Acknowledgements is guidebook would not exist without funding the Watershed Council received from the Rhode Island Rivers Council to support this project and without the sta of the Watershed Council who had the original idea for this guidebook and found the funding to make it possible. e board and sta of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council also provided very useful suggestions and guidance on the compilation of this guidebook. Richard E. Greenwood of the RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission provided assistance with some of the historical notes herein. A Guide to Paddling in the Last but far from least, the Woonasquatucket River itself would not be anywhere near as nice a place to paddle if it were not for the many years of hard work by the present and past sta of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and the many volunteers who have contributed in numerous ways to the Watershed Council over the years!, from the board that has helped to guide the organization to the many people who have taken part in clean-ups, park days, and other projects throughout the watershed! by Bruce G. Hooke

2012 Cover Photographs: Front Top: Paddling near the north end of Woonasquatucket Reservoir. Front Bo om: Erasmo Valdez, one of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council’s River Rangers, paddling with Bruce Hooke on the Woonasquatucket River in Providence, near Eagle Street. e River Rangers are neighborhood teenagers the Watershed Council employs to take care of the parks and bike path along the river, organize events, and teach neighborhood children about the river and its environment. Back Top: Joe Jamroz, one of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council’s regular volunteers, paddling on Greystone Mill Pond. Back Bo om: A large group of paddlers on a Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council trip on the Providence and Woonasquatucket Rivers in downtown Providence.

20 © 2012 by the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, All rights reserved an active Superfund site that impacts both Allendale Mill Pond and Lymans Mill Pond. e Paddling the EPA has deemed that these ponds are safe to paddle on as long as reasonable precautions are taken such as washing your hands aer coming in contact with the water and cleaning any mud Woonasquatucket River Watershed o your shoes and gear. However, since not many people have paddled in this area recently due to the Superfund site, the portages around the four dams between Greystone and the Manton/Greenville Avenue bridge are not well established. ere are also no public access points on these ponds. e Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council is working to have From quiet ponds and reservoirs in the northern part of the watershed to urban paddling this area cleaned up and is also looking into ways to make this part of the river more accessible. through the heart of Providence, to even some stretches of quickwater and mild whitewater Below this area the river is open to paddling but there can still be water quality issues. During in-between, the Woonasquatucket River Watershed o ers diverse paddling opportunities. and aer heavy rains human pathogen levels (e.g., bacteria) in the river will be very elevated due One of the surprises in store for paddlers is how much nature can be found in even the more to overows from the sewer system, and it can take a few days for this to dissipate. e new urban parts of the watershed. Right in Providence the river oen ows between green sewage tunnel under Providence has reduced but not eliminated this problem. Sewer riverbanks dense with big trees that overhang the river and enclose it in a tunnel of green. Small overows in dry weather are rarer but can happen due to problems in the sewer system. e wetlands along the river aract birds and other wildlife, and turtles are a common sight. river boom and riverbank sediments in the lower river also have many chemical While paddling in these areas it is interesting to try to imagine the river as it once was, 400 years contaminants in them. ago when it was wild and undammed and teamed with huge Atlantic salmon at the right time of year. ese salmon and other animals and plants found at the river were an important source of food for the Native Americans in the area. In those days, the low area north of Federal Hill Safety was a large salt-water cove, with giant oysters and other seafood in abundance. Roger Williams is booklet cannot teach you safe paddling. Learn before you go! If you are unsure of your and his followers paddled up this cove on their way to sele Providence and found what would paddling skills consider an easier trip, consider taking a paddling classes, or come on one of the become the state of Rhode Island. Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council’s organized paddling outings, which are open to e bounty of the river helped sustain Roger Williams and his followers as it had the Native all skill levels, from complete beginners to experienced paddlers. RIC/, the AMC and Americans, but in time the river came to be important in other ways to the people who seled many other groups also o er opportunities to get out on the water with experienced leaders. along its banks. In the 1800’s textile mills were built along the river, using the water of the river Remember that conditions can change quickly as the result of both natural and human activity. for power, for processing textiles, and as a place to dispose of waste. e numerous dams along What was safe one day may be dangerous the next, especially on a moving river where it can be the river largely date from this era. Most of the “ponds” in the watershed are man-made, built to hard to stop or back up to get out of danger. Rivers change every day, so conditions on the river provide power and water to the mills. Small ponds where also built throughout the watershed may di er om what is described in this guide. by farmers seeking to retain water for their livestock and other uses. Always wear a life jacket and clothing suitable to the weather conditions. Pay aention to the Now we are at the start of the 21st Century, our own era, and it is up to us how we will treat the weather and the risks it may present to paddlers. Be especially careful when the water is cold. river. e dams are no longer used to generate power and the old mills have largely been Cold water kills, even when the air is warm, such as in the spring and early summer. converted to oces, apartments and condominiums, but many signs of the river’s industrial Fishing (other than catch and release) in the river below the Smitheld–Johnston line, which past remain. e Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and others are working hard to crosses Greystone Pond, is not recommended due to contamination in the river and the clean up the river and turn it into a new asset to the communities of the watershed. e river is river-boom sediments. becoming a place for people and wildlife to nd a bit of nature and escape the urban and suburban world for a while. In addition to the paddling opportunities on the river there are also parks and paths throughout the watershed, from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Fort About the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council Nature Refuge at the headwaters of the river in North Smitheld, to the Fred Lippi Woonasquatucket River Greenway Bike Path in Providence and Johnston. is booklet is a project of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, with funding for the project provided by the Rhode Island Rivers Council. e Woonasquatucket River is booklet is organized into a series of seven “paddles,” or places in the watershed to go Watershed Council, a 501c3 non-prot, works closely with federal, state, and local partners in paddling, starting at Woonasquatucket Reservoir in the northern part of the watershed and the watershed communities of Glocester, North Smitheld, Smitheld, Johnston, Providence working south and east to the mouth of the river in Providence. See the map on pages 4 and 5 and North Providence to revitalize the river and reclaim it as a natural, historic, recreational, for an overview of the paddles and then turn to the individual paddles for more details. and economic asset for Rhode Island. Your donation will help us continue this work! For more Some of the paddles can be strung together to create a longer trip but at this time it is dicult information please visit our website wrwc.org, call us at 401-861-9046, or talk to us at one of to make a complete source to sea trip. In the area of Centerdale, in North Providence, there is our paddles or other events! 2 3 Places to Paddle e Watershed of the Woonasquatucket Reservoir 1 (Stump Pond)...... page 6 Woonasquatucket River

