River Bend Farm

42° 5.652' N    71° 37.39' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Map Server   Acme Maps

This is a site for launching hand-carried boats such as canoes or kayaks.

Description & Overview:

This site provides great access to a 1 1/4 mile long section of the Blackstone Canal that can be explored by canoe or kayak. There are a couple of ponds on the canal, the largest being the pond at River Bend Farm, so it is not all straight canal paddling. You can get to the river from either end of the canal, which also makes it possible to do a loop trip down the river and then back up the canal. See the description for the put-in at Rice City Pond for more details on the river in this area.

This site provides access to the following water bodies in the Blackstone River watershed: Blackstone Canal.

Location:

Alternate Site Name: Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park

Town: Uxbridge

Nearest Town Center: Uxbridge, MA

Driving Landmarks: From Route 122 go east on "Hartford Avenue East" for 1 mile. Turn right onto Oak Street, where there are is state park sign and a "visitor center" sign. Go 0.1 miles down Oak Street and look for Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park/River Bend Farm Visitors Center on your left.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: canal

Note: Because one boat launch can access, say, both a lake and a river or both the upstream and downstream portions of a river, not all paddling trips at a given site will necessarily encounter all of the features listed.

Type of Access: Boat launch for hand carried boats

ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no

Shoreline: sand

Float/Dock: low float or dock

Approximate Length of Carry between Car Access and Water: 50 feet

Hours of Operation: sunrise to sunset

Parking:

Parking: yes: 200 spaces

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? yes

Nearby Amenities:

Public Restrooms: Yes, at the visitors center

Sources for More Information:

AMC River Guide: 4th Edition, page 151-152

Website: Blackstone Heritage Corridor National Park - Get On the River Page, with links to an excellent set of paddling maps and related information

Website: MA DCR website for the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park

Ecological, Cultural & Recreational Attractions:

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park has extensive walking trails, historical information, picnic tables and other interesting attractions. See the website (link below) for more details.

Photographs:

The Put-in at River Bend Farm

Photography by: Bruce Hooke

Date of Photograph: September 18, 2020

This photograph was made during a drought when the water level was unusually low.

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