Beautiful one-way trip down the lower Assabet on a gorgeous fall morning 60F partly sunny skies. Water levels were great 2.91ft, 292 cfs on Maynard gauge. Parked at end point and uber'ed back to launch. Walked about 50 yards up river, under the Rt 62 bridge, towards Powdermill dam to run the rapids underneath the bridge. This stretch of river was amazing. Followed a family of geese running the rapids near Damonmill. Explored the mill race back up up and nearly under the old building before it got a little too dark, creepy. Ran into one river-wide tree blowdown between Damonmill and Thoreau school. Portaged right and lost both (!) my slip-on sneakers in the mud. Below Pine Street, I took one more side trip up the Nashoba Brook to the outlet of Warner's Pond. Even did a little "surfing" at the base of the small waterfall. The rest of the trip was smooth and easy. Wildlife seen: red-tailed hawk, red-headed woodpecker, kingfisher (a first for me), turtles, and a deer. Things got crowded the last 1/2 mile near the Concord river, 10-12 boaters were also out enjoying the rivers.
Start: Acton Canoe Launch, Acton, MA
End: Lowell Road Boat Ramp, Concord, MA
Trip distance: 6.25 miles
Trip time: 2.5 hours.
Acton Canoe Launch put in
Approaching Damonmill
Up the Damonmill race mill:
Blowdown near Thoreau School, portaged right and lost both slip-on's in the muck
Bruce Freeman rail trail bridge:
Commuter rail bridge
Side trip up Nashoba Brook:
Outlet of Warner's Pond:
Spot the deer
Nice fall colors
Egg Rock
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