the concord river boater’s trail
TRANSCRIPT
WWW.SUDBURY-ASSABET-CONCORD.ORG
The Sudbury, Assabet & Concord Wild & Scenic River Stewardship Council c/o The National Park Service 15 State Street, 10th Floor, Boston MA 02109, USA
Special thanks to Rotary International, the Bedford, Billerica, and Concord Rotary Clubs, OARS: For the Assabet, Concord and Sudbury Rivers, and the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
Trip 1: Egg Rock to Carlisle-Bedford Bridge (Route 225)
The Trail begins at the confluence of the Sudbury and
Assabet Rivers, at Egg Rock, where they join to become the Concord River. The river is fairly slow moving and easy to paddle in this section, so you can appreciate the rich natural and cultural sites along the way. Pass by the Old Manse, home of Emerson and Hawthorne, and paddle under the famous Old North Bridge, a part of Minute Man National Historical Park. The River enters the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and you can land your boat to explore the impoundments, home to a diversity of waterfowl. From here, the river continues to slowly meander through rich greenery until you reach Route 225.
Trip 2: Carlisle-Bedford Bridge (Route 225) to the Middlesex Canal
The River becomes quite wide in this
section and is popular for boating, birding and fishing. Great Blue Heron can be seen along the shores as they stalk their prey, while painted turtles sun on exposed logs. This is a peaceful section of the river. As you enter Billerica there will be a bit more development, and even a chance to stop for a meal at a riverside restaurant. After taking your boat off the river, be sure to visit the Middlesex Canal Museum to learn about the early industrial history of the area, and get a look at the old dam.
The Concord River Boater’s Trail
SUDBURYASSABET&CONCORD
STEWARDSHIPCOUNCILRIVER
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WILD & SCENIC
Credits
photo: Catherine D. Ross
What is a Wild and Scenic River?
Enacted in 1968, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act created a program to permanently protect selected free flowing rivers. Those rivers deemed to possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, ecological, historical or cultural resources are included in the Wild and Scenic System. Nationally, 166 rivers are designated. The Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers are recognized, along with 6 other New England Rivers.
The Concord River Boater’s Trail From Egg Rock at the beginning of the Concord River in Concord to the Middlesex Canal in Billerica runs approximately 11 miles. It consists of 2 segments:
Trip 1: Egg Rock to Carlisle-Bedford Bridge
Trip 2: Carlisle-Bedford Bridge to the Middlesex Canal
Generally the current is gentle enough to paddle downstream and then return upstream,
if you have the time and energy. Otherwise, each one way segment is perfect for a
morning or afternoon outing.
Visit our website for additional information on historic, scenic and natural features of the Concord River Boater’s Trail.
Helpful Resources
SUDBURYASSABET&CONCORD
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WILD & SCENIC
The Concord, Sudbury, and Assabet Rivers: A guide to canoeing, wildlife and history. By Ron McAdow.
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: www.fws.gov/northeast/greatmeadows
OARS: www.oars3rivers.org
Massachusetts Audubon Society: www.massaudubon.org
Sudbury Valley Trustees: www.sudburyvalleytrustees.org
Wild and Scenic Rivers Program: www.rivers.gov
WWW.SUDBURY-ASSABET-CONCORD.ORG
Billerica State Forrest
Minnie Reid Conservation Area
Winning Pond
Davis Corridor
Banta Davis Land
Greenough Pond
Winning Pond
Hutchins PondMill Pond
4
4
4
4
3
3
129
225
225
129
Mon
umen
t St
Skelton Rd
Thore
au S
t
Rive
redg
e Rd
Bridle Rd
Brick Kiln Rd
Chelmsford Rd
Chelmsford Rd
Ridg
eway
Rd
Ridg
eway
Rd
River St
Nashua Rd
Nashua Rd
Concord Rd
High StLowell St
Lowell Rd
Bedfor
d St
Lexington Rd
Virginia Rd
Old Bedford Rd
Concord
Rd
Map
le S
t
Treble Cove Rd
Dudley Rd
Davis
Rd
Davis Rd
Ballʼs Hill Rd
Broo
k St
Mill
Rd
Treb
le Cove
Rd
Treb
le C
ove
Rd
Carlisle Rd
Bedford Rd
Carr Rd
Grea
t Meadows Rd
River R
d
Wils
on S
t Rogers St
Boston Rd
Boston Rd
Boston Rd
Concord
Carlisle
North Billerica
Billerica
Bedford
Greenough Land
Foss Farm
Great Meadows NWR
C. Courtney Comeau Land
Concord Battle Ground
Old Calf Pasture
Punkatasset & Saw Mill Brook
Little Meadow Conservation Area
Trip
1: E
gg R
ock
to C
arlis
le-B
edfo
rd B
ridge
, 4.8
2 m
iles
Trip
2: C
arlis
le-B
edfo
rd B
ridge
to
the
Mid
dles
ex C
anal
, 6.8
6 m
iles
waypoints
# place Mile
1 EGG ROCK 0.00
2 LOWELL ROAD BRIDGE 0.14
3 OLD MANSE 0.52
4 OLD NORTH BRIDGE 0.60
5 THE MINUTE MAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
0.75
6 FLINT’S BRIDGE (MONUMENT STREET)
0.80
7 BOUNDARY OF GREAT MEADOWS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
0.94
8 GREAT MEADOWS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE LANDING
1.65
9 CONCORD IMPOUNDMENTS
1.70
10 BALL’S HILL 2.66
11 BEAVER DAM 3.10
12 CARLISLE-BEDFORD BRIDGE
4.82
13 TWO BROTHERS ROCK 5.47
14 ROUTE 4 NASHUA ROAD BILLERICA
6.70
15 RESIDENTIAL BEACHES 7.14
16 JUG ISLAND 7.88
17 ROUTE 3 BRIDGE 8.12
18 RIVER STREET BRIDGE 9.18
19 ROUTES 3A AND 129 BILLERICA
10.28
20 BILLERICA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
10.52
21 POLLARD STREET BRIDGE
11.17
22 FORDWAY BAR 11.50
23 MIDDLESEX CANAL 11.68
River mileage represents mileage from the source.
The Concord River Boater’s Trail
North
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34
56
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9
10
11
12
13
14
16
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17
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19
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21
22
23
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SUDBURYASSABET&CONCORD
STEWARDSHIPCOUNCIL
RIVER
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WILD & SCENIC