Assabet River in Massachusetts

by  guest-paddler

A self-supported trip created by guest-paddler

Trip Overview

After a week of rainy days leading into the rainy weekend, I said "To heck with it, I'm going for a paddle." I set off to explore a section of the Assabet River near where I live. Leaving a bike locked up at the take-out spot in Hudson, I drove my canoe to the put-in 3 miles away at the Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough. I slid into the river just as another burst of rain started.

With all my raingear fastened, I headed downstream using a kayak paddle only to steer my way down the somewhat fast moving water. I saw no other boaters on the river that day, but the wildlife was out and about, including geese and a particular kind of bird that is black with a bright orange hunter's vest.

This river goes through some pretty heavily populated areas, but most of the time you wouldn't know it. I passed a lot of flooded out farm land and explored sections of the river that I doubt would be navigable had it not been for the week of rain prior to this trip.

Took a break at the halfway point with the canoe parked in some bushes. After the break, came immediately upon a fast moving section where a high volume of water was funneling down and through a narrow section creating a rapid. Another burst of rain at a spot beneath some power lines where a fork in the river caused me to puzzle about the way forward. I believe both tines of the fork meet again around the mass of marsh in the way.

As I crossed into Hudson, I heard kids playing a soccer game in the park off to the left of the river, getting as wet and dirty as me, I am sure. Take out just before the Washington St. bridge, and then a short bikeride down River Rd. back to the Solomon Pond Mall.

Accommodations:

Free parking at put-in and take-out.

Fees:

None

Directions:

Put-in: Solomon Pond Mall (I-290 in Marlborough) parking lot by the Sears Automotive center. River is down an embankment behind the fence.

Take-out: Hudson Fire station at intersection of 85 and 62.

Trip Details

  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Water Type: River/Creek (Up to Class II)

Trip Location