2 Stillwater Pond...... 8 North Smith eld Woonasquatucket Watershed 104 3 Georgiaville Pond...... 10 7 5

4 Georgiaville to Greystone...... 12 Rhode Island 5 Greystone Mill Pond...... 14 116 5 6 Manton to Atwells...... 16 104 Stillwater Pond Woonasquatucket 2 Exit 8 7 Downtown Providence...... 18 Reservoir 1 7 Georgiaville Glocester Smith eld 3 Pond 44 116 104 For all Maps Key Waterman 4 W o Reservoir 5 295 o n Boat Ramp Exit 7 a Slack 44 s q North 116 Reservoir 5 u Canoe/Kayak Launch Graystone a Providence t Mill Pond u 15 c Portage k Allendale e t Mill Pond

128 Walking Trail or Bike Path Lyman 5 44 Mill Pond Johnston R i 95 Park or Other Protected Land v e Providence 6 r P Parking 7 N Exit 6 6

10 0 1 2 3 4 Miles e data used to create the maps in this booklet came from RIGIS and other sources. 4 5 Mowry Conservation Woonasquatucket River Woonasquatucket Reservoir F Area P arn . u (Stump Pond) d m R

1 P e i rg k o e F

d Overview: At 300 acres and 2.3 miles long, Woonasquatucket Reservoir in Smith eld is the l largest water body in the watershed. Paddling here does not involve any moving O water but the reservoir can develop large waves if there is much wind. e 5 shoreline in the northern part is largely wooded. e southern part is a bit more suburban. e put-in on the west side is beer for launching hand-carried boats. 104

Ge ing Take exit 8B o I-295 (north or south) in Smith eld. is will put you on Route L y. ere: 7 (Douglas Pike) heading north. In about ¾ mile, at the second light, turn le o w g H n onto Washington Highway (Route 116). Go 1 mile to a T-junction. To get to the R to d g . in put-in on the east side of the reservoir turn right here onto Farnum Pike (Route P h W s a o 104) and look for a DEM shing access parking lot on the le. To get to the o W cket River na atu put-in on the west side of the reservoir, turn le at the T-junction, go 0.2 miles squ nic ce Tr S ail and turn right into Pleasant View Avenue (Route 116). is will take you across ter Stillwa the reservoir on a causeway. At the end of the causeway turn right onto Log Woonasquatucket P 116 Road. In 0.2 miles bear right at the fork to stay on Log Road. In another 0.2 miles Reservoir look for a parking lot on your right. For launching hand-carried boats, use the (Stump Pond) second parking lot if possible to leave the rst lot free for vehicles with trailers.

