Skip navigation Sign in ... Simonette River Boating Tim Berger ... BicycleMusicCompany, WMG (on behalf of Concord … The Concord River trip is an urban whitewater gem that plunges over three major class III-IV rapids – Twisted Sister, Three Beauties, and Middlesex Dam. Rent a Canoe or Kayak and explore miles of peaceful waterways on the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord Rivers A leisurely 1.5 mile paddle to the Old North Bridge … When boating • please follow the current State COVID-19 Boating Guidelines. Paved and natural surface walking trails wind through the park. They hatch in fresh water, make their way to the sea to grow, then return as adults to fresh water to spawn, usually near where they had hatched. [8] Alewife and other anadromous fish are migratory. The early 1960s saw an increase in the number of chemical and metal firms, many supporting the electronics industry within the Boston metropolitan area. Since we have visited numerous times from land, it was fun to spot the many familiar landmarks as we approached from the water. You can travel the entire waterway by canoe or kayak, but it’s also conveniently broken into sections: Egg Rock to Carlisle-Bedford Bridge and Carlisle-Bedford Bridge to the Middlesex Canal. The Sudbury Assabet Concord River Council’s website has a map and more information. The river offers both quickwater and flatwater experiences for canoeists as well as short stretches of whitewater, including rapids in the vicinity of the breached dam at Sewalls Falls. Our route would take us five miles from the Bedford landing to Egg Rock and back. Information: Bear Brook State Park at 603-485-9874 … Fish and Wildlife Service protects and manages Great Meadows as nesting, resting, and feeding habitat for wildlife. We considered tying up and getting out to read the inscription on the rock (carved in the late 1800s), but the river was extremely low due to the lack of rain this year, so we decided not to push our luck and turned around for our five-mile return trip. Despite the growth of the suburbs in the vicinity of the river, it remains a popular canoeing destination today. This part of the river is very popular for boating and fishing. One of the most famous small rivers in U.S. history, it was the scene of an important early battle of the American Revolutionary War and was the subject of a famous 19th-century book by Henry David Thoreau. By the 1960s, the Merrimack River was considered one of the top ten most polluted waterways in America. A feasibility study published in 2016 is again exploring steps necessary for returning diadromous fish to the Concord River, and farther upstream, to the Sudbury and Assabet Rivers. Sean managed to reach the river’s west bank and called for help, setting off a search for Alec that involved Fish and Game, State Police, Marine Patrol, and the Concord fire and police departments. (Best access to the trails is on Monsen Road in Concord. The river begins in Middlesex County, formed by the confluence of the Sudbury and Assabet rivers at Egg Rock, near the Concord town center. They were transferred from the Nemasket River so that they could lay their eggs and spawn upstream. And with two local outfitters, equipment is easy to find. • check to see if you might find some obstructions or other passage problems on your planned trip. From there it flows through the Concord unit of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Massabesic Lake, Pawtuckaway Lake and the mighty Merrimack river are just a few of the many boating area in the Merrimack Valley region of NH. The Concord River is a 16.3-mile-long (26.2 km)[1] tributary of the Merrimack River in eastern Massachusetts in the United States. Industrial wastes were dumped into the river, along with untreated sewage and other organic waste. Located at Concord Marina. Its drainage basin stretches into Worcester County and includes 36 towns within Massachusetts. It flows from Pool Pond and Contoocook Lake on the Jaffrey/Rindge border to Penacook (just north of Concord), where it empties into the Merrimack River. There are over 1200 miles of seashore and hundreds of lakes, ponds, and streams in Massachusetts. We motored past the Buttrick Mansion (which houses the North Bridge Visitors Center), went under the Old North Bridge (the bridge that marks the first battle of the Revolutionary War) and, a little farther on, the Old Manse, built by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s grandfather in 1770. You’ll find canoe and kayak rentals just minutes away at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown. The trails are easily accessible from the landing, but we decided to save that for another day. The company was using 220 gallons per month of perchloric acid in a bleaching process, and rinse water was being discharged into the sewage system. [16] Anadromous describes species that live in salt water but lay eggs in fresh water - such as alewives and shad; diadromous is a larger grouping which includes species that mature in fresh water but return to salt water to lay eggs - such as eels. The Concord runs through the heart of downtown Lowell. Authorities in New Hampshire are investigating after a man drowned while kayaking on the Merrimack River in Concord Thursday morning, officials said. Uncle Tom stopped by this weekend with his boat in tow. Come, relax