Connecticut Water Trails Association
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Connecticut Water Trails Association |
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Connecticut Water Trails Program Paddling Trails Quinebaug River Paddling Trail
USGS Quadrangles:
Massachusetts:
Wales, Southbridge, Webster
Connecticut:
Putnam,
Danielson, Plainfield, Jewett City, Norwich
Paddle Length:
On The Water: The river starts in
Holland, Massachusetts on the
border with Connecticut. It flows in a large loop to the north and east
through Brimfield, Sturbridge, and Southbridge crossing over to
Connecticut in Dudley. It then flows through Putnam, Danielson, and Jewett
City until it joins the
Shetucket River near Taftville and the
Thames
River at Norwich.
Cautions: There are dams and sections of Class II water.
USGS Real Time Water Data / Gauge
Hamilton Reservoir – East
Brimfield, Massachusetts
USGS Quadrangle:
Massachusetts
– Type of Water:
Paddle Length:
5 miles
Portage: See On
The Water Description
Put In:
Hamilton Reservoir
Longitude:
72.15494099999999 W
Latitude:
42.052794 N Or
Put In: Dug
Hill Road
Longitude:
Or
Put In:
Mill
Brook
Longitude:
72.168977 W
Latitude:
42.092945 N
Take Out:
Long
Pond
Longitude:
W
Latitude:
N Or
Take Out:
Champeaux Road
Longitude:
72.13600099999999 W
Latitude:
42.128563 N Or
Take Out:
East
Brimfield Dam / Lake
Longitude:
72.126188 W
Latitude:
42.108428 N
On The Water: Of the water is high enough – the ½ mile stream
below Hamilton Reservoir is
an easy run – but be ready to have to carry through shallow spots. If
the water is low you’ll need to portage up the road about a mile using
Dug Hill Road to the
Holland Pond Recreation Area
– which is a good put in at any water level.
From an outlet of
Holland Pond also known as
Lake Soig – the river flows
into the start of East Brimfield
Lake and the Quinebaug River
Canoe Trail. At .7 miles from the ponds outlet there is a road
bridge and a camping area on the left.
Mill Brook enters here – and
this can also be used as a put in area.
The Quinebaug for the next
2.2 miles flows quietly through an open marsh. At
East Brimfield Road the
river enters a 1.2 mile permanent pool behind the
East Brimfield Dam. A
section of the lake flows 1.6 miles north of US Route 20 – forming
Long Pond. There are good
take out spots at the northern tip and at
Champeaux Road.
Cautions:
East Brimfield - Sturbridge,
Massachusetts
USGS Quadrangle:
Massachusetts
–
Type of Water:
Paddle Length:
2.75
miles
Portage:
Several over dams See On The Water Description
Put In:
East
Brimfield Dam
Longitude:
72.126188 W
Latitude:
42.108428 N
Take Out:
Leadmine Road Bridge, Old Sturbridge Village
Longitude:
72.131597 W
Latitude:
42.065003 N
On The Water: Below the
East Brimfield Dam is ¾ mile of riffles, an easy run with a water
release from the dam. Scout out the broken dam downstream from the
Holland Road bridge before
you paddle it. The dams in
Fiskdale need to be portaged on the left and over the dam. From here
the river flows faster for the next mile until it reaches the
Leadmine Road bridge and
pond at Old Sturbridge Village
Cautions:
Sturbridge – Westville Flood
Control Dam, Massachusetts USGS Quadrangle: Massachusetts
Type of Water:
Flatwater
Paddle Length:
5.75 miles
Portage: See On
The Water Description
Put In:
Leadmine Road Bridge, Old Sturbridge Village
Longitude:
72.131597 W
Latitude:
42.065003 N
Take Out:
Westville Flood Control Dam
Longitude:
72.05785299999999 W
Latitude:
42.081762 N
On The Water: The dam at
Old Sturbridge Village is an
easy portage on the left. Over the next 3.4 miles the river is quiet
which ends at a low dam with a small parking lot on the right which is
also the take out point. From here the river descends 25 feet over the
next ¾ of a mile into a pool 1 mile long – at the
Westville Flood Control Dam.
