|
Connecticut Water Trails
Program
Paddling Trails
Still River Paddling Trail
Where Is It?
Still River
Longitude:
73.40468
W
Latitude
41.466518 N
Google Map Of The Entire River
USGS Quadrangle:
Paddle Length:
14 miles
On The Water:
The Still River flows out of New York State, out of
2 ponds, east of the Connecticut - New York border. The river then flows
east into Lake Kenosia, which itself is part of the Still River. From
Lake Kenosia, the River discharges through Mill Plain Swamp, past the
Danbury Fair Mall, and into the center of Danbury. From this point, the
River flows into the urban core of Danbury through a concrete flood
control channel for approximately 1 mile. At this point, the River flows
through a gorge and has a substantial drop in elevation, giving the
River a stretch of white water rapids. After the Still River flows under
Route 6, the watershed makes a major change.
At the intersection of Limekiln Brook, a major tributary to the Still
River the River changes direction, from west-east to a northerly
trajectory toward New Milford. This generally marks the point where
there is adequate flow for canoes and kayaks. It is at this location
that the Housatonic Valley River Trail and the Still River Greenway
trail begin. A paddle trip starting here can traverse the entire 6.7
miles downstream to the take out point before the Brookfield rapids at
the 777 Federal Road retail building. Moving at about two miles per
hour, and depending upon flow conditions, this is perhaps about a three
and one half hour trip. The put-in is at the Marriott Courtyard is on
Eagle Road in Danbury, which intersects at a traffic signal with Newtown
Road (State Route 806), and Newtown Road connects with I-84 Exit 8
nearby. After passing under I-84, the character of the river corridor
now changes. To the north it is more steeply shaped, especially the
higher hill to the east, with about 100 feet of side slope elevation
visible. The extensive Avalon housing continues northeasterly on the
east. A landmark on the west is the top of the Honeywell Consumer
Products Group building. The next landmark is the bridge carrying the
tracks of the Housatonic Railroad Company over both the Greenway and
River Trail. On the east bank is Berkshire Corporate Park property. The
Still River, runs through a relatively flat topography., The River is
bounded by an undeveloped floodplain and a relatively pristine
environment,. Just prior to passing the Stew Leonard's Store, there is a
major geographic feature, an oxbow.
This broad curve in the River has, in recent years, cut an alternate
straight channel to the north of the Oxbow, creating an island. The
river flows in two distinct channels here - in the original oxbow curve
around the island to the west, and in a straight south - north
trajectory to the east of the island. A channel was cut across its base
by natural forces in1994, allowing some of the flow and paddlers to take
the new and faster water "chute" as a short cut. After the Oxbow Island
the Still River runs along the east and rear of the Stew Leonards Food
Store. Now on the east bank of the River appears the Greenway Bird
Sanctuary s is a flat area bounded by the Still River to the west, the
Route 7 Expressway to the east, and the Brookfield Town Line to the
north. The Bird Sanctuary, a small meadow and forest complex, offers
both walkers and paddlers a one half mile loop walk through three
different ecosystems. These are a meadow, a wetland forest and a
riverine corridor. A green Housatonic Valley River Trail location sign
#7 is on a tree identifying this point. This sign on the Brookfield side
of the line, on the western or left side of the Still River as it
continues to flow north. This sign is an indication to paddlers where
they are on the Still River. An actual survey was not done to determine
the exact location of the Brookfield Town Line, but the sign is believed
to be reasonably close to the actual municipal line. As it crosses into
Brookfield the Still River flows northeasterly. It is tightly bounded on
its east by the Route 7 Expressway and on its west by the corridor
created by Federal Road and Grays Bridge Road, both roadways also
proceeding northeasterly. The flood plain is wide here, and the bed of
the Still River in this section meanders considerably. This is
demonstrated by the fact that a direct air line mileage from the Route 7
Expressway north to the bridge carrying Route 133 is .85 miles, while
the paddling distance, along extensive meanders between the same two
landmarks is a much greater 1.45 miles. Given a paddler's rule of thumb
of two miles per hour, this segment requires about 45 minutes to
traverse. However, paddle times can be significantly longer during low
water when no current is present or when winding around obstructions.