F M arn What’s e shore at the put-in on the west side of the reservoir is sand and gravel very a . n e u n Av m ere: suitable for launching canoes and kayaks. You can put in here and paddle up to S Pi c w h ie ke o V the north end, where the Woonasquatucket River ows into the reservoir. e o t Smith eld l n R P a Conservation river here quickly becomes too shallow to paddle up but you can land and have a d s 104 . a le Commission picnic lunch on the big rock next to the mouth of the river and walk up an L P og R informal trail on the east side of the river to Mowry Conservation Area. Watch d P It’s usually possible to squeeze out for poison ivy! . under the pipes under this bridge in a canoe or kayak, e southern arm of the reservoir is also an interesting paddle, but be prepared but it’s a tight squeeze. for a tight squeeze geing under the two pipes that run under the Pleasant View Avenue bridge. e southern arm is narrower than the main body of the 5 reservoir and the wetlands along the shore are a good place to look for birds. Mercer Lookout 116 (Wolf Hill) Woonasquatucket Reservoir was built in 1910 to provide a reliable water supply through the summer for the mills down river. It was never a drinking water

reservoir. e local name of “Stump Pond” comes from the tree trunks that

. e

remained standing in the water for many years aer the dam was built. v A

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e Rules: 10 hp limit on motors used on the reservoir. i V

t n . a R Mowry Conservation Area, at the north end of the reservoir, is a beautiful natural s M Also in a r e e o l t u P a n the Area: area with walking trails and a very scenic section of the Woonasquatucket River. t w a ½ Mile l i l n Mercer Lookout, also called Wolf Hill, and the Stillwater Scenic Trail, also oer i d t ale S R pleasant options for walking. e laer follows an old RR grade along the river. d.

6 7 D o . u 7 Stillwater Pond wy P g H ik la on e s gt hin 2 as W

r Blvd. Overview: e paddle down the Woonasquatucket River to Stillwater Pond and back is not Thurbe a long trip but it takes you through the remotest section of the Woonasquatucket

accessible to canoes and kayaks. Before reaching Stillwater Pond the river cuts P W o through a long north-south ridge, so the middle section of this paddle is between o Riv n et er S a ck ti steeply sloping, rocky hills. Unless the water is high, the river is slow and quiet. s tu llw qua Sce a er nic Stillwater t at Tr er e put-in below the dam at Woonasquatucket Reservoir is on rock rip-rap. Be llw ai R ti l o S Pond a careful! e footing is unstable and the rocks are sharp. For the rst ¼ mile the P d river is narrow and overhung with trees, and then it slowly opens out into 116 Stillwater Pond. At the southern corner of the pond, a mile from the put-in, there is a good place to get out and take a walk along the Stillwater Scenic Trail. F a r n u Capron Ge ing Take exit 8B o I-295 (north or south) in Smitheld. is will put you on Route m Pike . Pond ve ere: 7 (Douglas Pike) heading north. In about ¾ mile, at the second light, turn le A w ad ie Ro onto Washington Highway (Route 116). Go 1 mile to a T-junction. Turn right V on P 1 nt Capr here onto Farnum Pike (Route 104), go /3 mile and look for a DEM shing sa ea Pl K access parking lot on the le. To get to Stillwater Pond put in below the dam. a n e Rd.

P Reservoir Woonasquatucket Mercer Lookout 104 INTERSTATE What’s e paddle to Stillwater Pond starts below the dam at Woonasquatucket (Wolf Hill) L ere: Reservoir. From the parking lot for the DEM shing access site o Farnum Pike og 295 R P d Georgiaville follow the concrete path down to the base of the dam and put in from the rock . rip-rap there. Aer passing under Farnum Pike the river is narrow and overhung N Pond with trees. If the water levels are low, some areas here will be rocky. If it is unusually high there can be enough current to make the paddling more ½ Mile challenging. In 1/3 mile you will pass under the high arch of the Stillwater Viaduct, built by the WPA during the Great Depression. Here the river slowly starts to open out until you reach Stillwater Pond, ¾ mile from the put-in. Since it is small there can be too much current to paddle against. In that case take out at the south and has no major roads near it, Stillwater Pond is generally peaceful and calm. end of the viaduct, walk under it up to the Stillwater Trail, turn right and follow Paddle to the southern corner of the pond and you will nd a good place to take the trail back to Farnum Pike. Turn right and go ¼ mile up the pike to the put-in. out just a lile before the dam. e Stillwater Scenic Trail runs close the shore here. Heading southeast along the trail takes you through the woods near the Also in A put-in o Capron Road that provides access to Capron Pond, which is even spillway that drains Stillwater Pond (except when water levels are very low when the Area: smaller than Stillwater. e marshes that border it make it a good place for birds. all the water leaves the pond via the other channel). Look for side trails heading Paddling the river from Capron Pond to Georgiaville Pond is not recommended down towards the river and follow these to get a closer look at the prey but because of the short, steep drop in the river as it enters the tunnels under I-295 rocky and turbulent river. Watch out for poison ivy. and the potential for “strainers” under I-295 and Capron Road. e dam that creates Stillwater Pond has a vertical face on the down river side so e mile-long Stillwater Scenic Trail parallels this paddle, running on the route of the northeastern arm of Capron Pond is not accessible from Stillwater Pond. the former Providence & Springeld Railroad, which ran beside the river. ere Once you have explored Stillwater Pond, turn around and paddle back up to the are small parking areas at both ends of the trail, but the end at Farnum Pike is the put-in. For the last 1/3 mile, from Stillwater Viaduct to the put-in, you will be recommended starting point since the parking area there is larger and easier to paddling against some current but usually not a lot. However, if the river is high nd. e trail is broad and level so the walking is easy. e scenery is prey, with views of the river, Stillwater Pond and Capron Pond. 8 9 C