Cautions:
Westville Dam – West Dudley,
Massachusetts
USGS Quadrangle:
Massachusetts
– Webster
Cautions: This section is not good to paddle. Your best bet is
to portage by vehicle around the city of Southbridge to the mill dam at
West Dudley
West Dudley, Massachusetts –
West Thompson, Connecticut
USGS Quadrangle:
Massachusetts –
Webster
Connecticut -
Putnam
Type of Water:
Paddle Length:
10 mile
Portage: See On
The Water Description
Put In:
West
Dudley Dam, Massachusetts
Longitude:
71.97913 W
Latitude:
42.053847 N
Or
Put In:
Connecticut Route 197, Thompson, Connecticut
Longitude:
71.953102 W
Latitude:
42.022421 N Or
Put In / Take Out:
Brickyard Road, Thompson, Connecticut
Longitude:
71.921886
W
Latitude:
41.999265 N
Take Out:
Longitude:
71.903083 W
Latitude:
41.954578 N
On The Water: The put-in is underneath the West Dudley road
bridge. Watch out for water turbulence which is occasionally caused by
the powerhouse. You can judge the water by what you are able to see down
river from the put in spot or from a field along the left bank. If the
water is to low – you’ll need to hike in a mile between Massachusetts
Route 131 and Connecticut Route 197. Once you pass Connecticut Route 197
the water flows nicely – this is also a good put in point if West Dudley
is un-paddable. 3.6 miles below West Dudley is another broken dam at
Fabyan, Connecticut – which you have to portage to the left and over the
top. You can access the water again at the
Fabyn Road bridge. From
there you’re on flatwater for the next 6.25 miles to the
West Thompson Dam
on
West Thompson Lake. There is a takeout and a
West Thompson Lake Campground (West
Thompson Dam Recreation Area) ½ a mile before the dam on the left.
The boat launch
Cautions:
West Thompson - Putnam,
Connecticut
USGS Quadrangle:
Danielson and Putnam
Type of Water:
Flatwater
Paddle Length:
3.2 miles
Portage: See On
The Water Description
Put In:
West Thompson Lake
Longitude:
71.903083 W
Latitude:
41.954578 N
Take Out:
Providence Street & Kennedy Drive, Putnam
Longitude:
71.906706
W
Latitude:
41.922526 N
On The Water: Put in below the
West Thompson Dam
or into the
French River from the public picnic area on Connecticut
Route 12 above Mechanicsville.
At the merging of
French River and Quinebaug River you’ll travel 1.65 miles
of flatwater until you hit your first dam in Putnam. Take out upstream
from the industrial park on your left side. You’ll need to make a
portage of 1.25 miles through Putnam – using the
Cautions:
Putnam – Connecticut Route
101, Connecticut
USGS Quadrangle:
Danielson and Putnam
Type of Water:
Paddle Length:
5.7 miles
Portage: Put In: Simonzi Park
Longitude:
71.912278
W
Latitude:
41.918837 N
Take Out:
Cotton Bridge Road, Killingly
Longitude:
71.921103
W
Latitude:
41.857868 N Or
Take Out:
Connecticut Route 101 & Litchfield Ave, Killingly
Longitude:
71.920485
W
Latitude:
41.849347 N
On The Water: Put in at
Simonzi Park where the river flows nicely. At the end of4 miles
there are long riffles at the foot of the riffles is a hidden man made
inlet. At 4.7 miles you hit Cotton’s Bridge – your take out. You can
travel a mile further up to Connecticut Route 101 – where there is a
vehicle access area on the right at the far side of the bridge abutment
to take out.
