can have current, or both. This time it had both. I lined past the island below the confluence of the Branch River. There was not much water flowing though the Gorge itself. The color was OK, but it was a late in the afternoon so the sun was low and the Gorge was sitting in a shadow.  

Last drop in the Blackstone Gorge

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Fall Foliage Tour at the Blackstone Gorge - October 12, 2024

Rolling Dam

I got a cortisone shot in my heel yesterday, and the doctor told me to keep it dry and go easy. I was originally thinking of a Fife Brook run with the CTAMC, but that seemed a little ambitious. Instead, I decided to do the fall foliage tour with RICKA at the Blackstone Gorge.

The Blackstone River arises in Worcester and flows south for 48 miles, eventually becoming the Seekonk River at the Pawtucket Falls. Native Americans called the river the "Kittacuck", which meant "the great tidal river." Salmon and other migratory fish were plentiful in pre-colonial times.

Blackstone Gorge below Rolling Dam

When English colonists arrived, they called the river the Seekonk, the Narragansett, the Pawtucket, the Neetmock, the Nipmuck and the Great before finally setting on the Blackstone. It is named for William Blackstone who was the first European settler in Rhode Island. He built his house - Study Hall - on the river in what is now the Lonsdale section of Cumberland in 1635 - one year before Roger Williams settled in Providence.

The Blackstone River drops 438-feet in elevation on its way from Worcester to Providence. Early settlers built dams to power sawmills and gristmills to serve the needs of area farmers. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, the river's steep drop and numerous falls provided ideal conditions for the development of small, rural textile mills around which mill villages developed. Much of this early history can be seen along this section of the river.

Launching above Rolling Dam

We met at the Rolling Dam just above the Blackstone Gorge. A hike along the river below the dam will give you a sense of what the Blackstone River looked like before the European settlers arrived. Its banks are lined with hemlock and mountain laurel, and its rocky course tumbles over a series of three ledges and a small waterfall at the end.

We put in above the dam and headed upstream. We had 8 boats – 7 kayaks and one canoe. The river was a little low - 3.1 feet on the Northbridge gage, 6.6 feet, 78 cfs on the Rt. 122 gage. Paddling upstream from the dam is always a pleasant trip, and the foliage was just about peak. We paddle up to the Triad Bridge site.

Heading upstream

By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Blackstone River Valley had grown to become a major textile manufacturing center. That growth would continue with the introduction of rail service in 1849. With the ability to move raw materials in and finished goods out, railroads linked the Blackstone River Valley to markets around the world.

On this site, three bridges were planned to allow three different railroads to cross the Blackstone River. The lowest, the Providence & Worcester, is still in use. The middle, the New York & New England that was eventually owned by J.P Morgan, has now been converted to the bike path bridge. The top, the Grand Trunk Line, was never completed.

Triad Bridge Site

The Grand Trunk Line was brain child of Charles Hays who was attempting to establish a rail connection from Montreal to the ice-free port of Providence. Construction began in 1912. Unfortunately, on the return trip from a meeting with London bankers, Hays was killed when the ship he was on, the Titanic, struck an iceberg and sank. Construction continued on and off until 1915 when the project was finally abandoned. While the line was 70% complete, not a single mile of track was laid. You can see the concrete footings for the bridge that would have crossed this site.

Just upstream from the Triad Bridge site is the Millville Lock – one of two remaining locks from the 1828 Blackstone Canal. The other is the Goat Hill Lock at River Bend Farm. Opened in 1828, the Blackstone Canal utilized a series of 49 locks to move the barges up and down the 438-foot difference in elevation from Providence to Worcester.

Millville Lock

The canal itself was little more than a muddy ditch with paths on each side for horses or mules to pull barges. The locks used to raise and lower the barges were impressive structures. Made of granite with gates at each end, each lock was approximately eighty-feet long and ten-feet wide. Once a barge was in the lock with the gates closed, it could be raised by opening the upstream gate and lowered by opening the downstream gate.

We continued upstream into Millville below the Millville Rapid. Millville is one of the oldest, and one of the youngest towns in Massachusetts. Originally settled in 1662, it was organized as Mendon's South Parish in 1766, and became part of the town of Blackstone in 1845. It wasn't until 1916 that it was incorporated as an independent town.

Shallow water in Millville

Early in its history, Millville was small farming community. A sawmill and gristmill were operating along the river by 1725. By 1830, woolen mills lined the banks on both sides of the river. Millville would eventually become home to a large rubber mill, which would become part of the US Rubber Company (later Uniroyal) in 1892. Remnants of this industrial past can be seen in the foundations and mill races along the river.

We tuned around in the shallow water below the Millville rapid and headed back downstream. Before we reached the dam, we turned left and followed the route of the Blackstone Canal into Blackstone. It later became the power trench for the Lonsdale Company’s Blackstone Mill.

The crew at the put-in

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Blackstone Gorge with the BVPC - August 10, 2002

I led a trip with Earl for the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club at the Blackstone Gorge. We paddled up past the Triad Bridge site to the old Millville Lock. We continued upstream, but the water was too shallow to get up to the Millville Rapids. Nice trip anyway.

