Plummers Landing to Route 16 - April 27, 2025

Hole at the bottom of the Millville Rapid

With the rain on Saturday, I decided to stay local and see what would come up. Aaron was game, so we decided to run the section of the Blackstone River from Plummers Landing to Route 16.

The original plan was to run the section from River Bend Farm to the Gorge, but we scouted the Millville Rapid and found a large hole at the bottom due to high water. It was smiling at us (a good sign), but with only two of us we still decided to take a pass and run the section from Plummers Landing down to Route 16.

Heading down form Plummers Landing

The river was at a nice level for the run – 4-feet on the Northbridge gage. The section from Plummers Landing down to River Bend Farm is in a considerable state of flux with the river constantly eroding its banks and creating new channels. 

About a mile downstream, the river breached the old Blackstone Canal on the right, and much of the water now flows down the old canal trench. The canal is blocked with trees, so you need to 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.

Goat Hill Lock

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. 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. This is one of only two remaining locks – the other is the Millville Lock just downstream of the Millville Rapid.

We stayed right on Rice City Pond and paddled down the flooded-out section of the old Blackstone Canal to the stone-arch bridge at Hartford Avenue. From there, we crossed over to the river to continue our run down to Route 16. 

Running the broken dam at Route 16

Like the section below Plummers Landing, the section through River Bend Farm twists and turns around s-turns and through low-hanging trees. You need to be careful to avoid the fast moving water that pushes you into the strainers on the outside of turns.

Rather than portaging over to the canal, we continued downstream to run the broken dam at Route 16. In spite of a large strainer in the middle, there was an easy line to the left. We ran the drop and did a little surfing before calling it a day.

Links:

My Pictures

Northbridge Gage

Plummers Landing to River Bend Farm Paddle Map

Urban Explorers Guide to the Blackstone River

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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My Pictures

Northbridge Gage

Trip Description for BRVNHC

Plummers Landing from Rhode Island Blueways

Plummers Landing to Route 16 - April 20, 2019

At the put-in

Bill and I had to put up with a little rain, and a few blow-downs, but we still had a nice run down the Blackstone from Plummers Landing to Route 16. The level was great (5 feet, 800 cfs), and there was lots of wildlife out – herons, turkeys, deer, osprey, a red tail hawk, and even a Bald Eagle. Two blow-downs completely blocked the river just after the canal, but the portage was easy. Otherwise, we were able to paddle over or around everything.

Rice City Dam the and Hartford Avenue Bridge

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Northbridge Gage

Pummers Landing to the Stanley Woolen Mill - May 7, 2016

Linda heads down stream

Personally, I’d much rather be paddling boats than repairing them.  When I do repair work, my lack of practice often shows.  Still, there is a lot of satisfaction in paddling a boat that you have repaired yourself, so I was glad to get the Wildfire out for a trip on the Blackstone after doing some repair work on the stern.

A light drizzle was falling a I drove to the Stanley Woolen Mill to meet Linda for the trip, but the rain held off while we were on the river.  We ran the section from Plummers Landing to the Stanley Woolen Mill.  The river was at a nice level – 4 feet, 600 cfs. on the Northbridge gage. 

Linda running the Broken Dam

This section of the river requires a lot of maneuvering through s-turns and around strainers. After paddling through Rice City Pond, we portaged the dam at Hartford Avenue for the run through River Bend Farm.  We ran the broken dam below Route 16, and did a little surfing before calling it a day - good time.

Surfing at the Broken Dam

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My Pictures

Northbridge Gage
Trip Guide from BVHC

Paddling in the Rain - Plummers Landing to Route 16 - April 26, 2014

Bob heads downstream

The forecast called for rain, but Bob and I decided to paddle anyway, so we met at 8:30 to run the section of the Blackstone River from Plummers Landing in Northbridge to Route 16 in Uxbridge. In additional to some nice paddling, there is a lot of history along this section of the Blackstone River including the Goat Hill Lock of the Blackstone Canal (1827), the stone arch bridge on Hartford Avenue (1867) that is part of one of the longest colonial highways in the area (1739), the Stanley Woolen Mill (1853), and Lookout Rock – a frequent meeting place of the Wampanoag Indians during King Philip’s War (1675-1678).

It was poring rain when we arrived at the Plummers Landing put-in on Church Street to run the shuttle. In spite of the rain, or more likely because of it, the river looked to be at a nice level – 4 feet, 600 cfs. on the Northbridge gage.

Entering Rice City Pond

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.  Unfortunately, the canal is blocked with trees, so we stayed left to continue down the river.

When there is enough water, this is a fun section to paddle.  The river twists and turns, and it is a challenge to maneuver around the s-turns and through the strainers.   There was evidence of considerable flooding as we paddled downstream.  Blow-downs were stacked in large piles, the riverbank was stripped of last year’s foliage, and clumps of debris were hanging from trees and bushes along the banks as high as 4 feet in the air. 