Note that the steepness of the River bed begins to increase in this
segment.
Correspondingly, the width of the adjacent flood plain narrows, as
the River prepares to enter a constricted gorge north of the 777 Federal
Road South commercial building. The west bank here is a very attractive
woodsy area. Old evergreens across on the east bank are complimented by
a well landscaped low density residential backyard landscape which is
attractive for the entire length of the proposed trail. The River Trail
take out steps are located about 900 feet before the Route 25 Bridge
over the Still River and adjacent Brookfield Craft Center. The rapids
become well developed at the Brookfield Craft Center and thereafter. The
take out steps are located at 777 Federal Rd South. The final stretch of
the River, north of the Danbury border, is a 10 mile stretch that flows
past Brookfield into New Milford at Harry Brook Park, where the Still
River ends, at its "mouth", joining the
Housatonic River which flows
south toward Long Island Sound.
Cautions:
Courtyard by Marriott ( Eagle Road ),
Danbury
USGS Quadrangle:
Type of Water:
Flatwater
Paddle Length:
6.7 miles
Portage:
Put-In:
Courtyard by Marriott - 3
Eagle Road
Google Map
Longitude:
73.415891
W
Latitude:
41.410822
N
Take Out:
777 Federal Road,
Brookfield
Google Map
Longitude:
73.40856100000001
W
Latitude:
41.479933
N
On The Water:
The put-in
is just off the rear parking lot of the Marriott Courtyard, which has an
address of 3 Eagle Road in Danbury. A handicapped accessible canoe and
kayak ramp was constructed in 2001. The Marriott is on Eagle Road, which
intersects at a traffic signal with Newtown Road (State Route 806), and
Newtown Road connects with I-84 Exit 8 nearby. To access the River
Trail, the public turns off of Newtown Road and travels north on Eagle
Road about 800 feet or so to the Marriott driveway on the right. Then
they drive in toward the building and turn right around its eastern
edge. The Still River Greenway arch at the launch area is at the
northeast corner of the rear parking lot.
A paddle trip starting here can traverse the entire
6.7 miles downstream to the take out point before the Brookfield rapids
at the 777 Federal Road retail building. Moving at about two miles per
hour, and depending upon flow conditions, this is perhaps about a three
and one half hour trip.
The take-out
is located in Brookfield. The River Trail take out steps are located
about 900 feet before the Route 25 Bridge over the Still River and
adjacent Brookfield Craft Center. The rapids become well developed at
the Brookfield Craft Center and thereafter. The mandatory take out steps
are to the rear and south side of the retail building at 777 Federal
Road (Route 7), at the southernmost point adjacent to an overflow
parking lot south of the commercial building. A sign on the western bank
about fifty feet before the take out point states "DANGER AHEAD." Then
at the take out itself, a second sign states "DANGER EXIT HERE." Both
signs include a simple and easily grasped drawing of a canoe in the
midst of falling over a dam.
Cautions:
Four Corners
Brookfield -
USGS Quadrangle:
Type of Water:
Paddle Length:
Portage:
Put-In:
Google Map
Longitude:
W
Latitude: N
Take Out:
Google Map
Longitude:
W
Latitude:
N
On The Water:
Cautions:
Newbury Village -
Brookfield
USGS
Quadrangle:
Type of Water:
Paddle Length:
Portage:
Put-In:
Google Map
Longitude:
W
Latitude: N
Take Out:
Google Map
Longitude:
W
Latitude:
N
On The Water:
Cautions:
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
Maps On This Website Are
Powered By:
This site utilizes Google base maps to create a faster, more accessible,
and much more user friendly mapping application that provides detailed
information on launch and landing sites, camp sites, restaurants, lodging,
and sites of interest along the various
water trails.
| 