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i r ll Douglas Pike Georgiaville Pond o w

a n te r T P ra o 3 n il d

Georgiaville Pond is a pre y, suburban pond covering about 100 acres, with a 7 Overview: apron Rd. town beach, boat ramp and park at the south end, and two pine-tree clad islands C P Smith-Appleby in the southwest corner. Houses line much of the shoreline but the houses are House Museum largely set back a bit from the shore and surrounded by trees, so the pond feels more rural than it is. Motorboats and personal watercra (”Jet Skis”) are permit- ted on the pond so on a warm summer weekend the pond can be a busy place. Stil lwate See the rules section below for information on the required passes and permits. r Road Limerock Road

Ge ing Take Exit 7A o I-295 (north or south) in Smitheld. is will put you on Route INTERSTATE Ridge Road ere: 44 (Putnam Pike) heading east. At the rst trac light turn le onto Esmond 295 Street. Go 0.8 miles on Esmond and then turn le onto Route 104 (Waterman Avenue). Go 0.7 miles northwest on Route 104, which turns into Farnum Pike. S t Turn right onto Stillwater Road and go 0.2 miles and turn le into the town park. i l l w a t e What’s A circuit around Georgiaville Pond makes for a nice evening paddle. Put in at the r R o ere: boat ramp and go clockwise or counterclockwise around the pond, going behind a d the pine-tree clad islands. Stop at the small landing at the east end of the earthen Fa Georgiaville dam that creates the pond and walk up on top of the dam for views of the scenic, rn um Pond rock-lined spillway. If you are planning to paddle down the Woonasquatucket P Rock ik River below the pond this is the place to portage around the spillway to the river. e Spillway At the north end of the pond, if the current is not too strong, you can explore up Georgiaville the Woonasquatucket to where it ows out from under I-295. e old river Town Beach channel, east of the current channel, is now a backwater next to the O

l Smith-Appleby House Museum. d C o u P n oad t R C Rules: e town beach, park and boat ramp are open to the public and not limited to y r r R o o te 104 a s town residents, but all users must pay for either a day or seasonal pass and boaters a s d w ll Sti S t must also purchase a sticker for their boat. For more information contact the . Roa le d Smitheld Recreation Department at 231-1051 or visit the them at the Smith- Whip p ple H p Ave. i eld Ice Rink, 109 Pleasant View Avenue to purchase your stickers and passes. . o h N d m W R l e l i s

t Whipple Field H e Also in e town beach and park are pleasant places to visit even if you are not going lf a o Town d F e the Area: paddling. ere are picnic tables shaded by huge old trees, rest rooms (open in A W

½ Mile Hall v n the summer), and you can walk along the dam to see the scenic spillway. . w o o e Smith-Appleby House Museum at the north end of the pond preserves one d

of the few 17th century homes still standing in Rhode Island. e oldest part of A available on the website smithapplebyhouse.org. e house is only open during scheduled the house was built circa 1696 by Elisha Smith, grandson of one of the six men v events so check the website before planning a visit. e who accompanied Roger Williams when he le the Massachuse s Bay Colony . in 1636 to se le Providence. e house is on the National Register of Historic e Georgiaville neighborhood, just south of the town park, is a historic mill village with n Places and is run as a museum by Smitheld Historical Society. More details are houses built to resemble English housing to a ract English mill workers. a

m t 10 11 hi WEsmond W Park o o n a W s a q t u e a rm t tu a e c n re A t k v S e e t n R u i e v d e n r o D e m a s n E A v e n u 44 e Powder P Mill Ledges utn Wildlife am P Refuge ike