Cautions:
Connecticut Route 101 –
Danielson, Connecticut
USGS Quadrangle:
Danielson
Type of Water:
Flatwater
Paddle Length:
5.4 miles
Portage: See On
The Water Description
Put In:
Connecticut Route 101 & Litchfield Ave, Killingly
Longitude:
71.920485
W
Latitude:
41.849347 N
Take Out:
Adelaide Street, Danielson
Longitude:
71.892287
W
Latitude:
41.804663 N
On The Water: Here you’ll have lake like paddling. From the
Connecticut Route 101 you’ll have .65 miles before coming to the dam in
Rogers Corporation Dam
– where there is a vertical drop of 10 – 15 feet. Do not enter the river
unless you are and experienced paddler – with Class II water skills. To
portage around this you’ll have to land on the right side of the river
and climb down the ledges. This is not any easy portage with fencing,
gates, and a steep hillside. You’ll have to move past the ledges and boulders
below the dam. Beyond here the river is narrow by good enough to float –
the current does become challenging. At the Danielson Dam take out
before Connecticut Route 6 at Adelaide Street, Danielson.
Cautions:
Danielson - Wauregan,
Connecticut
USGS Quadrangle:
Type of Water:
Paddle Length:
4.75 miles
Portage:
Put In:
Longitude:
71.886405
W
Latitude:
41.801501 N
Take Out:
Connecticut Route 205
Longitude:
71.911117
W
Latitude:
41.745218 N Or Take Out: Brooklyn Canoe Ramp
Longitude:
71.91566899999999
W
Latitude:
41.748002 N
On The Water: You’ll need to drive from the take out at Adelaide
Street, Danielson to
Wauregan as well as have Class II water skills to paddle
this section. Follow the Danielson River Walk for .6
miles and put in at the waste water treatment plant. 1.9 miles down from the Danielson Dam are the
remains of
Dyer Dam. Scout this
area from the abutment on the right side. The next ¾ of a mile below the
Dyer Dam are the remains of an old stone dam running across the river.
You may be able to paddle this section at the left end. From this dam
it’s 2 miles to the remains of the Wauregan Dam. The drop through this dam is
not safe – do not run it – portage to your left at the Connecticut Route
205 bridge Wauregan or the Canoe
Ramp in Brooklyn.
Cautions:
Wauregan – Jewett City,
Connecticut
USGS Quadrangle:
Type of Water:
Flatwater
Paddle Length:
14 miles
Portage: Put In: Brooklyn Canoe Ramp Longitude: 71.91566899999999 W Latitude: 41.748002 N Or
Put In:
Connecticut Route 205 Bridge Wauregan Longitude: 71.91566899999999 W Latitude: 41.748002 N
Or Put In: Quinebaug Trout Hatchery on Trout Hatchery Road - off of Cady Lane Longitude: 71.91725099999999 W Latitude: 41.723551 N Or
Put In / Take Out :
Canterbury Town Athletic Field
Longitude:
71.96163 W
Latitude:
41.697271 N Or
Put In / Take Out:
Butts Bridge Road, Canterbury
Longitude:
71.954594 W
Latitude:
41.63795 N
Take Out: Ross Hill Park Campground
, Lisbon
Longitude:
71.98827799999999
W
Latitude:
41.61928 N
On The Water: This is a great flatwater 5.6 mile section of the
river to the Connecticut Route 14 bridge in Canterbury A mile below your
put in is another access point at the state fish hatchery. Two miles
down – the
Moosup River merges in from the left. You can take out or put in
at the Canterbury Town Athletic Field just up from the
Connecticut Route 14 bridge on the right. It’s 5.35 miles of nice paddling to Butts Bridge
Road, Canterbury you can take out here or paddle another 3 miles to
Aspinook Pond Dam,
Jewett City – take out at the
Ross Hill Park Family Campground
in Lisbon before the dam.
Cautions:
Jewett City - Taftville,
Connecticut
Avoid this section – it is not safe for any level
of paddling experience.
The information here is based upon the best available information presently available. If you find and error or have a written description of a water trail we have not included - please contact us
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