Plummer's Landing

42° 7.733' N    71° 38.207' 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:

WARNING: As a result of changes in the river's course described below this section of the river should only be paddled by adventurous paddlers willing to deal with many downed trees across the river.

To get to the river walk east through the small park and look for a path leading to the river and to a set of steps down to the water. Watch out for poison ivy along the path and on the river banks.

The river from Plummer's Landing to Rice City Pond has many twists and turns and many sections of quickwater. Strainers (trees in the river) are common as is poison ivy on the banks. The difficulty level of this section of the river increases as the river level rises. The last two miles in Rice City Pond are on flatwater.

1/2 mile below Plummer's Landing you will see rock rip-rap in front of you. At this point the river used to split into two channels. The old canal was the right fork and the original river channel was the left fork. The left fork was recommended because there were many trees down across the old canal. However, at most water levels all the water now flows down the old canal, leaving the old river channel dry. There are still many trees down across the old canal so to continue down the old canal you'll have to find your way over, under or around these trees. When the river is high it may still be possible to paddle down the old river channel.

If you can find your way past all the fallen trees you will get to Rice City Pond where the river opens up into a broad wetland with various side channels. When you approach the stone arch bridge at the south end of the pond take the right arch, which leads under the bridge to a small backwater where there is a good takeout. The left arches, on the other hand, lead to a 6 foot waterfall over the dam!

The river from Plummer's Landing to Rice City Pond runs between forested banks with no houses or other buildings to be seen. As you come into Rice City Pond the shoreline changes to marshland but buildings are still nowhere to be seen.

The Blackstone Valley Heritage Corridor has produced an excellent paddling map of the Blackstone from Plummer's Landing to River Bend Farm. This map (along with other maps for other parts of the river below River Bend Farm) are available for download from the park website (see link below). These maps are highly recommended for paddling this section of the Blackstone River, however, note that map was made before the change in the river's course described above.

NOTE: There are ongoing issues with pollution in the Blackstone River. Great strides have been made in cleaning up the river relative to where it was a generation or two ago but you are still likely to see trash in the river and under some conditions the water may have a noticeable odor.

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

Location:

Alternate Site Name: Chuch Street

Town: Northbridge

Nearest Town Center: Plummer's Corner

Driving Landmarks: From Route 122 take Church Street east for 0.4 miles to Plummer's Landing Park. Look for a blue sign on the right for "Plummer's Landing" and don't be mislead by the small dirt pull-out 100 feet before the main park parking lot. The main lot is a large gravel parking lot with picnic tables beyond it in the woods. There is a sign saying "canoe access" at the side of the parking lot.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: 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: Boat launch for hand carried boats

ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no

Shoreline: sand and a little mud

Float/Dock: no

Approximate Length of Carry between Car Access and Water: 200 feet

Parking:

Parking: yes: 20 spaces

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? no

Nearby Amenities:

Public Restrooms: There are lots of stores at the corner of Church Street and Route 122, 0.4 miles east of Plummer's Landing, so restrooms should not be hard to find there.

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

Ecological, Cultural & Recreational Attractions:

Plummer's Landing is a nice little park with picnic tables, nice views of the river, and a walking trail that starts at the back of the parking lot.

Photographs:

Sign for Plummer's Landing

Photography by: Bruce Hooke

Date of Photograph: November 3, 2008

This view shows the sign for Plummer's Landing, with the parking lot beyond. The river is in the woods on the other side of the parking lot.

View Upriver from the New Put-In

Photography by: Blackstone River Watershed Association

Date of Photograph: October 14, 2011

View Downriver from the New Put-In

Photography by: Blackstone River Watershed Association

Date of Photograph: October 14, 2011

Looking downriver from the new put-in at Plummer's Landing. The parking lot is in the background on the right.

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