Sudbury River - Lincoln to Concord - November 30, 2025

Approaching Egg Rock

I usually try to do a "Day After Turkey" (Thanksgiving) paddle, but this year my daughter and grandkids were visiting. Instead, I got out today for a trip with Conrad on the Sudbury River.

The Sudbury is a National Wild and Scenic River that arises in Westborough and flows generally northeast for 41-miles to its convergence with the Assabet at Egg Rock in Concord. From there the river continues as the Concord, which flows generally north for about 16-miles until its convergence with the Merrimack River in Lowell.

Conrad and Erik

We would be doing the section from the Lincoln Canoe Launch to the Lowell Road Boat Ramp – about 5-miles. The forecast was for rain in the afternoon, so we met at 9:00 to run the shuttle and were on the water around 10:00. There was ice at the boat launch, but the river itself was clear.

Just downstream of the boat launch is Fairhaven Bay, a wide-open section of the river that was written about by Henry David Thoreau. While mostly marshland upstream, this section is lined with big beautiful houses. We ended the trip at Egg Rock, where the Sudbury and Assabet Rivers converge to form the Concord River. We were on our way home before the rain started.

Links:
My Pictures
Sudbury River Padders Trail

SUASCO Watershed Association - OARS

Hot Day on the Sudbury – August 20, 2022

Heading out into the marshlands

A trip in August in the wide open marshlands of the Great Meadows Wildlife Refuge on the Sudbury River seemed like a good idea when Bill and I put it on the RICKA Flatwater calendar back in April. We knew there would be water, but we hadn't thought about how hot it can get in the dog days of summer, or the total lack of shade.

The Sudbury is a National Wild and Scenic River that arises in Westborough and flows generally northeast for 41-miles to its convergence with the Assabet at Egg Rock in Concord. From there the river continues as the Concord, which flows generally north for about 16-miles until its convergence with the Merrimack River in Lowell.

I

Me and Bill in the Spirit II

n the towns of Sudbury and Wayland, the Sudbury River flows through the wetlands of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. It is a beautiful area that provides habitat for migratory bids and many other animals. Bill and I have been doing RICKA trips on the Sudbury for the past couple of years.  

We put-in at 9:30 at the Lincoln Canoe Launch (Route 117). With the ongoing drought, the water at the launch itself was a low, but the river was fine. We paddled upstream into the marshes for about 4-miles before turning around and stopping for lunch under the bridge at Sherman’s Bridge Road - the only shade we could find. Temps hit the low 90’s, so it was HOT out on the water, but a trip to Bedford Farms in Concord for ice cream made up for it. John put together this video:

Sudbury River from John DaSilva

Links:

My Pictures
Steve’s Pictures

John's Video

OARS for the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord Rivers

Sudbury and Concord - Lincoln to Bedford - August 21, 2021

Heading out from the Lincoln Canoe Launch

Bill and I (mostly Bill) were planning a trip on the Sudbury River for RICKA. We usually run the section from Sherman’s Bridge Road in Wayland to Lowell Road in Concord with a break for lunch at Fairhaven Bay. Bill wanted to do something different, and decided to start a little further downstream at Lincoln Canoe Launch (Route 117) in Lincoln and take out at the Bedford Boat Launch (Route 225) in Bedford with a break for lunch at the Minuteman National Historical Park – about 9.5 miles. It worked out great.

The Sudbury is a National Wild and Scenic River that arises in Westborough and flows generally northeast for 41-miles to its convergence with the Assabet at Egg Rock in Concord. From there the river continues as the Concord, which flows generally north for about 16-miles until its convergence with the Merrimack River in Lowell.

The crew at the Old North Bridge

We arrived at 9:30 to run the shuttle down to Bedford. It was 10:30 before we finally got on the river. We had 8 boats (3 canoes and 5 kayaks) as we headed downstream into Fairhaven Bay. Above Fairhaven Bay are the huge wetlands in Sudbury and Wayland that are part of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Below Fairhaven Bay the river is lined with trees and houses as it runs through Concord down to Egg Rock.