Heading up the Blackstone River

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Blackstone Gorge - January 1, 2022

Heading out

There were lots of options for a New Year’s Day/First Day paddle – the Winni, Tville, Crystal or the Ware. After hiking yesterday I decided that I wanted to stay close to home, so I paddled the Blackstone Gorge with the RICKA crew.

We put in at the Rolling Dam and paddled up to Millville. We had six boats – 2 canoes and 4 kayak’s. The temperature was a balmy 50-degrees, there was mist on the water which added a magical touch, and the rain held off until we packed up to leave. Nice way to start 2022.

The crew - Steve, Erik. Earl Jim, Frank and Chuck

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Blackstone Gorge - October 23, 2021

I had errands to run with my mother on Saturday, and a birthday party with the kids on Sunday, so there wasn’t much time for paddling this weekend.  I did get out for foliage run up to the Blackstone Gorge.

I put in at the Bike Path in Blackstone.  After carrying down the steep hill, I paddled up stream past the Tupper Mill into the Gorge. This section of the river can be shallow, can have current, or both.  This time I had both. I lined past the island below the confluence with the Branch River. 

There was not much water flowing though the Gorge itself.  The color was OK, but I was probably a week early for peak color.  It has been a weird year for foliage – every thing seems later than usual. 

Blackstone Gorge Foliage Tour - October 10, 2020

Rolling Dam

This was the last weekend for a scheduled Deerfield release at Fife, and I thought about heading up for a run. Then again, the shuttle is a pain, and it a long drive, so I opted for something local instead.  There are usually other released during the year.

There were lots of options for RICKA trips – Saturday at Blackstone Gorge with Gary, Sunday at Potter Hill with Sharon, and Monday at Pachaug Pond with Cheryl. Saturday looked like the nicest day, the Gorge is the closest to my house, and it fit best with my schedule, so the Blackstone Gorge it was.

 

Triad Bridge

I headed over early to hike down into the Gorge for some pictures.  There was plenty of color above the dam, but it will be at least another week for the color to peak in the Gorge itself. I snapped a few pictures at the Rolling Dam and at the Gorge Drop before heading back to the put in to meet the group.  

Paddling upstream from the dam is always a pleasant trip, and the colors were nice – not quite peak, but close.  We paddle through the Triad Bridge site, and took a break to check out the Millville Lock. From there it is a short paddle up to Millville where we turned around.  

Millville Lock

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My Pictures - Rolling Dam to Millville

Blackstone Gorge – May 30, 2020

Millville Rapid

Jonathan is up in Maine, I hadn’t heard from Bill, and I needed to go run some errands for my parents, so I decided to stay local and paddle at the Blackstone Gorge. Its a nice up-and-back trip for these COVID-19 times. 

The parking lot was empty when I arrived at around 8:30, but full when I got back at around 11:00. The river was 3.5 on the Northbridge gage, 7 ft., 275 cfs on the Rt. 122 gage – plenty of water for the paddle up to the Millville Lock. I had to walk my boat though the shallow water below the Millville Rapid, but the rapid itself was fine. I tried to carry my boat up to the top of the rapid, but the path under the bridge was completely overgrown, so I gave up half way up.

Millville Rapid from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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BRNHC Trip Guide

Northbridge Gage

Rt. 122 Gage

Blackstone Gorge Foliage Paddle - October 13, 2019

I did a leisurely paddle with the RICKA Flatwater crew from the Blackstone Gorge up to Millville - foliage was beautiful.

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Blackstone Gorge – July 9, 2019

I got out with Michelle for a tandem paddle at the Blackstone Gorge with the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club. Nice night on the water.

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Blackstone Gorge – January 26, 2019

Top of the Gorge

It was a nice day, and Michelle and I were looking for something to do, so we decided to take a walk at one of my favorite spots along the Blackstone River – the Blackstone Gorge.  Granite cliffs covered with Mountain Lauren and Hemlock trees tower over the river, which runs though a rocky set of rapids below.  The river was running pretty well – 12 feet, 2,000 cfs on the Route 122 gage. We hiked along the river for the first half-mile, and then came back through the woods.  Nice walk.  

Ice below the Rolling Dam

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Route 122 Gage

Blackstone Gorge - September 15, 2018

I decided to head over to the Blackstone Gorge to paddle up to the Millville Rapid. The level was around 3.5 on the Northbridge gage, but there was a lot water running though the Gorge, so I hiked down the to the Gorge Drop at the bottom. The ledges seemed a little scratchy, but the Gorge Drop was running. I paddled up to the Millville Rapid and set up the camera to catch my run through. Unfortunately, it shut off before I came through.

Gorge Drop in the Blackstone Gorge

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Blackstone - Bridge Street to the Gorge - September 3, 2018

I got out on the Blackstone River on Labor Day for a short paddle from Bridge Street in Blackstone to the Gorge. I parked at the bike path parking lot and carried down the hill. The water was low, and I needed to get out of the boat near the convergence with the Branch River.  No pictures or video on this trip - had trouble with the camera.  

