One-way trip down the small and twisty Mattapoisett River. VERY BRUSHY. Water levels were very high for this time of year, 65 cfs and 4.68 ft on the Mattapoisett gauge. Nice current and remote landscape, mix of forest and swamp/marshy, 3-4 road bridges and 2 wooden foot bridges. While there were only 3 river-wide tree blowdowns that had to be portaged, the river got very narrow (2-3 ft wide) with a LOT of overhanging brush and growth at many points. Blasting through the first few weren't bad but after 15-20 bushwhacking sections it got monotonous. I lost my Fenway cap in one bush! The high water level may have made this worse, at lower levels one may be able to cruise under the brush. A couple of Class I rapids, 15-20 foot chutes, were the highlights. One cranberry bog dam beneath Wolf Island Road required short 10 yard portage.
Start: Rounseville Road (Rte 105), Rochester, MA
End: Route 6 at River Rd, Mattapoisett, MA
Estimated distance: 8 miles
Trip Time: 4 hours
Tight squeeze through the left tunnel
Bottom of one of the quickwater chutes
Almost lost my hat here
Below Wolf Island Road crossing
Route 195 bridges, in the home stretch!
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