Paddling
North of Boston/Merrimack Valley hosts paddling, canoeing, kayaking adventures
5 listings
Andover, MA
Harold Parker State Forest
133 Jenkins Road 508-686-3391The eleven ponds on the large, forested property are open to non-motorized boating, including canoeing and kayaking. No boat rentals.
Topsfield, MA
Bradley Palmer State Park
40 Asbury Street 508-887-5931Ipswich River runs east-west along the northern border of this park, formerly an estate. A kayak and canoe rental business is located just east of the park, on Ipswich Road.
Lowell, MA
Lowell Heritage State Park
160 Pawtucket Boulevard 978-458-8750Boating on the Merrimack River is permitted at this park, which displays the industrial history of the city of Lowell. Boating access to the river is at the Rourke Brothers State Boat Ramp on Route 113. It has 44 trailer lots and 20 car-top lots. The entrance to the ramp is across from 1011 Pawtucket Blvd. and one-half mile west of the Rourke Bridge.
Stoneham, MA
Middlesex Fells Reservation
4 Woodland Road 617-727-1199Natural refuge set on over 2,000 acres. Visitors here can enjoy biking, hiking and cross-country ski trails. Canoeing, fishing, and swimming areas are offered, as well as a visitor's center with historic information. - Trail Map (PDF)
Ipswich, MA
Crane Wildlife Refuge
Essex River Estuary 978-356-4351The Crane Wildlife Refuge is a patchwork of coastal and island habitats that includes a portion of Castle Neck and seven islands in the Essex River Estuary (Choate, Long, Dean, Dilly, Pine, Patterson, and Round). Surrounding the Crane Wildlife Refuge is the Great Marsh, the largest contiguous salt marsh in New England, covering more than 25,000 acres from Hampton Harbor, NH to Gloucester. The largest of the Refuge's islands, Choate Island, supports abundant wildlife, and during the 18th and 19th centuries, Choate Island and Long Island were connected by a causeway, comprising a prosperous farming community.