Blackstone Gorge - Running Laps

Video of Karl Jenson running laps below the Gorge 4.4 feet on the Northbridge gage, 9 feet on the Route 122 gage and 1400 cfs, 3.7 feet on the Woonsocket gage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F85vr_fgenU&list=UUZ4ZoixoxSWgPUez4Gcs7ew&index=8

Blackstone Gorge - May 16, 2017

After a week of cold, wet weather, it was great to have a warm, sunny Tuesday – especially since this Tuesday was the kick-off for the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club’s 17th season. We had 28 boats paddling above the Blackstone Gorge, We explored the diversion to the to the old power plant before heading up stream to the Triad Bridge.

Sunset at the Blackstone Gorge

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Leaf-peeping at the the Blackstone Gorge - October 16, 2016

Putting in at the Bike Path

I would have liked to do Bill’s trip at the Neponset River but I didn’t have time, so I decided to do some leaf-peeping at the Blackstone Gorge. 

I put in under the Bridge (or maybe Canal) Street Bridge and paddled up to the Gorge.  By spring, the parking lot for the new section of the bike path should be open making access to this section of the river a lot easier.  It will still involve climbing down a steep bank, but at least there will be a place to park.

Blackstone Gorge

I paddled upstream past the Lonsdale Powerhouse and Mill.  The river is shallow here (7’ on the Route 122 gage), but I was able to paddle up without getting out of the boat.  I paddled past the convergence of the Branch River, which is a nice side trip, but it was a little too shallow today. 

I paddled up into the Gorge to get some pictures of the lower drop.  This is a view that most people never see since the trail along the river is up on the cliffs and the rapids are obscured by trees.  I hiked up the North Smithfield side of the river to get some pictures of the Rolling Dam.

Rolling Dam

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Route 122 Gage

Hiking in a Winter Wonderland – Blackstone Gorge – February 6, 2016

Rolling Dam

It doesn’t happen very often, and when it does it doesn’t last very long, but on Friday we had the perfect storm for turning everything white.  It can’t be windy; it has to start off with rain, then turn to snow to coat the branches, and then turn cold enough to freeze everything is place. The result is a winter wonderland, and lots of power outages as tree branches come crashing down.

We had that storm on Friday, so I got out early Saturday morning to take pictures at one of my favorite spots along the Blackstone River – the Blackstone Gorge.  Granite cliffs covered with Mountrail Lauren and Hemlock trees tower over the river, which runs though a rocky set of rapids below.  The river was running pretty well – 8 feet, 500 cfs on the Route 122 gage.

Trail through the woods

I got out just after sunrise and hiked down to the bottom of the Gorge and back. I brought my snowshoes, but I didn’t end up using them.  Although we got about 8” of snow, there was only a couple of inches on the ground in the woods – most of it was still up in the trees.  I hiked along the river for the first half-mile, then had to climb the cliffs that run along the river. The views were great – pictures don’t do it justice. 

As I was heading out at around 8:00, the sun was already starting to melt the snow on the highest branches, which would come crashing down.  I took a couple of direct hits – including one down the back of the neck.  By noon, only the evergreens were still coated with snow.

Snow in the trees

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Route 122 Gage

What a difference a year makes - Blackstone Gorge - January 31, 2016

Fiona heads out

Last year at this time we had a couple of feet of snow on the ground, and the Blackstone River was frozen solid.  The ice was thick enough to support fishermen above the Rolling Dam – that almost never happens. 

Yesterday the river was pretty much ice free, and the temperature was in the mid-50’s.  It even looked like spring as we put-in above the Rolling Dam in Blackstone, but the water was a chilly 38° (this is one of the few sites around with a thermometer on the gage).   The level was around 7’ on the Millville gage.

Approaching the new bike path bridge

We had three boat and four paddlers as we headed upstream toward Millville.  It’s a couple miles of flatwater, but still a pleasant trip.  The main attraction on this section of the river is a huge stone lock that is a remnant of the 1828 Blackstone Canal.  It is one of only three that survive, and because it is now high and dry you can get a great look at it’s construction.  There are also a couple of massive railroad bridges – including one that is being converted for use on a new bikepath through the area. 

We put-in around 9:00, and got back to the cars around noon.  Prefect morning trip. 

Taking a break at the Millville Lock

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Millville Gage

A Hike at the Blackstone Gorge - January 17, 2015

It was another cold day, and ice has accumulated at many of my usual paddling spots, so I decided to take a hike down at the Blackstone Gorge.  The ice above the dam was thick enough to support a couple of determined ice fishermen.  Below the dam, ice shelves lined the banks.  I was able to hike along the river to the base of the cliff at the gorge drop, and then climb to the top before heading back.

Fishing on the ice above the Rolling Dam

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Blackstone Gorge – October 12, 2014

If you want to get a sense of what the Blackstone River might have looked like before it was dammed in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries during the Industrial Revolution, then the Blackstone Gorge is the place to go.  Its steep banks are lined with Hemlock and Mountain Laurel, and its rocky course tumbles over a series of three ledges and a small waterfall at the end.  It’s a great places for some fall foliage pictures.

The final drop in the Blackstone Gorge

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