From there, it is a short paddle up to the Old North Bridge and the Minute Man National Historic Park. We posed for a picture below the bridge before heading ashore for lunch. We checked out the historic sites including the Minute Man Statue, the 1832 Monument to British Solders and the Old Manse. Below the Old North Bridge the Concord River flows through the Concord Impounds of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. After that, the river opens up for the long straight stretch between Bedford and Carlisle up the Bedford Boat Launch at Route 225.

Two kayaks and one canoe on Paul's car - one trip back t the put-in

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My Pictures

Sudbury River Boaters Trail

A Windy Day on the Sudbury - November 10, 2018

Heading out - Erik, Bill and Al

After hiking last week, Bill, Al, Jonathan and I decided to do some paddling on Saturday. Throughout the week we debated locations, but potential rain, wind and high water kept us close to home. In the end, we decided to paddle the section of the Sudbury River from River Street/Route 27 in Wayland.  

The Sudbury - a National Wild and Scenic River - arises in Westborough and flows generally northeast for 41-miles to its convergence with the Assabet River at Egg Rock in Concord to form the Concord River. In Sudbury and Wayland, it forms the huge wetlands that are part of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. In hindsight these wide-open marshes weren’t the best choice on a day when strong wind gusts were forecast.

Portage at Pelham Island Road

Bill, Al and I had paddled up to the Route 27 Bridge from Sherman's Road back in August, so this would be continuation of that trip. We met at the put-in on River Road (Route 27) in Wayland, and checked out the Old Town Bridge before paddling west toward Route 20.  The water was high, the sky was cloudy, but fortunately we didn’t get any rain. 

With the high water, we had to portage the Pelham Island Bridge. As we continued upstream toward Heard Pond the wind picked up. After 3 miles, and knowing that we would be paddling into the wind on the return trip, we decided to turn around and head back to the put-in. Wind gusts of 25-miles per hour made for a long slog back – especially for Jonathan who was paddling solo. Even so, it was a good time.

The Crew - Al, Jonathan, Erik and Bill

Links:

My Pictures

Sudbury River Boaters Trail

A Soggy Day on the Sudbury – August 11, 2018

Conrad heads out

The forecast called for rain, and rain is what we got, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of four intrepid paddlers (2 kayaks – Conrad and Al, 1 Canoe – Erik and Bill) who explored the Sudbury River as it meanders though the towns of Wayland and Sudbury.  

The Sudbury - a National Wild and Scenic River - arises in Westborough and flows generally northeast for 41-miles to its convergence with the Assabet River at Egg Rock in Concord to form the Concord River. The smaller but faster moving Assabet takes priority as water flows into the Concord River at Egg Rock. The larger but slower moving Sudbury patiently waits its turn, and water backs up to form the huge wetlands in Sudbury and Wayland that are part of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. 

SuAsCo Al

We met at 9:00 at the put-in at Sherman’s Bridge Road in Wayland. Our original plan was to run a shuttle down to Lowell Road in Concord, but with rain and the threat of thunderstorms, we decided to skip the shuttle and stay close to the cars in case we needed to get off the river. We launched our boats at around 9:30 and headed west through the marshes toward Route 27.  

Al explained that one of the major battles of King Philip’s War – the Sudbury Fight – was fought here in April 1676. As Native American warriors moved east after devastating attacks in the town of Marlborough, residents of Sudbury evacuated to the nearby Haynes Garrison House - a fortified structure where they successfully repelled several attacks. 

Erik, Bill, Conrad and Al at
the Sudbury Fight Monument

The largest battle occurred when hundreds of Native American warriors ambushed a combined force of roughly fifty militiamen from Boston and Watertown coming to support the Sudbury residents. As we approached the Route 27 (Old Sudbury Road) Bridge, we pulled over and hiked a short way down old Route 27 and across the Old Town Bridge to a historical monument marking the burial site of some of these militiamen.  

We returned to our boats and paddled under the historic Old Town Bridge. This stone arch bridge was built in 1848 on the site where the earliest bridge across the Sudbury River had been built in the 1640’s. For many years, this was a major east-west passage connecting Boston to points west and south. 

