Whipple Field

41° 53.05' N    71° 30.296' 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:

There is no official put-in here, but the shoreline at the end of the road is suitable for launching hand-carried boats. Paddling conditions on this section of the Woonasquautcket River vary greatly depending on the river level. When the river is high, this can be a nice quickwater run down to Graystone Mill Pond. At low water levels you may be carrying your boat much of the way. This section of the Woonasquatcket is not paddled often so there may be downed trees across the river and other "surprises."

Before putting in here, stop at Esmond Park and look at the low dam there (just above the footbridge) and decide how you plan to portage this dam. When the river is high it is possible to run this dam with care. At low water levels the top of the dam is dry and you may be able to lift your boat right over the dam. At intermediate water levels a portage around the dam may be necessary (but not easy depending on the water level).

Below the dam at Esmond Park things can get a bit brushy before you get to the grass-lined section of river in front of Benny's. Once past Benny's you will very quickly enter the slack water of Graystone Mill Pond, which winds through the woods and suburbs for 1/2 mile before reaching Cricket Park, at the south end of the pond, where the take out is in the woods 200 feet to the right (west) of the dam.

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

Location:

Town: Smithfield

Nearest Town Center: Esmond

Driving Landmarks: From Route 104/Waterman Avenue/Farnum Pike, go east on Whitman Street. This turn is across from Esmond Park and just north of the junction with Esmond Street. On Whitman Street, go 1/10 mile to the stop sign and bear left onto Lincoln Street. Go 150 feet and turn right onto Fernwood Avenue. Go 0.3 miles and turn left into Whipple Field (on Soban Street), just after the junction with Whipple Road. In the park, turn left at the flag poles just inside the entrance to the park and follow the road around the ball fields to the back of the park.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: whitewater

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: gravel, rocks, roots and earth

Float/Dock: no

Approximate Length of Carry between Car Access and Water: 20 feet

Parking:

Parking: yes: no overnight parking

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? no

Nearby Amenities:

Public Restrooms: There are restrooms in the concrete building at the other end of the park but they are likely to be locked unless there is a ball game underway.

Ecological, Cultural & Recreational Attractions:

Whipple Field is a Smithfield town park. It has 5 baseball diamonds and is used for little league games, senior league games, softball games, and so on. The Woonasquatucket River runs along the west side of the park.

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