Boston Kayaker

Kayaking on Blackstone River and Riverdale Pond - in Northbridge MA


Rating: One-and-a-Half Stars - Very pleasant paddle into an undeveloped and wild stretch of Blackstone River. I paddled upriver for 1+ mile past the railroad bridge then I hit some fast water that convinced me to turn around. This round trip paddle took me 1 hour and 1 minute.

  Put in at Riverdale Street
  in Northbridge MA
Paddle upriver to Sutton Street
  bridge and return.
Estimated round trip
  distance = 2+ miles
Fast
  water
Riverdale Mills
  Dam

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

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Kayaking on Blackstone River and Riverdale Pond - in Northbridge MA

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Number of original photos on this page : 65
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At Riverdale Mills on Riverdale Street in Northbridge MA. Trip date is June 2014.


The Mill at Riverdale
The granite sections of this mill were built by Sylvanus Holbrook in 1852.
It was in this building that scythes were first mass-produced.
During the Civil War the facilities were expanded & used to make bayonets for the Union Army.
After that war, the Whitin family produced woolen cloth until 1910 when the Kupfer Brothers began to produce specialty coated papers.
In 1979 restoration of the site was begun.
The facilities are presently used to produce steelwire for commercial fishing, farming, aquaculture & industrial use.





There is a picnic bench and a small area here but the banks are a bit too steep for me so I launched nearer the dam.





Boston Kayaker just launched on Riverdale Pond in Northbridge MA.


Paddling north.











Swans on Riverdale Pond.











I will try to follow the river bank on my right.








Now entering the narrower Blackstone River.














Route 122 / Providence Road bridge ahead.








Passing under the Route 122 bridge.





Coming up next is the Sutton Street bridge.


This part of Blackstone River near the roads and bridges are developed.





Passing under the Sutton Street bridge.


Not sure if this is a rail bridge or foot bridge.


Just past the rail bridge is this fast water in front of me.


Too hard to paddle against, I got out of my kayak and rested in the island.


I tried to paddle against the flow but was not very effective.
In this picture, I just turned around and now paddling back with the river flow.


Now on my way back, will pass under this rail bridge and then under Sutton Street bridge.





Under Sutton Street bridge.














Under Route 122 bridge.

















A wind sock.














Now back to the wider section of Riverdale Pond.














The same pair of swans I saw earlier.








I can now see the whole Riverdale Mills building.


Landed. I paddled on Riverdale Pond and Blackstone River for 1 hour and 1 minute.


The Riverdale Dam on Blackstone River.


Blacktone River below the Riverdale Dam.