Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Water Trails

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are non-native plants and animals that are present in our lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. The presence of AIS can be very destructive to native ecosystems, make enjoyment of waterbodies difficult, and have economic impacts.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) provides good information about the spread of AIS  here . Invasive species spread by humans through:

• Boats and boat trailers: plant fragments stuck to boats (including bilge water), motors, trailers, and gear (paddling and fishing) can create new infestations in the next waterbody visited
• Bait or bait buckets
• Aquarium and water garden disposal
• Intentional planting by property owners

Some aquatic invasive species (AIS) are widespread in the watershed, and others are located in just a few waterbodies. Even small fragments of plants or a few tiny mollusk larvae transported to another waterbody can start a new infestation.  Be aware that Chapman Pond in Westerly is infested with multiple species found nowhere else in the watershed, so extra care must be exercised after visiting there.

From RI DEM, here are steps YOU can take to prevent the spread of AIS:

• Inspect and clean. Examine your boat and trailer before and after any use. Carefully remove any mud, plant or animal material before transporting your boat, gear and equipment.
• Allow time to dry. Clean and dry anything that came in contact with the water (boat, trailers, recreational equipment, clothing, dogs, etc.)
• Isolate and drain. Empty water from boat wells and motors far away from lakes and rivers.
• Discard into trash. Dispose any unused bait into proper garbage receptacles; do not empty bait buckets into the water.
• Prevent releases. Avoid disposing plants, fish or animals from aquariums or water gardens into local water bodies.

• Possible Portages
• Intermediate/Advanced: 3.3 miles, plus 1.5 to 2 miles in Worden Pond
• Beginner: A nice out and back paddle in either direction from Taylor's Landing
• Intermediate: A nice out and back paddle from RIDEM fishing access on Worden Pond Rd.

Paddling the Chipuxet River to Worden Pond is a beautiful 3.3 mile adventure through the Great Swamp, ending with an additional 1.5 to 2 mile (or so) open water paddle across Worden Pond to either take out at the RIDEM Fishing Access (1.5 miles) or continue on to the Pawcatuck River (2 miles). You will likely encounter several substantial beaver dams along the Chipuxet which vary in difficulty getting over. In spring and summer the wildflowers are truly spectacular.

Put in at Taylor’s Landing in Kingston, on the south side of Rt. 138 just west of the Rt. 110 traffic signal. Take care to avoid poison ivy at the beginning of the paddle. In about 0.6 mile, the South County Bike Path passes overhead. There is usually a substantial beaver dam under the bike path, with a water drop of a few inches to possibly over a foot. The narrow stream then winds through the open marshland of the Great Swamp Management Area for another 2.7 miles to Worden Pond. If you plan to take out, keep along the east side of the pond for about 1.5-2 miles (usually against a strong SW wind, so check wind/weather conditions before you go). Take out at the RIDEM fishing access on Worden Pond Rd.

An alternative from Taylor's Landing is an out-and-back paddle heading upstream, under the Rt. 138 bridge (if the water level is low enough), 1.7 miles each way as far as Hundred Acre Pond. You are likely to encounter at least one beaver dam, which can be a challenge to haul kayaks/canoes over going upstream. It is an interesting and pretty paddle.

The Pawcatuck River from Worden Pond to the Westerly Municipal Boat Ramp is about 29.5 miles. From the Westerly Boat Ramp to the Barn Island Boat Ramp in Connecticut is an additional 6.3 miles. The river starts off very narrow and sinuous and ends in a wide open tidal estuary, with sections of swamp, marsh, and wide open river in between.

This page is an overview of the entire Pawcatuck River. We have broken up the Pawcatuck River into seven paddling sections here, from each point at which the river can be accessed by paddlers to the next access point. Scrolling down will bring you to detailed descriptions of each individual section. Heading upstream and back to the starting point from many of these accesses are lovely paddles that avoid shuttling cars.

• Possible portages
• Intermediate/Advanced: 2.3 miles (river section only)
• Beginner: An easy out and back paddle from Biscuit City upstream into the Great Swamp or downstream as far as the lip of the Kenyon Rock Ramp

This section of the Pawcatuck River is beautiful and interesting, but is challenging due to its extremely sinuous nature, susceptibility to fallen trees blocking passage, and beaver dams. It can be paddled several ways: as a continuation of a paddle down the Chipuxet River, as an upstream-and-back paddle from Biscuit City Landing, or by leaving one car at the RIDEM launch on Wordens Pond Rd. and another car at Biscuit City Landing. The paddle across Worden Pond from either the end of the Chipuxet or the RIDEM launch is about 1.5 to 2 miles and can be extremely windy.

