Boston Kayaker

Kayaking on Fisherville Pond - on Blackstone and Quinsigamond Rivers in Grafton MA


Rating: Two Stars - This route has the combination of the wide open Fisherville Pond and the narrow and winding rivers of the Blackstone River and Quinsigamond River. I first paddled southerly into the Blackston River northern branch and managed to get past Pleasant Street bridge until I hit a rocky and shallow section and turned around. Then went into the southern fork branch of the Blackstone inlet but did not got very far before hitting rushing waters on rocks. Then went back up north past the put in and into Quinsigamond River. Managed to paddle the first breached beaver dam, then slide and landed over the second one. While landed on the beaver dam, I can see a much bigger beaver dam less than 100 feet away and decided to turn around. I paddled this route for just under 2 hours (1 hour and 55 minutes).

  Put in at River View Apartments on
  Providence Road in Grafton MA.
Paddle up on Quinsigamond River
  to beaver dams and return.
Rock gardens
  on Blackstone
Beaver dams on
  Quinsigamond
  Paddle down to Blackstone River
  rock gardens and return.
Estimated round trip
  distance = 4.5+ miles
Saundersville
  Mill Dam
Fisherville Pond
  Dam

Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to determine the legality, suitability and safety of this route for yourself.

Download printer-friendly
PDF version that fits in one page:
Kayaking on Fisherville Pond - on Blackstone and Quinsigamond Rivers in Grafton MA

Other resources:
Explore RI's Greenways and Blueways: Fisherville


Number of original photos on this page : 114
All photos in this website are original and copyrighted.



The launch area into Fisherville Pond at the back of the Riverview Apartmenst off Providence Road in Grafton MA.
Trip date is June 2015.


The put into Fisherville Pond.


The Boston Kayaker just launched into Fisherville Pond.


Paddling straight ahead to the other side.
The middle of Fisherville Pond is filled with aquatic weeds.


Power lines over Fisherville Pond.


Heading for that cove . . .





I see two guys fishing from a boat on this cove that will turn out to be a dead-end cove.


Turned around and now facing southeast.


Will paddle southerly following the shore on my right.





A blue heron flying over Fisherville Pond.


Bending to my right . . .


Ahead of me is a river fork.
To the left is to the Fisherville Pond Dam.
To the right is the Blacksone River merging into Fisherville Pond.


Paddling a bit closer, to my left will be to Fisherville Pond Dam.
I will not paddle this direction today.


To my left is the Blackstone River coming in.
Will veer left into Blackstone.


Entering Blackstone River from Fisherville Pond.















A blue heron in flight over the beautiful Blackstone River.




















Pleasant Street bridge.


Passing under the Pleasant Street bridge over the Blackstone River.





A shallow area.








At this point, there is not enough water to slide my kayak forward.


I decided this is as far as I will go on this Blackstone River fork and turn around.


Just turned around and now paddling with the flow of Blackstone River.





Passing Pleasant Street bridge on the way back.



































I have reached this river fork.
To the left will be downriver to Fisherville Pond.
To the right is the southern fork of the Blackstone River inlet.


Veered to my right to paddle up into the southern fork of the Blackstone River inlet.





At this area, river level is low and current is fast against me.


I parked to the right side to take a rest against the fast current.


This is as far as I can paddle into this Blackstone River inlet.


Just turned around and now with the flow of the Blackstone River.








I have now reached the point where the two Blackstone River forks merge.
I came earlier from that left fork.


Paddling to my right and into the merged stem of the Blackstone River.











I have now reached the other fork where Blackstone meets Fisherville Pond.


To the right is downriver to Fisherville Pond Dam.


Paddled to the left upriver to Fisherville Pond.


A blue heron is watching me from the left bank.



The blue heron takes flight over Fisherville Pond.











I am at the western side of Fisherville Poind I can see the put in spot at the eastern side.


Continuing my northward paddle now past the put in where I came from earlier.








There is this ramp on the other side of the soccer fields behind the Riverview Apartments.





A kayaker fishing on Fisherville Pond.


After bending to the right, now entering the mouth of Quinsigamond River as it empties into Fisherville Pond.




















The current is fast here just below the first breached beaver dam on Quinsigamond River.
I have to land and take a break on this downed tree after paddling against the strong current.


With determination and will paddle, got past that and now continuing my increasingly difficult paddle against the current of Quinsigamond River.


Another beaver dam!


Paddled straight into the beaver dam and landed on it.


While resting on my landed kayak, I can see ahead a much bigger beaver dam!


Beaver dam on Quinsigamond River.



Looking to my left while still resting on top of the beaver dam.
Decided this is as far as I will go on the Quinsigamond and will turn around.


Just turned around and now I am just flowing with the current of Quinsigamond River.





The first breached beaver dam I have to paddle against earlier.

















I can now see the main body of Fisherville Pond.


Just entered the Fisherville Pond from Quinsigamond River.








Will follow the shore on my left to the take out where I started.


The boat ramp into Fisherville Pond.

















There is my landing spot.


Landed. I was on Fisherville Pond, to Blackstone River and back,
then up into Quinsigamond River and back in 1 hour and 55 minutes total.