Grey- stone

AngellCricket Park C

S a ti p ll r w o

a n te r T P ra o il n d

pron Rd Ca . P Smith-Appleby House Museum

Stil lwate r Road

Limerock Road

INTERSTATE 295

S t i l l w a t e r R o a d

Douglas Pike Rock Georgiaville to Greystone Spillway

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t

Georgiaville i R l l i 4 w d g Pond Georgiaville a e t R 7 Town Beach e o r a

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Overview: Paddling the Woonasquatucket River from below Georgiaville Pond to o

a Greystone Mill Pond is an interesting 2½ mile run for experienced paddlers. e d

river in this area is a mix of atwater, quickwater and class I whitewater. e P ad C Ro r o r scenery ranges from dense forest to parks and playing elds to old mill buildings e s t s a w S to suburban houses. ere are a number of places where you can put in and take ll t ti r S e

e

out. e longest trip involves puing in at the Georgiaville Town Beach boat t Whip d ple oa ramp, portaging the dam and spillway and paddling down river to the south end H R . F Ave. e a o d r pl n m of Greystone Mill Pond, portaging around Esmond dam on the way; but you can R u ip ll h i m e W s H Whipple Field also put in or take out at Whipple Field and below the dam at Esmond Park. P t i e f k l e a o Town d e river level is critical for this paddle. At 75 CFS on the USGS gauge at W A

Hall v F . P e Centerdale* you will be hiing rocks fairly regularly and will have to get out and n w li your boat over rocky areas occasionally. At 200 CFS the rapids will be geing o o 104 d

washed out, the current will be swi but smoother than at lower water levels, and A v the dam at Esmond may even be runable. However, at this river level you will also e . have less time to dodge obstacles, and “strainers” (trees down in the river that can Lin trap and drown paddlers) can present a serious hazard. Before paddling at any coln S t water level, stop at Esmond Park and decide how you plan to handle the low Esmond r e O . t e ld t dam, just above the footbridge over the river. When the river is high it can sometimes S C EsmondP o H n u igh a be run. At medium to lower water levels it will usually need to be portaged, which n Park St. t m t y i involves some bushwhacking. From Georgiaville Pond all the way to Greystone R h o a Esmond W Mill Pond you should be ready for trees down across the river. d Dam Ge ing For directions to Georgiaville Pond see paddle #3. For directions to Greystone Breached ere: Mill Pond see paddle #5. Esmond Park and Whipple Field may be found using W Dam the map at right. e parking area for Esmond Park is ¼ mile north of the o on a junction of Esmond Street and Farnum Pike. sq ua tu ck W What’s Starting from the Georgiaville Pond boat ramp, paddle north and east until you e a t te t R r e m ½ Mile ere: reach the small landing near the spillway. Take out here and carry your boat up i re v a t e n the steps to the top of the dam and the look to the right for the trail leading down S r A v De r. e N d an n to the river below the unrunable spillway. Watch out for poison ivy. Below the n A ill D u o v d M e en on spillway there is about 500 feet of class I whitewater. A er a sharp bend in the m sm s u E E e river, the current slows down a bit. From here to Esmond the river alternates to Rt. 44 Greystone between slower reaches and short ries or rapids. Mill Pond

G

e low bank at Whipple Field, 0.6 miles below Georgiaville Pond, oers the rst r

e

y

good take-out. At 0.9 miles you will see a marsh opening up on your le . is is s From the Esmond Dam it is about 0.2 miles to the remnants of a low,t breached dam in front of o a sign that the Esmond Dam and Esmond Park are just around the corner. At n the Benny’s buildings. If the river is high this area can be run. At lowere levels you will likely have most river levels this dam must be portaged, which is sometimes dicult due to M to stop and li your boat over the rocks. Once past this dam a short sectioni of quickwater takes the lack of a good takeout above the dam. Powder ll P you thePutn headam of P Greystoneike Mill Pond. e take-out is 0.7 miles ahead at theon dsouth end of the Mill Ledges pond.44 For more on Greystone Mill Pond see paddle #5. * e USGS river gauge data from the Centerdale stationWildlife are available on-line on a near real-time 12 basis at: hp://waterdata.usgs.gov/ri/nwis/uv?01114500Refuge 13

Grey- stone

AngellCricket Park C

S a ti p ll r w o

a n te r T P ra o il n d pron Rd Ca . P Smith-Appleby House Museum

Stil lwate r Road

Limerock Road

INTERSTATE 295

S t i l l w a t e r R o a d

Douglas Pike Rock Spillway

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Georgiaville i R l l i w d g Pond Georgiaville a e t R 7 Town Beach e o r a

R d

o

a

d

P ad C Ro r o r e s t s

wa S ll t ti r S e

e Whip t d ple oa H R . F Ave. e a om d r pl R nu ip ll h i m e W s H Whipple Field P te i f k l e a o Town d W Av. Hall F P e n w o o 104 d

A v e .

