Boston Kayaker

Kayaking on Charles River - from Norfolk MA to Millis MA


Rating: Two-and-a-Half Stars - This route is runnable only when the water is flowing over the rocks in the spring. The put in is less than a mile from the Boston Kayaker's residence. Nice to go over the small rapids! Short but fun trip. This is definitely a one-way paddling.

  Put in at River Road
  in Norfolk MA.
Take out at Forest Road
  in Millis MA.
Estimated distance
  = 3 miles
Cedariver
  Reservation
  Rapids. Scout from
  the bridges.
Rapids not runnable during
  summer / low water levels.
Mill River enters on river
  right via small culvert.
 

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

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Kayaking on Charles River - from Norfolk MA to Millis MA

Other resources:
Charles River Watershed Association
On The Charles
The Trustees of Reservations: Cedariver Reservation (formerly Baker Reservation)


Number of original photos on this page : 116
All photos in this website are original and copyrighted.



At the Charles River at the River Road in Norfolk MA put in. Trip date May 2012.


Mill River immediately enters on river right after launch.


After I round this bend I should see the first bridge at Myrtle Street.


There's the bridge. I had my wife wait on the bridge to take pictures of me.


Picture taken by the Boston Kayaker's wife.





Should be my last photo before the first set of rapids.





























The next bridge at Pleasant Street.


The rapids just before the Pleasant Street bridge. Picture taken by my wife.


Here comes the Boston Kayaker again!


























Cann't resist turning back to take a picture of my beautiful wife.
































The third bridge at Route 115.


Oh I can see my wife by the river side. :)























There is a passage on the right.




















A couple on a bench on Cedariver Reservation (formerly Baker Reservation).











The other one jumped into the water . . .








The fourth bridge at Forest Road in Millis MA. The take out is just after this bridge.





There is the take out parking area and there is my truck.





The Boston Kayaker has landed.


Forest Road landing.





The pictures below are from a differnt trip March 17, 2012 around 2pm.


Just launched from the Forest Road access and now paddling upriver.


Paddled to the right upstream direction from launch.


The Forest Road bridge. I will go under and thru.


A downed tree. Problem maybe?


OK there is a clear path thru. . . continue . . .


Paddling against the slow current.


As it is March and still technically in the winter season, sprouting leaves will be many weeks away


Big house by the river.


The CedaRiver sign on river right just after the bend from the Forest Road bridge.





Look at this tree! The busy beavers are eating away at its trunk . . . !


A beaver's signature work.


Here is the beaver lodge for the resident beaver.


Sunbathing turtle.


Turtle.





Three brothers in a canoe.


The father and daughter in another canoe.





Now this looks like we may have a problem!


Let's get closer . . .


I can see my way . . . :)





I am right in this tree looking to my right.


Ok continuing upriver south.


Here are the rapids just before the Route 115 bridge. This is the point of return.


I am now on my way back and paddling downstream north.











Here is the same tree on the river now on the way back.


Easy. . . Easy does it!


There is my way out.











Duck.


There's that turtle a few inches underwater that just got in as I am approaching.


Picnic bench on CedaRiver Reservation.











This is Forest Road. My launch site is on the other side of the road.





Coming back under the Forest Road bridge again.


Back to where I started. Round trip was a little over 2 hours.





The launch/take out spot.