and enjoy life at Concord Terrace! The U.S. As a result this is an attractive run even though it runs thru the heart of the city. Prefer to rent? Call. Textile, paper, tanning, and mining industries all emerged during this period. It is one of only a few rivers in New Hampshire that flow in a predominantly northward direction. [5] On April 19, 1775, the Old North Bridge over the river in the town of Concord was famously the scene of the Battle of Concord (on the same day when the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired at nearby Lexington). This makes the state an exceptional place for all types of boating and fishing. It is one of only a few rivers in New Hampshire that flow in a predominantly northward direction. As we looked back at the bridge, we saw the head of the Minute Man statue peeking out from the trees. The stretch of the Concord River that runs from Egg Rock at the beginning of the Concord River in Concord to the Middlesex Canal in Billerica is approximately 11 miles long. [13], Perchlorate was detected in the Concord River in August 2004. The town was also charged with failing to submit discharge monitoring reports, failing to comply with monitoring requirements, and failing to submit infiltration and inflow reporting. Concord River Boat Launch in Bedford. The launch went smoothly, and we slowly eased into the river, past National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [3] Native Americans wove sticks in intricate designs to trap Alewives and other migrating fish at the mouths of rivers throughout this region.[4]. This was a special treat, because it was not just any boat, but a 1948 Old Town wooden motor boat, beautifully restored and just perfect to take on the Concord River. A great escape near the city, you can rent a canoe and kayak with paddles, cushions, maps, and life preservers and head out on the Concord or Sudbury River. By the 19th century, the native population of shad and alewife became extinct, because the dams prevented the mature fish from returning upstream to spawn. The South Bridge Boat House (496 Main Street, Concord; 978-369-9438) rents canoes and kayaks, or you can launch your own boat at several access points along the river. The Faulkner Dam in North Billerica is just one of many blockages that caused the alewife population to collapse on the Concord River. The current version of the bridge (a reproduction) is preserved by the National Park Service. It flows generally north, from eastern Concord (along the northwestern edge of the Boston metropolitan area), joining the Merrimack River from the south on the eastern side of Lowell. Paddle upstream (south) on the Sudbury River from South Bridge Boat House, beneath the Commuter Rail railroad bridge and you'll cruise along mostly unpopulated river banks, beneath the MA Route 2 and Sudbury Road bridges, eventually to Fairhaven Bay, a widening of the water popular as a vista among Concord's 19th-century litterati. [6] The last mile of the river in Lowell is serious class 3+/4 whitewater.[7]. [10] Industrial development within the watershed peaked in the 1920s. The action was brought by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) because the town of Billerica exceeded allowable effluent limits for phosphorus, fecal coliform bacteria, pH, and ammonia nitrogen. We quickly reach Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, where they say over 220 species of birds have been identified. We meet at the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center, located at 50 Warren Street in Lowell, MA about half an hour north of Boston. We didn’t see quite that many, but the blue herons, hawks, ducks, and geese along the shoreline were plentiful. It consists of two segments: the route we took today, Egg Rock to Carlisle-Bedford Bridge, and Carlisle-Bedford Bridge to Middlesex Canal. Kayaking and Boating. Heading back, we found the landing next to a small beach in Great Meadows, where we tied up and had our picnic. It flows from Pool Pond and Contoocook Lake on the Jaffrey/Rindge border to Penacook (just north of Concord), where it empties into the Merrimack River. There is parking and a place to put in right at Lowell Rd. This imprinted the young alewives with the Concord as their new home river. [11] Throughout much of the Sudbury River and downstream into the Concord River, fish consumption is banned due to mercury-laden sediments from the Nyanza Superfund site and other sources. One of the most famous small rivers in U.S. history, it was the scene of an important early battle of the American Revolutionary War and was the subject of a famous 19th-century book by Henry David Thoreau. Handicap access at B pier, parking. By Ron McAdow. Merrimack Valley NH Boating Guide Concord Nashua New Hampshire Marinas & Boat Dealers. We are the home of America’s Favorite Boats, the world’s largest Mercury® outboard retailer and a proud retailer of TRACKER OFF ROAD™ ATVs and UTVs. The river continues for miles to the south, to reservoirs in Framingham. The Concord River is a 16.3-mile-long (26.2 km) tributary of the Merrimack River in eastern Massachusetts in the United States. The Concord River runs for about 11 miles and is great for canoeing, kayaking and rafting. 