Lin coln S t r O e . e ld t S t C P o Esmond u n Hig a n Park h St. t m y t i R h o a Esmond W d Dam

Breached Dam

W t o e o Greystone Mill Pond e n r a t sq S u a 5 t d u c n r. k o ll D e Mi t nd

o R Overview: Greystone Mill Pond is a narrow, winding pond created by the dam at Greystone.m sm

s E i E v

ere are a number of small wetlands along the pond. Houses line both side of e the pond but the wetlands keep the houses set back a bit in many areas, so they r are less visible from the water. Cricket Park, at the south end of the pond, has a canoe and kayak launch. In 2012 this launch is to be upgraded to make it handicapped accessible. A handicapped accessible shing dock is being built nearby, along with a boardwalk overlooking the pond. e pond is all of about 300 feet across at the south end, and this is by far the largest open area on Greystone Pond. Above here it quickly narrows down to a winding channel and becomes a river again, but it is oen possible to paddle 104 upriver as far as the Benny’s complex. Powder Putnam Pik W e Smitheld sewage treatment plant discharges treatede sewage into the pond a t e r ½ mile above the put-in. While the treated sewage normally meets water quality G m Mill Ledges re ys a standards you should wash your hands aer coming in contact with the water. to n n A Wildlife e v M en R iv i u Ge ing From I-295 (north or south) take exit 7A for Route 44 and North Providence. l Refuge e l e rs ere: is will put you on Route 44 east (Putnam Pike). Go 1 mile and turn le onto D id P e e o a A n Angell Avenue at the blinking light. Go 0.2 miles on Angell Avenue and turn le n ve d N A n v u onto Riverside Avenue at the stop sign. At this turn Cricket Park will be in front e e n u of you. Aer turning onto Riverside Avenue the parking lot for the park will be on e your right. You can also park along the Riverside Avenue, but please be careful Cricket Greystone Ave. not to block trac. It is too narrow in places to allow for safe parking. Park 44 P utna m P What’s From the put-in at Cricket Park, head towards the far (east) shore to get to the ike ere: main channel and then turn le. Stay away from the dam in the southeast corner of the pond because a canoe or kayak could get swept over this dam! Once in the ½ Mile Angell Avenue main channel it is easy to see where to go and you have only to paddle and enjoy the scenery. In 0.7 miles you will come to a bridge (Esmond Mill Drive). Around here you will start to notice more current pushing against you but it is generally here, blocking passage down river. Below this building the river enters a possible to paddle another ¼ mile to the bridge at the Benny’s Complex. Here Superfund site that includes Allendale and Lymans Mill Ponds, the next two you will nd a stronger current pushing against you and there is also a breached ponds on the river. e EPA has deemed these ponds safe to paddle on as long as dam not far up the river from here. For information on paddling the river above reasonable precautions are taken such as washing your hands aer coming in here see paddle #4. contact with the water and cleaning any mud o your shoes and gear. However, since not many people have paddled in this area recently the portages around the Once you have gone as far up the pond and river as you want to or can, turn four dams between Greystone and the Manton/Greenville Avenue bridge are around and paddle back to the put-in, stopping along the way to explore the not well established. ere are also no public access points on these ponds. coves and backwaters, if you want to. Also in Cricket Park is so named because the English mill workers who lived in the area Paddling on the Woonasquatucket River below Cricket Park is dicult until you the Area: used to play cricket here. However, the crack of the cricket bat is no longer heard get to the Manton Avenue/Greenville Avenue bridge. Not far below Cricket echoing over the pond. Instead, walking trails and a gazebo are scheduled to be Park there is a mill building that straddles the river and debris oen hangs up built in 2012, along with a beer canoe and kayak launch, and a shing dock. 14 15 W F r o u o i t

n Manton to Atwells asqu H a i l tu l

ck A

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t M 6 M A e v. . o P a u o n n n t t

d o n P l Overview: e Woonasquatucket River from Manton Avenue to Atwells Avenue is an e R a G s i v r a urban river, with aendant water quality issues, especially aer a heavy rain. e e e W n nv r o t ill e o

n However, it oers some interesting paddling for experienced paddlers and the a e. e Av s n A Ave. qu Chalksto A at v v rst half is surprisingly wooded. e river is a mix of atwater, quickwater and u e e c n k n e u t M u e occasional mild whitewater, with various reminders along the way of the river’s a e n K t industrial history, some of which create additional challenges for paddlers. i o l l n i n A g v Buttonhole Golf l e t. Ge ing To get to the put-in at the Manton Avenue/Greenville Avenue bridge take Route y n S

