Housatonic River in Connecticut

Trip Overview

Trip is From Sharon down to Kent.

We launched at Meadow brook State parking lot across from Housatonic Meadows Fly Shop on rt 7N. Free Parking. The parking lot was empty. Launched down a steep embankment. The water luckily was high enough to easy coast downstream at this point.

The trip was mixed with Flat long-moving stretches, some minor rapids, some good moving water, bends, some slow wide shallow areas about 3/4 down which you end up riding over rocks and maneuvering a lot. Some later parts stay to either of sides where deepest. last strips where slow and mixed some ok some shallow. Plenty of nature.

One person with us used a inflated raft, complained a lot at end of rowing so much but made it to end with us kayakers. Kayaking was an easy ride. Was a little over 5 hour trip.

Enjoyed it even though had some shallow rocky areas. Would do again. Pick up was on skiff mountain road. just north of kent school along road there are some places to pull over. I put a bright orange flag on a branch so when we came down we can find where we where to get out. Long trip.

Accommodations:

none
In Kent town at end of trip is shops and food, Kent pizza, etc.

Directions:

Drive north up rt 7 when see rt 4 bear left to stay on rt 7 then right to stay on 7. A short distance further is meadow brook state park on right. Parking area - across from Fly Shop; this is the launch. this launch is area others use as pickup point coming down from Cornwall covered bridge. we used it as a launch.

For the lower Pickup area, we parked along Skiff mountain road in Kent just above the school are some small parking areas along the road which runs along the river. you may also be able to park at the bridge rt341 just below this area.

Resources:

Google Maps