Old Town Bridge

With higher water, we were able to paddle under the Old Town Bridge and through the swamp grass and bushes that are slowly filling in the “Oxbow” – the original course of the Sudbury River. As we headed back to Sherman's Bridge Road a steady rain began to fall, but with rain gear it was still comfortable.  

With 5 miles under our belt, we continued downstream past our put-in at Sherman’s Bridge Road and into the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge – a 3,800 acre protected wetland and bird sanctuary along the Sudbury and Concord Rivers. The rain got heavier as we approached Lee's Bridge at Route 117 (South Great Road). We took a break under the bridge to let the worst of the rain pass before heading back. We arrived back at the put-in at around 1:30 after an 11-mile trip. In spite of the rain, it was another fun day on the water, and it is alway great to get a guided tour from SuAsCo Al!

Erik and Bill with Conrad in the background

Links:

My Pictures

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

OARS for the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord Rivers

Sudbury River Boaters Trail

National Wild and Scenic Rivers

Sudbury Fight

Sudbury River - Wayland to Concord - August 13, 2016

Great Meadows Wildlife Refuge

We’ve done a few trips on the Assabet the last couple of years, but it has been a while since we’ve been on the Sudbury.  I got out yesterday with Bill for a RICKA trip on the Sudbury River from Wayland to Concord

The Sudbury River arises in Westborough near the Hopkinton line and flows 41-miles general to the northeast to its confluence with the Assabet River at Egg Rock to form the Concord River. The 15-mile section from the Danforth Street Bridge in Framingham to the Route 2 Bridge in Concord has been designated as a Wild and Scenic River; and the 2-mile section from the Route 2 Bridge to Egg Rock has been designated as a Recreational River.

Main Street Bridge

We put in at Sherman’s Bridge Road in Wayland and paddled down to Lowell Road in Concord  - about 8 miles. For much of the trip, the Sudbury meanders through marshland that is protected as part of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. We stopped for lunch at Brooke Island at Fairhaven Bay. 

After lunch we continued downstream into Concord.  There were a lot of paddlers in rental boats as we paddled under the stone arch bridges in Concord.  Since we had all been there before, we skipped the trip down to the Old North Bridge.

Paddling through Concord

Links:

My Pictures
Sudbury River Boater's Trail

A soggy run on the Sudbury – June 11, 2011

The rain started early, and at times was a torrential downpour, but 10 hearty RICKA paddlers (4 canoes, 6 kayaks) still completed a soggy run on the Sudbury River from Wayland to Concord.

A light drizzle was falling as we put in at Sherman’s Road Bridge in Wayland and headed out into the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. That light drizzle turned into heavy rain by the time we reached Lee’s Bridge on the Concord line. The downpour continued as we stopped for a cold, wet lunch on Brooke Island in Fairhaven Bay.

Fortunately, the rain let up shortly after lunch leaving a pretty mist hanging over the river as we paddled under the stone arch bridges in Concord. We posed for a couple of pictures at Minute Man National Historical Park before taking out at the Old Calf Pasture on Lowell Road.

It was nice to have Suasco Al along, and I wish I could have stayed longer to paddle up the Assabet with him.  Hopefully another time.

RICKA crew at the Old North Bridge

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My Video

SuAsCo River Paddling – June 3, 2011

Suasco Al - the Trash Paddler

I took the day off last Friday and headed up to Wayland, MA to paddle the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers with Suasco Al – the Trash Paddler. I’ll be leading a RICKA trip there next Saturday, and Al was nice enough to help me scout the trip.

We put in on the Sudbury River at Sherman’s Bridge Road in Wayland (N 42 degrees 23.803', W 071 degrees 21.867'), and paddled down to the Old Calf Pasture on Lowell Road in Concord at Egg Rock (N 42 degrees 27.893',  W 071 degrees 21.496') where the Sudbury converges with the Assabet to form the Concord. For much of the trip, the Sudbury meanders through marshland that is protected as part of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge – there were birds everywhere. We stopped for lunch at an island at Fairhaven Bay.