704-979-2180. U.S. Geological Survey. These plants have helped to prevent subsequent damage to the river ecosystem when they were able to operate within federally mandated limits. Generally the current is gentle enough to paddle downstream and then return upstream, if the kids are old enough and you have the time and energy. From Egg Rock at the beginning of the Concord River in Concord to the Middlesex Canal in Billerica runs approximately 11 miles. Speed limit for all boats is 10 miles per hour so they should not be By 1635, settlers from England began to arrive, and they gave the river its present name. Recreation: Boating, fishing, hiking, and bird watching. His book recounted a seven-day boat trip on the rivers with his brother John, who had since died. The act imposed stricter controls on point source discharges into rivers and other navigable waters. The river drains a small rural and suburban region northwest of Boston. Just beyond the Carlisle-Bedford Bridge, the Concord River opens out to what seems like a whole new river. You can also generate directions by right clicking and then selecting “Directions to here”. We passed a number of fishermen slowly trolling up and down the river, as well. … And the perfect ending to our perfect summer adventure? Field-Juma said boating is safe in the Lower Concord River, but residents should exercise some caution eating any fish they catch. ... Concord, NC 28027 Get Directions. [9] At this point, water was diverted north to Lowell and south to Charlestown to run the Middlesex Canal. We put together a picnic, grabbed the life jackets, and set off for a summer adventure. [11] The Concord River empties into the Merrimack River. Fly fishing only, no boats. Encompassing a drainage basin of 766 square miles, the Contoocook has a total drop of over 700 feet which affords one of the premier whitewater boating stretches in New England. We run this section twice on each Concord River rafting trip. The Contoocook River is a 71-mile-long (114 km) river in New Hampshire. The passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 signaled the beginning of US efforts to improve the quality of its waterways. You will find river access points, walking trails, and bike paths. The Contoocook River flows for 71 miles from Poole Pond in Rindge, New Hampshire, north to the state capitol, Concord, where it enters the Merrimack River. Concord’s Merrimack River: Placid on the top, deadly beneath the surface A life vest sits attached to the bow of a New Hampshire Fish and Game boat on Friday morning, August 7, 2020. Notable Features: The river flows past The Old Manse and then through Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord and under the famous North Bridge. [14] However, an investigation by the town of Billerica eventually determined that the source was a local company that produced surgical and medical materials. For exploration ideas, go to our online Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord River recreation maps! After the company was identified, it voluntarily shut down until ion exchange equipment could be installed in accordance with environmental guidelines. Uncle Tom stopped by this weekend with his boat in tow. The river flows slowly, and is navigable by small motor boats, canoes, and kayaks. Thoreau recounted his exploration of the natural beauty of the river, and his accompanied thoughts on such eternal themes as truth, poetry, travel, and friendship. [12], Pollutants such as heavy metals and PCBs remain trapped in the sediment. Because the river is a bit wider, motorized boats and sometimes jet skis use the river. It’s a popular destination for birders, and we often walk the easy 2.5 mile trail system that wind through meadows and woods in Concord. We put together a picnic, grabbed the life jackets, and set off for a summer adventure. Once we were out on the river, it felt like we had entered a different world. This was a special treat, because it was not just any boat, but a 1948 Old Town wooden motor boat, beautifully restored and just perfect to take on the Concord River. The launch went smoothly, and we slowly eased into the river, past the families fishing on both shores at the boat landing. According to the EPA, Billerica's discharges of phosphorus created an overabundance of nutrients, which damaged the river by stimulating excessive aquatic plant growth.[8]. 38 reviews of Southbridge Boat House "These folks rent, sell and repair kayaks and canoes. We are just 15 minutes south of Portland, where you can enjoy boating or fishing in the Willamette River. During the 19th century, the Concord River was near the heart of the US Industrial Revolution. So, when the route upstream became blocked, the cycle was broken. [2] This creates a good environment for a variety of fish, including bass, shad, and alewife (river herring), pickerel, carp, and American eel. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Massachusetts Riverways Program, and volunteers from the Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) released 7,000 adult alewife (river herring) into the Concord River. Nautical Boat Club ® at Concord Marina is Knoxville’s first and only Boating Country Club ®.Located on Fort Loudoun Lake, Nautical Boat Club ® at Concord opened in April 2017. 