To continue to the Pawcatuck River from the mouth of the Chipuxet, follow the north shore of Worden Pond to the Stony Point camp site. From there go west across open water. The obscure entrance to the Pawcatuck lies in the cove south of Case Point, about 0.3 mile north of the last cottage. If you come in sight of the location of former seaplane hanger, now just a concrete "U" on the shore of the pond, you are too far north. This 2 mile crossing can be difficult against a strong west wind.

To access the Pawcatuck from the RIDEM fishing access on Wordens Pond Rd., paddle west about 1.5 straight across, or 2 miles along the south shore, looking for the entrance to the Pawcatuck. With a westerly wind, the crossing can be rough.

Once in the river the swamp surrounds you. The current is steady but the channel is narrow and very, very sinuous. Beware of overhanging poison ivy. At about 3 miles the Usquepaugh River enters from the right, doubling the flow. Follow along the railroad embankment several hundred yards. Paddle up the backwater on the right (this can be hard to see), pass under the railroad tracks, and take out at the RIDEM Biscuit City Landing fishing access.

Alternatively, starting at Biscuit City Landing and paddling upstream as far as desired is a fun adventure. In spring and summer, the wildflowers in this section are spectacular.

• Two or three portages depending on skill/comfort level
• Intermediate/Advanced: 2.0 miles
• Beginner: An easy out and back paddle from Biscuit City upstream into the Great Swamp or downstream as far as the lip of the Kenyon Rock Ramp

The put in is just north of the Rte. 2 railroad overpass. Turn east on Kenyon Schoolhouse Rd., then right at the intersection to RIDEM's Biscuit City Landing. Launch and follow the narrow channel under the railroad tracks to the river, then turn right downstream. The dam at Kenyon has been replaced with a rock ramp – a series of pools with boulder walls. This can be run by finding the center notch in the dam, then aiming toward the opening in the boulders. It can also be portaged to the left. The river then passes through Kenyon Mill.

The beautiful horseshoe dam at Shannock still needs to be portaged to the left, at the sign. Use caution here because the take out is close to the lip of the dam. Cross Shannock Rd. and put in on the left bank, below a parking area.

The river now has several small sections of class I rapids. At low water levels these may need to be walked.

The third dam at Lower Shannock has been removed, but the resulting rapids require skill to run successfully. All others should take out at the portage path on the right. To get into good position make sure to hug the right bank after you round a large boulder--otherwise the current may carry you into the rapids. Carry along the path 100 yards to the put-in below the rapids at the path’s end if you are continuing downriver.

• One portage/transport to avoid class II rapids if desired
• Intermediate/Advanced: 3.5 miles
• Beginner: A pleasant out and back paddle upstream from Jay Cronan Access

Put in at Railroad St. off Shannock Village Rd., right bank, below the rapids. The 1.7 miles to Carolina is an easy, pleasant paddle.

The wooded shoreline becomes marshy just before the Rt. 112 bridge. The constricted channel beneath the bridge, known as “The Mousehole,” marks the head of 200 yards of class II whitewater that cannot be portaged.

Below the rapids the river runs smoothly for almost 2 miles to a small dam at the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association's (WPWA’s) Jay Cronan Fishing Access below Rt. 91 in Richmond. Take out above the dam at the right bank.

• Zero or one portage depending on skill/comfort level
• Intermediate/Advanced: 8.6 miles
• Beginner: A pleasant out and back paddle upstream from Bradford to below Burdickville Dam

Put in at the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association’s Jay Cronan Fishing Access below Rt. 91 in Richmond. A small dam and water level gauging station are located here. Downstream the river runs deep and the banks are pleasantly wooded. At 1.5 miles the river passes under Kings Factory Rd. Just before the Kings Factory Rd. bridge is a river access on the left, which is off of the parking lot for Francis Carter Preserve on Kings Factory Rd.

Two miles farther downstream the Wood River enters from the right, doubling the size of the river. When you see a large boulder in the middle of the river, you are approaching the confluence of the two rivers.

One mile more brings you to the broken dam at Burdickville. The only egress here is on the left, immediately upstream of the dam, or you may run it in the fast water right of center, close to the little masonry “island.” Only at high water should the dam be run down the middle.

Four more miles brings you to Bradford. You can take out at the RIDEM landing ramp and parking area on the left, or continue on to Potter Hill Dam.

• Zero or one portage depending on skill/comfort level and water level
• Intermediate/Advanced: 7.2 miles
• This section is friendly for beginners if portaging around the Bradford dams

Put in at the RIDEM landing ramp and parking area across Rt. 91 from Bradford mill. The river passes under Rt. 91 and almost immediately there is a series of low dams. Portage out and then in via the steep bank on river right. Experienced paddlers may navigate through the center notches in the dams.