S u y R le t e l Course a r i V ere: 6 west out of Providence. Take the Killingly Street exit and bear right o the ramp e v e e Eagle onto Killingly. Go 0.8 miles and turn right onto Greenville Avenue. In 0.2 miles, t r Atwells Ave . . Square e v M turn right onto Traver Avenue and then take an immediate le onto Hillside and A a n Riverside t Donigian B o i park near the bike path. e map at right should help you nd the other put-ins. ke n P Park at Park h A 6 6 v e A e g le n d p u 10 i e What’s At Hillside Avenue there is no formal boat launch. e best access as of this r p b o S n Merino t. ere: writing is not far below the bridge, near the historic marker. Watch out for poison e l Park G H ivy! e next ¼ mile of river is largely quickwater with occasional slower artfor ay d Aven adw stretches. As you approach the site of the former dam at Dyerville, ½ mile below ue Bro the put-in, the river opens out and slows down. ere was just enough of this old dam le to catch debris and block sh passage so in 2009 a section was removed Olneyville N Square leaving a clear passage for sh and boats. Watch out for remnants of the old dam. treet Plain eld S Neutaconkanut Below Dyerville the river’s pace picks up a bit, with a stretch of more signicant 10 quickwater followed by a slower section, followed by some mild class I rapids Hill Park ½ Mile below Glenbridge Avenue. If the water level is low this is a section where you will really notice it. At 50 CFS on the USGS gauge at Centerdale* you will hit an occasional rock but if you are good at spoing and dodging rocks in whitewater through the Atlantic Mills complex. ere is a pipe under one of the bridges in this complex you should not have to get out too oen to li your boat o the rocks. that at most water levels you can duck under easily but at high water can be a dangerous trap! Aer going under Route 6 for the rst time there is another section of class I Aer passing Atlantic Mills you will quickly come to Olneyville Square, 2.1 miles from the whitewater. Just below this rapid look out for the remnants of an old bridge Manton Avenue put-in. 400 feet downriver from Olneyville Square is the site of the former across the river. Brush oen accumulates here creating the potential for Paragon Dam. is dam was removed in 2010 to allow sh and boats to travel this section of dangerous “strainers.” In another 400 feet the river takes a sharp bend to the le at the river again. e area is now a rapid. Scout before aempting to run it. Since this is a “new” Merino Park, 1¼ miles from the put-in at Manton Avenue. Aer passing Merino rapid as of this writing it is not yet clear what conditions will be like at dierent river levels. Park, the river goes under Route 6 again and then bends to the right and passes A quarter mile below here is the Rising Sun Dam, the last dam on the river. is dam must be under a high footbridge, just below which is the most dicult rapid on this portaged. ere is a good take out on the le. You can either carry downriver 250 feet to a steep section of the river. At most water levels the river pushes you straight towards a put-in or continue another 450 feet to where there are steps down to the river near Valley St. tree that projects out into the river. If you are not condent of your ability to Below Donigian Park the river winds through a dense urban neighborhood, oen between dodge this tree, portage over the (slippery) rocks to the le. vertical walls, but with trees overhanging much of the river. e quickwater in this section is Aer these rapids the river enters another quiet section leading up to the dam at the last challenge before you get to Atwells Avenue and the Eagle Square complex, where the Riverside Park. ere is a canoe launch here next to the bike path, which makes a river becomes strongly inuenced by the tides, 2.9 miles below the put-in at Manton Avenue. good place to take out, or you can portage around the dam and sh ladder and For more on paddling from here to the mouth of the river, see paddle #7. keep going down the river. Below the dam the river runs between vertical walls * e USGS river gauge data from the Centerdale station are available on-line on a near real-time 16 basis at: hp://waterdata.usgs.gov/ri/nwis/uv?01114500 17 W F r o u o i t

n asqu H a i l tu l

ck A M et v M e A o v . u a . P n n o t

n t P o d l n e a e. s R Av a G i e R v alk Downtown Providence n h st n r C o a INTERSTATE e e e W t y t. n r s S S v o m ille o rm m S O n o i a e. t th e Av . n

