North Nashua River

Nice long run on the North Nashua River on beautiful 75F sunny day.  Water levels medium and falling, 2.58 ft, 122 cfs on the Leominster gauge.  During the first half of trip there were 3-4 gravel bars to push through and many strainers to scoot around.  The second half of trip, below the Pellecchia canoe launch, was smooth sailing, just one river-wide trunk to glide over.  Such a beautiful, sandy river though notes of industrial past (many car tires, couple oil drums) and litter are present.  Made a brief side trip up the South Nashua River.  It's current was strong 3.25 ft, 289 cfs (and water warm 71F!) on the Clinton gauge.  Would like to explore further up this branch on a different day.   Note: the put-in at the end of Lancaster St is VERY STEEP, had to slide down the hill to the river, holding onto trees on the way down. The take-out is easy, though muddy, parking for 3-4 cars.     

Start: 1081 Lancaster St, Leominster, MA

End:  Canoe Launch/Rte 117,  7 Bridge Road,  Lancaster, MA

Trip Time:  3 hours 25 minutes

Trip Distance:  10 miles

The very steep launch at the end of Lancaster St in Leominster

Into the North Nashua!

First gravel bar to push through

1st of two old oil drums along the river

Solid drop right under the power lines, followed by 3 sets of easy rapids, a bit of rock scraping

A small rocky channel to the left of the old dam gets you by without portaging

Approaching the Pellecchia canoe launch under bridge

Stopped for lunch here.   Also good starting point for a shorter (5 mile) trip

2nd oil drum of the day

Beautiful sandy river bottom in Lancaster

Car tires prevalent here too:  

Ran into a family of wood ducks....

This guy did his best to keep up, flying/running along the water!

Leaning pine

Inspiration of the day

The entrance to the South Nashua, was able to push through the right side then up about 200 yards

Cows on the hill

I caught the attention of this one

Blue heron in flight.  Check out the spindly legs trailing

Muddy take-out

Take-out sign along Rt 117