Downstream of the dams the river meanders through open marsh for 1 mile. Take out on the left above the Potter Hill bridge and dam at the small Flora Wheatley Preserve--parking is available at the RIDEM property on Post Office Ln. across the street. People have died trying to run this dam--please do not attempt it.

If you are continuing downstream, put in at the RIDEM property at the end of Post Office Ln., just to the west of the river.

• One possible portage
• Intermediate/Advanced: 5.8 miles
• One section of class II rapids, plus a tidal section

Put in at the RIDEM property at the end of Post Office Ln., just to the west of the river.

From Ashaway to Little Narragansett Bay, the river is the boundary between Rhode Island and Connecticut. Put in at public parking area on river left at the end of Post Office Ln. Upstream is Potter Hill Mill and dam.

This is a beautiful, bucolic section of the river. After passing under Boombridge Rd. it is about 1.5 mile to the former dam at White Rock.

A dirt road across from Gingerella Sports Complex provides informal access to the river and a good starting point for an easy out and back paddle upstream (blue dot).

A remnant dam at Stillman Ave. can be run down the millrace to the left, about 200 yards of class II whitewater (yellow diamond in the map). To avoid the whitewater, lift across the dam on the right bank at the willow tree.

You are now in tidal water. Below the dam the river runs through downtown Westerly, RI on your left and Pawcatuck, CT on your right, with interesting views of commercial buildings. Take out river right 50 yards below bridge at Donahue Park or 300 yards below on river left’s Westerly Boat Ramp. Both have limited parking.

• No portages
• Intermediate/Advanced: 6.3 miles (blue line shown on map)
• No portages
• Beginner/Intermediate: A beautiful out and back paddle from Barn Island Ramp exploring the marshes to the east of the ramp

You are now in the tidal estuary where the fresh Pawcatuck River water mixes with salt water from Little Narragansett Bay and the ocean. Use caution, as there are several marinas and a lot of boat traffic during the summer, especially on weekends. It's also a good idea to check the tide and wind conditions, as a strong south or west wind and/or incoming tide can make paddling difficult.

Once out into Little Narragansett Bay, head west toward Barn Island, with Sandy Point on your left (south) and Pawcatuck Point on your right (north). The 6.3 mile distance given above does not include the meanderings through the marshes that you would want to do along the way to see birds and abundant fiddler crabs.

Take out at the Barn Island Boat Ramp, which has a large parking lot but is very busy during summer months.

• 2.4 miles round trip
• No portages

The Queen River from Dugway Bridge Rd. to Glen Rock Reservoir and back is a lovely day paddle appropriate for beginners. There is only room for parking a couple of cars at the put in on Dugway Bridge Rd.

Heading downstream, the river soon shows signs of the presence of a dam, after which the river becomes the Usquepaugh River. Turn around at the dam and head back to the starting point.

Once at Dugway Bridge Rd., take out, or continue upstream a bit into a very sinuous but beautiful section of the river until stopped by a beaver dam or downed tree. This section of the river passes through the Audubon Society's Eppley Preserve, which has no public access.

Note: The Usquepaugh River south of Rt. 138 (Kingstown Rd.) is not maintained and is very wild. There are many poison ivy covered blowdowns, some requiring exiting the boat. Paddling this section of the river is dangerous and is not recommended.

The navigable portion of the Wood River is 19.1 miles from Rt. 165 in Exeter, RI to Bradford Landing on the Pawcatuck River (the first water access after the confluence of the Wood and Pawcatuck Rivers).

The Wood River is a beautiful place to paddle and has sections appropriate for paddlers from beginner through advanced. The river is divided into five sections here, from water access to water access.

• No portages
• Intermediate/Advanced: 3.6 miles
• Class I rapids
• Beginner: A lovely, easy out and back paddle from Barberville/WPWA campus

The Upper Wood River paddle offers the most impressive natural experience of any river in Rhode Island. For several miles paddlers can enjoy the serenity of being surrounded by woods and forest before any houses come into view. This section snakes through many wetland areas, winding continuously to keep paddlers on their toes.

Just after the put-in at Arcadia Management Area Wood River Launch off Rt. 165 in Exeter is a rocky area with a series of class I rapids. These are passable during higher water levels, but boats will scrape the river bottom at low water.

After the confluence with Parris Brook (top orange star in map), bear left at the fork around an island. A tricky set of class I rapids lies just below the fork, with some large rocks and a quick turn to the right at the end.

