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Esmond Park Portage

41° 52.743' N    71° 30.142' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Map Server   Acme Maps

Google Maps is the mapping system used on the new ExploreRI mapper and shows the access site located on a terrain view, a street map or an aerial photograph. Clicking on this link will take you to the full Google Maps website, which is not part of ExploreRI.
Map Server shows a topographic map of the area. The Map Server website is not part of ExploreRI.org.
Acme Maps shows the access site located on a topographic map. The Acme Maps website is not part of ExploreRI.org.

This site is a portage. This typically means there either is no road access to this location or that the site is not recommended as a launching site for some other reason. The portage may be around a dam, whitewater, or some other obstruction.

Description & Overview:

While this site could be used as a put-in or take-out it is primarily of note as a portage. There is little point in putting in here since the short section of river between here and the head of Graystone Mill Pond is not very interesting (being mostly a grass-line channel in front of Benny's) and if your main goal is to paddle on Graystone Mill Pond, the put-in at Cricket Park is a much better choice.

If approaching Esmond Park from above, coming down the river from Whipple Field or Georgiaville, you should have stopped first at Esmond Park, before getting on the river, to look at the portage options at Esmond Dam. This dam is in the park, just above the footbridge over the river and is less than a foot high. 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 (but the river above and below here is likely to be too shallow to paddle when the water level is that low). At intermediate water levels a portage around the dam may be necessary (but not easy depending on the exact water level).

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: Esmond Park is on Route 104/Waterman Avenue/Farnum Pike just north of the junction with Esmond Street. If you are just making a quick stop here by car there is parking along Route 104, just go far enough north up Route 104 to reach the area where there is parking space along the side of the road. For a longer stop, continue up Route 104 to the parking area for the Esmond Park on the left, just after the bridge.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: dam, whitewater, flatwater/slow moving river, pond

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: Portage

ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no

Shoreline: grass, gravel, marsh and earth

Float/Dock: no

Parking:

Parking: on street

Nearby Amenities:

Public Restrooms: No

Ecological, Cultural & Recreational Attractions:

Esmond Park is a small but pleasant park along the Woonasquatucket River. If you want to spend some time here enjoying the park, there is a parking area just up Route 104 on the left and a nice walking path from there down along the river to the footbridge over the river and the lower part of the park.

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The data on this website come from many sources, including volunteers and organizations across the state of Rhode Island and nearby parts of Massachusetts. We have done our best to make sure the data are accurate and up to date, but any information critical to the success of your trip should be confirmed before you start. The maps and information on this website should not be substituted for nautical charts, topographic maps, or other more detailed maps and guides. We welcome corrections and additions. To send a correction or provide other feedback, please use our feedback form (see link above).

This site report was last updated on February 10, 2009

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