12 Favorite Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt Spots in and Around Boston, Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks Near Boston Open in 2020-2021, Cut-Your-Own Christmas Tree Farms Near Boston, 6 Places Where Kids Can Learn to Ski or Snowboard Near Boston. A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, "Concerning the Nuptial Plumes Worn by Certain Bitterns and the Manner in Which They are Displayed", "SuAsCo Watershed Year 2001 Water Quality Assessment Report", "Concord, MA: City of Lowell to Merrimack River", "Teaching the Eco-Justice Ethic: The Parable of the Billerica Dam", "Merrimack River Watershed Assessment Study: Summary of Information on Pollutant Sources", "Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan", "Concord River Diadromous Fish Restoration FEASIBILITY STUDY", Environmental Pollution of the Concord River, a Historic American Waterway, North Fork East Branch Pemigewasset River, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Concord_River&oldid=973317203, Rivers of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States, Articles with dead external links from October 2010, Wikipedia articles with style issues from September 2009, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 16 August 2020, at 15:25. Surrounded by lakes, ponds, and five rivers - an amazing landscape of waterways defines the Capital Region - Concord is the perfect place to get out on the water. Dams were built along the Concord River to increase crop production and also to provide a source of power for operating mills. The Concord river has been modified, damed, and diverted into canals for hundreds of years. Nearby there are several large shopping centers, restaurants, hospitals, entertainment, transit centers, and beautiful state parks. Boating . [9] The experiment did not succeed, as too few fish returned to the base of the first dam on the Concord River. Native Americans called it the Musketaquid or "grass-grown" river, because its sluggish waters abound in aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation and its banks are fringed with wild grasses and sedges which stretch for miles along both sides of this placid stream. Concord Dog Park:Knoxville’s newest dog park at Concord Park is beautifully layed out on almost 4 acres. Dogs and their owners will love the water fountains for pets (and ones for their owners), a dock with access to the river and even a dog shower. The river drains a small rural and suburban region northwest of Boston. This eventually led to the installation of three wastewater treatment plants on the banks of the Concord River: one in Concord and two in Billerica. In May 2000, the U.S. Lot's of skinny water on the Simonette River. The shore line is remarkably undeveloped, and the scenery varied. Henry David Thoreau wrote his first book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, in 1849 while living at nearby Walden Pond. 704-979-2180. With hundreds of lakes, ponds, and rivers, New Hampshire is a boaters’ paradise. There’s a dock at the boathouse of the Old Manse where you can tie up your boat if you’d like to take a guided tour or walk around the grounds, but we decided that today we wanted to stay on the river, in the boat. We crossed under Lowell Road Bridge, and made it to Egg Rock, where the Concord River splits to become the Sudbury and Assabet Rivers. [15], In May 2007, Billerica was the subject of legal action and forced to pay a $250,000 penalty for discharging pollutants into the Concord River. Fishing and boating access throughout the state of Massachusetts. This instinct is imprinted within the fish when it is born. Turtles, herons, geese and deer watched as we climbed back in the boat and motored back to the landing. The Concord River Is a great Canoeing or Kayaking Spot (in Concord) The Concord river begins at the confluence of the Assabet and Sudbury Rivers a couple of hundred yards up from Lowell Road in Concord. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Gulf of Maine at Newburyport. It's a great idea for a quiet date, you can take a picnic lunch and pull over to the shore along the way. There’s a restroom, a wildlife observation tower, a wildlife observation platform, and direct access to the Concord River.). The Merrimack River (or Merrimac River, an occasional earlier spelling) is a 117-mile-long (188 km) river in the northeastern United States. Whitewater enthusiasts can challenge themselves in … Initially, it was believed that explosives used in road and building construction were the source of this pollutant. It consists of 2 segments: The Concord, Sudbury, and Assabet Rivers: A guide to canoeing, wildlife and history. Here is a map which shows the access on both sides of the river. Restroom. Coming around a bend, we entered the Minute Man National Historic Park. The Contoocook River is a 71-mile-long (114 km) river in New Hampshire. Children and nursing, pregnant or … While the area is highly urbanized, the city is hidden from the river by trees and thick greenery. Bass Pro Shops®/Cabela's® Boating Center™ is the largest volume boat retailer in the world. It is a gently flowing stream with little variation in topography along most of its route. Bedford has a very nice boat launch providing access to the Concord River, where it crosses route 225. Otherwise, each one-way segment is just about five miles - a one-hour ride in a small motor boat, or a half-day trip by kayak. Parking: Shorebank, 24 hours, no fees. Canoeing is a popular boating activity on the Upper Merrimack River.