s on 95 q lkst M Av Cha A e u d a v St 7 A Pleasant re tu e et ck v . o e e Valley Pkwy. RI s t M h n State a a u . n s e t K House t S R s o y iv u Overview: In the urban heart of Providencei the Woonasquatucket joins the Moshassuck to t er l le e l n l ck c i u a t k n a A V u Acorn q . form the Providence River, whichg in turn becomes the headv of Narraganse Bay. as Waterplace ell St Buttonhole Golf n R Ang l e o St. y ve. n o th Park . man A a ater S u W P W Paddling here provides a new perspective on the city: Rthe rush of trac is a li le ke t e i l Course B ia r i r e o B v . m l more distant and you are free toe oat along the river at your own pace. is ve e v M e Eagle A M t s d r rri Donigian Park Square Ha . a section of the river is also home to Waterre. When there. is a Waterre in e v M S A a Atwells t underway the river is closed to canoes, kayaks, and most other boat trac fromn Ave. r Riverside t e o Downtown e D n t South Park e the Crawford Street Bridge to the Mall, so plan you trip accordingly. A 6 6 v a

e A e n Providence Water St. g l D e n d p u 10 S Landing

i e y ere are two ways to paddle this section of the river. Forr a round trip you canp t

r e b o e S y r n a Merino t. w e S put in at South Water Street Landing, paddle upriver toe Eagle Square, and then d t l oa Park Br t G . Hartf don turn around and paddle back to the put-in. Another optionord A is to put in at t. ken venu S ic St. e int W Donigian Park and paddle down to South Water Street. ere is some Po nster St. quickwater between Donigian and Eagle Square so less experienced paddlers Westmi

Providence should choose the round-trip option from South Water Street. For more details INTERSTATE t. . on the river above Eagle Square, see paddle #6. S t River treet S Plain eld S on 195 st d

Neutaconkanut an a r o

Hill Park C r

Ge ing To get to South Water Street Landing, from I-95 (north or south) take exit 22A . B e ere: in downtown Providence. At the rst light, go straight onto Memorial Boulevard. v A A d l N l At the sixth light, turn le onto South Water Street, which will put you on a 10 o e o n s w bridge across the Providence River. Aer crossing the river the road makes a A m v l e E sharp right turn. e landing is about 0.2 miles ahead on your right, near the ½ Mile . round gazebo and the circular silver sculpture. ere is on-street parking on both sides of the street near the landing. Bring quarters for the parking meters. What’s While the tide starts to inuence the river in a small way at Donigian Park, it takes you under Providence Place Mall, the Amtrak rail line, and Interstate 95, among other ere: becomes signicant below Atwells Avenue and Eagle Square. ere are shallow things. A paddler can feel very small here amidst all the concrete and steel. Once clear of this areas in the river both at Eagle Square and above the Dean Street/Pleasant Valley complex, the river opens out a li le for the next half mile and trees start to line the banks, Parkway bridge that make it hard to paddle these areas at low tide. So high tide is although busy roads are never far away. generally the be er time to paddle this section of the river. Also, it can be hard Above Acorn Street the river’s character changes again. From here to Eagle Square the river is work paddling upriver against a strong ebb tide. If the tide is very high it can be a narrow and overhung with trees and while still urban, feels more peaceful. e riverbanks are tight squeeze ge ing under the rst bridge above Providence Place Mall. largely vertical stone walls, so access in and out of the river is dicult or impossible. Old mills, Pu ing in at South Water Street landing, to get to the Woonasquatucket River now largely rebuilt, line the river and signs of old industry are evident. head north up the Providence River towards the low arch bridges. ere is oen As you enter the Eagle Square complex the riverbanks start to open out again and trees other boat trac on the river in this area so be ready to get out of the way of larger become fewer. If the tide is high enough and the river’s current not too strong you can get to a boats that may not have much ability to maneuver. point where the river takes a sharp bend to the le around a small gravel bar, 2 miles from the e river in this area is lined with stone walls, with plantings and walkways along put-in. In an emergency it would be possible to take out here. Above here, if the river’s ow is much of the river. When you come to a fork in the river, 0.4 miles from the put-in, low it will be too shallow to paddle, and if the river is high there will be too much current to stay le to go up the Woonasquatucket. Going right here would take you up the paddle against. So, here is where you must turn around and head back down river to the put-in. Moshassuck River, which quickly becomes too shallow to paddle. Going up the From South Water Street Landing you can also head south under the Point Street bridge and Woonasquatucket, you will quickly come to the circular basin of Waterplace out to the hurricane barrier. Large boats, strong currents, wind and waves are common in this Park, just down the hill from the State House. Continuing upriver from here area, especially near and outside the hurricane barrier, where you are in the Port of Providence. 18 19