Surfing at the broken dam on Route 16

The rain continued as we entered the calm water of Rice City Pond.  We stayed right and paddled down a flooded section of the old Blackstone Canal.  After paddling under the old Hartford Avenue Bridge, we crossed over into the river for the run through River Bend Farm down to the Stanley Woolen Mill and Route 16. 

Like the section below Plummers Landing, the section of the river through River Bend Farm twists and turns around s-turns and through low-hanging trees.  We ran the broken dam at Route 16, and did a little surfing before calling it a day.  Of course, the rain stopped just as we pulled off the river.  I wasn’t too interested in history on this trip. but I did enjoy a rainy paddle down a pretty section of my favorite local river. 

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My Pictures

Northbridge Gage

Plummers Landing to the Stanley Woolen Mill - May 18, 2013

We had a good time running the Blackstone from PlummersLanding to the Stanley Woolen Mill.  We had six boats – two canoes (Tom and Erik) and four kayaks (Linda, Fiona, Frank and Jim).  The river was at 3.5 feet on the Northbridge gage which was low, but runnable – 4.5 feet would definitely be better.  Everthing was definitely lush and green.

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My Pictures

Northbridge Gage

Blacskstone River - Plummers Landing to Route 16 - December 12, 2011

Rice City Dam and the Hartford Avenue Bridge

I’m trying to use up the last of my vacation time, so I was glad when Paul said he would be able to paddle this morning. We decided to paddle the Blackstone from Plummers Landing (Church Street in Northbridge) the Stanley Woolen Mill (Route 16 in Uxbridge).

We met at the take out on Route 16 across from the Stanley Woolen Mill at 9:00 and ran the shuttle. It was a nice sunny day, but a little cool. There was a thin layer of ice on the Blackstone Canal, and an occasional icicle on the river - winter is coming.  The river was at a nice level – 4.5 feet, 600 cfs. on the Northbridge gage.

At this level, this trip is mostly quickwater with some flatwater through the Rice City Pond and one portage around the Rice City Dam at Hartford Avenue. We cruised downstream with little effort allowing the current to do most of the work and having a good time maneuvering though the frequent “S” turns.

We finished up around 11:00 – just in time for me to get to the Museum of Work and Culture for rehearsal.

At the put-in at Plummers Landing

Links:
Blackstone River Gage at Northbridge
Plummers Landing from the BRVNHC
River Bend Farm from the BRVNHC

BRWA Canoe Race - May 15th

I had a good time yesterday at the Blackstone River Watershed Association Canoe/Kayak Race. A total of 49 boats entered, and I was surprised to see that half were tandem canoes. I was the only solo canoe.  Here I am at the starting line.

It was my intention to paddle my J-200 racing boat, but as I was getting ready to leave for the race, I noticed a large crack in the gunwale. I had time to glue up the gunwale, but decided to take my Bell Yellowstone Solo instead. Not exactly a racing boat, but it turned out to be a good choice considering the conditions.

When I arrived at the put in around 10:00 there was already a good crowd. I saw a few familiar faces, and talked for a little while with Ranger Chuck Arning who was helping out on the safety crew. When I commented that I hadn’t paddled the upper sections of the Blackstone very often, he suggested that the section from Riverlin Street in Millbury down to Grafton is also nice when there is more water. Add that to the list of places to paddle.

Registration went quickly, as did the safety talk. By 11:00, boats were lined up at the starting line. Kayaks started first, followed by canoes. Since I was the only solo boat, I was a division of one – guaranteed a first place finish. I started in the middle of the pack with the Tandem Mixed (men and women) and Tandem Masters (both paddlers over 40) Divisions.

The race starts in Grafton where Main Street (Route 122A, Google Map - 53 Main Street, Grafton, MA) crosses the Blackstone, and ends at River Bend Farm in Uxbridge - 12 miles with lots of twists and turns. Water level was low – about 2’ on the Millbury gauge, 3’ on the Northbridge gauge. The race course can be divided into three sections.

From Grafton down to Plummers Landing is mostly flatwater with two portages. The first is a dam at Depot Street which is protaged on river right.  The second is a dam at Riverdale which is protaged on river left.  I held my own in this section, and even passed some of the slower kayakers who started before me. I also got passed by several of the faster tandem teams that started after me.

The section from Pummers Landing down to River Bend Farm was extremely scratchy. This turned out to be an advantage for me since I could float over many of the shallow areas that forced the tandem boaters to get out and walk. Even when I had to walk, my small solo was a lot easier to maneuver. It was actually nice to take a break from paddling and stretch the legs.

The loop through River Bend Farm went quickly. My Yellowstone was perfect for the river section. After portaging over to the canal I still felt good, so I did my best to stay in front of a tandem team that was right on my tail. They weren’t able to pass me.

I ended up doing the 12-mile course in 2 hours and 33 minutes. Respectable time, good people, and I won my division - can’t beat that.