Boston Kayaker

Kayaking on Blackstone Canal and Blackstone River - in Lincoln RI Rating: Two-and-a-Half Stars - This would have been an excellent route with an extra full star if not for long portages. You paddle north on the canal and paddle back on the river giving you different scenery each way. The river was moving and was a breeze. Good thing I had my two boys do portages for me on this trip. They biked the Blackstone bike trail just beside the canal. Good combination!   Put in at at Blackstone Canal   off Front Street in Lincoln RI. Paddle north on   Blackstone Canal. Portage at Kelly Museum 120+   feet from canal to river. Paddle downstream   on Blackstone River.   Take out on river right   before Pratt Dam. Portage 400+ feet   to parking lot. Estimated round trip   distance = 4+ miles Kelly's Museum   of Transportation   Ashton Dam Pratt Dam Front Street   Parking   Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to determine the legality, suitability and safety of this route for yourself.

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Other resources: National Park Service: Blackstone River and Canal Guide National Park Service: Blackstone River and Canal Guide (cached copy) National Park Service: Blackstone River Valley Explore RI's Blueways and Greenways: Kelly House Museum Access Number of original photos on this page : 82 All photos in this website are original and copyrighted. Trip date is June 2012. The put in is by the footbridge over the canal. I will paddle to the left northwards passing under the foot bridge. The Blackstone bike trail is parallel to the canal mostly and always on my right. My three kids are biking along side me. A turtle on Blackstone Canal. Turtle close up. Out of the tree. Martin Street Bridge over the Blackstone Canal. Rock walls . . . A take out on the canal behind Kelly's Museum. I figured out later that I should have landed about 50+ feet further up for less portage. Landed on my right within sight of the Kelly's Museum. The back of Kelly's Museum. This is the footbridge over the canal and is a better take out. My two boys portaging the kayak into the Blackstone River beside Kelly's Museum. Water is fast moving on this launch section. Looking back north, the Route 116 aqueduct. Now facing south downstream, water is fast moving here. Martin Street Bridge over the Blackstone River. Fast moving water ahead. Riding the flow. Danger Sign. Warning for Pratt Dam. The Pratt Dam is cordoned off with these red buoys. The Boston Kayaker's sons and portage boys. Must portage over the bike path over Pratt Dam. The arches outlet of Pratt Dam. It's 300+ feet portage from take out to parking lot. This is the footbrige over the canal where I started the trip. Whole trip is about two and a half hours.