Four bloggers - Al, Jackie, Sue and Erik

After lunch we continued downstream into a strong headwind which kicked up small waves and made the river look like it was flowing upstream. I was glad to get into Concord, MA where the river is more protected from the wind. At Egg Rock we met up with fellow bloggers Sue (Water-lily) and Jackie (Saratoga Woods and Waterways), had a nice chat, and posed for a quick picture. Once back on the river, we paddled a couple of hundred yards up the Assabet River just so I could say that I did. Then we paddled down the Concord River to the Old North Bridge in the Minute Man National Historical Park.

Minute Man statue

Being a history buff, it was cool to see the restored Old North Bridge from the water. There were a lot more people at the park than I would have thought. We pulled our boats ashore and checked out the 1837 Monument and the famous Minute Man statue before walking up to the Visitor Center. We snapped a couple of pictures of the Old North Bridge from the water before heading back to the take-out at Egg Rock.

Sure beats working – great day. Thanks Al.

In front of the restored Old North Bridge

Links:
Al’s blog – the Trash Paddler
Lisa's blog - Waterlily

Spring Planning - RICKA Flatwater trips for 2011

A couple of weeks ago, I sent an email to Cheryl with some trip suggestions for the RICKA Flatwater group for 2011.

In June, I’m planning to lead a trip on the Sudbury, Assebet and Concord Rivers. At the suggestion of Al the Trash Paddler, we will put-in on the Sudbury River at Sherman's Bridge Road in Wayland. Just downstream at Weir Hill is the headquarters of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge where there is a museum with a nice exhibit on local wildlife. After paddling another couple miles downstream, we will stop for lunch at a small island in Fairhaven Bay where Ospreys are often seen. We will continue downstream to Egg Rock where the Sudbury River converges with the Assebet River to form the Concord River. We will paddle up this short section of the Assebet River which Nathaniel Hawthorn described as:

A more lovely stream than this, for a mile above its junction with the Concord, has never flowed on earth.

From there, we will continue down the Concord River to the take-out at the "Calf Pasture" at Lowell Road in Concord. Those who are interested can paddle another half mile down the Concord River to the Old North Bridge in the Minute Man National Historical Park.

In August, I’ll lead a trip on the Deerfield River below the Zoar Gap. Its a 9-mile run from the Zoar Picnic Area to the take out across from the Charlemont Academy. The trip has a little bit of everything – flatwater, quickwater and class I-II rapids. It was a good time last year.

Concord and Sudbury Rivers

I've been saving this description of the Concord and Sudbury Rivers from Tommy T. 

The Concord and Sudbury Rivers have very slow current from Framingham to North Billerica. It's pretty easy to paddle both upstream and down. They tend to be open with lots of Buttonbush marsh.

Fairhaven Bay is a pretty pond in the Sudbury with wooded shores and the section just down stream of the Old North Bridge in Concord is wooded and more protected.

I've put on the Sudbury where it crosses Rt 20 in Wayland, at the Lincoln Canoe Launch on Rt 117 just above Fairhaven Bay and in on Lowell Road in Concord where the Sudbury and Assabet meet to form the Concord. If you put in there and head downstream on the Concord you will soon come to the Old North Bridge and then the wooded section I mentioned.

Further down the Concord there is a boat launch on Rt 225 in Bedford and a somewhat rougher launch at a small park on Rt 3A in Billerica. You may find fishermen in powerboats anywhere in there though I've never seen more than a few.

My favorite parts are between Rt 225 and Lowell Road on the Concord and Fairhaven Bay.

You might also consider the Assabet between Pine Street in West Concord and Lowell Road. That is more wooded and the trees would give you some protection from the rain. There are other nice paddles on the Assabet with somewhat trickier conditions or access. Give a yell if you want to hear about them.

~Tommy

One of these days, I'm going to get up there and do some paddling. I thought I'd be able to do it this month, but it hasn't worked out that way.