Deep Hole and The Pines Fishing Accesses (blue dots) have wooden steps leading down to the river, constructed by the Narragansett Chapter of Trout Unlimited to protect the banks from erosion. Both sites can be reached by car from side roads off of Blitzkrieg Trail in Hope Valley and Exeter. Due to the nearby presence of a shooting range, there may be times when loud and frequent gunfire can be heard on this stretch of the river.

The Wood River empties into Frying Pan Pond (next orange star) through three different channels, at least one of which may be blocked by a beaver dam at any given time. This beautiful, large open marsh is prime habitat for many plants and wildlife.

In 0.5 mile, the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association Campus and a public dock for take-outs are both on river right. Paddlers cannot run the Barberville dam or mill race at any water level.

For an easy and lovely trip you can put-in at the dock and paddle upstream to Frying Pan Pond (or beyond) and back. This requires no car shuttling and is perfect for the novice paddler. Ospreys, bald eagles, herons, and many painted turtles have been seen on this short and mellow, but fun and rewarding, paddle.

• One portage
• Intermediate: 2.7 miles

Carefully portage on river right across Arcadia Road to a boardwalk and foot path leading down to the river.

There is a short section of quick water over a rocky area as soon as you reach the main stem of the river.

Cross Wyoming Pond by hugging the left bank of the river to get to the small beach and parking lot area at the Wyoming Fishing Access. This section of the river has large populations of the invasive plant variable milfoil, which can make paddling difficult in mid-summer.

• One portage
• Intermediate: 1.9 miles
• Beginner: A nice out and back paddle from Hope Valley Access downstream to Hope Valley Dam

The Lower Wood River offers lots of scenery, with steep wooded banks covered in mountain laurel, swamp azalea, silky dogwood, and swamp rose. There is very little industry on the river, but the paddler will get to see two mill ruins and three dams. It’s a great area to see wildlife, with osprey nests, beaver lodges, and the ubiquitous painted turtles.

Put in at the Hope Valley Fishing Access located off Rt. 3 in Hope Valley, behind the Dow Little League Baseball Fields. In about one mile, several large boulders in the river indicate the approach to the Hope Valley Dam (red triangle in map). Take out on river right above the dam.

To continue downstream, carefully portage across the bridge and put in on river left, down a step bank. Use caution – this short section is rocky with some quick water.

The USGS gauging weir (blue dot in map, "Tefft" small boat launch) can usually be run at higher water levels. Be prepared for the abrupt drop. Portage on the right if the water level is too low to run the weir.

The Rt. 95 overpass provides great nesting sites for barn and cliff swallows. Look for the Switch Rd. access point on the right shortly after the bridge.

• One portage
• Intermediate: 5.5 miles

The Switch Road Fishing Access is the recommended put-in for this section of the river. From here the river passes under the road and winds through mostly forested areas until it enters a large marsh complex. Black Farm State Management Area (orange star in map) has a wide diversity of habitats for many forms of wildlife. An old railroad bridge abutment (next orange star) is at the end of the extensive wetland and the beginning of the pond above the Woodville Dam. It remains from a spur line that served the mills.

The Woodville Dam must be portaged. Cautiously take-out on river right onto Woodville Road through a small opening in the vegetation on the riverbank. Carefully cross the Woodville Bridge and put in on river left through a small clearing.

The river double backs on itself in 0.5 miles before continuing south. Take a sharp left to continue in the main channel or continue straight into an interesting old mill race that dead ends at the remains of the former Tefft Sawmill (next orange star, plus several photographs at the orange dots).

From this point the river again winds through primarily forested area until it comes out to another marsh and the head of Alton Pond. This section of the river has large populations of the invasive plant variable milfoil, which can make paddling difficult in mid-summer. Take out at the Alton Pond Landing on river right.

• One or two portages (depending on skill/comfort level)
• Intermediate: 5.5 miles
• Beginner: A nice out and back paddle upstream from Bradford

Begin by carefully portaging across Rt. 91 to get around Alton Dam and put in on river right.

The Wood River below Alton Dam is beautiful and placid, but only 0.7 mile. When you reach the Pawcatuck River, you can either turn back to the put-in having finished paddling the Wood River, or continue downstream in the Pawcatuck River to Bradford Landing.

One mile more brings you to the broken dam at Burdickville. The only egress here is on the left, immediately upstream of the dam, or you may run it in the fast water right of center, close to the little masonry “island.” Only at high water should the dam be run down the middle.

Four more miles brings you to Bradford. You can take out at the RIDEM landing ramp and parking area on the left, or continue on to Potter Hill Dam.