Kayak 3 Rivers in 5 Miles - Merrimack, Spicket and Shawsheen

View Shawsheen and Spicket Rivers in a larger map

At the end of last season I attempted to paddle upstream on the Merrimack River to the mouths of the Spicket and Shawsheen Rivers.  They are on opposite sides of the river about 2 miles upstream from where I put in at Schruender Park in Methuen.  On my last attempt the water level was too low so I was only able to look from a distance at these rivers.  Over the last couple weeks we have gotten quite a bit of rain which seems to have replenished the river levels quite a bit.  So I decided this past Sunday to make another attempt to paddle upstream on the Shawsheen and Spicket rivers.

I strapped my kayak to my cart nice and early and hiked down the street to my put in at Schruender Park in Methuen.   As expected the water levels were higher that they were a few weeks ago and after just a few minutes of paddling against the current I could feel it in my arms.  But I pushed through it and continued about 2 miles upstream to the mouth of the Spicket River.  I was glad to see that there was indeed enough water flowing so I would be able to paddle upstream for at least a short distance.  I was pretty disturbed by the amount of trash deposited along the banks, tires, auto parts, appliances, pretty sad actually.   

Mouth of the Spicket River

After paddling about 200 yards upstream I encountered a sand bar that I needed to portage over and another 100 yards or so I encountered another shallow portion that I considered portaging over as well but looking upstream it looked like I would be doing more portaging than paddling so I decided to turn around , head back downstream and see what the Shawsheen River had to offer.  There were a couple interesting features in this section of the Spicket river.  First being the discharge waterfall of the lawrence canal.  The seconsd was the very large pipe that ran under the Canal Street bridge.  Not sure wat that pipe carries or once carried but it was huge.  I was a bit disappointed that I was only able to paddle about 300 yards upstream but I was glad to have at least done that.

Lawrence Canal discharge

Upstream toward Canal Street Bridge

Under the Canal Street Bridge looking downstream

The mouth of the Shawsheen river is interesting in that in order to get through it you need to paddle through a 200 yard tunnel.  There are actually three tunnels side by side so you have a choice of which one to paddle through.  I sat in front of them for a few minutes contemplating if I really wanted to paddle through and if so which one.  Finally I decided to just pick the one in the middle and went for it.  I have to say it was pretty damn creepy.  You at least have the light at the other end of the tunnel to guide you but when you get to the 100 yard mark it is very dark.  At one point my paddle caught on something which felt like something pulling on, this really freaked me out.  Needless to say I picked up the pace and eventually made it to the other end and daylight.

Tunnels at the mouth of the Shawsheen River

Daylight!!!! Other side of the tunnel

After paddling through the tunnel I was able to paddle another 250 or so yards until I encountered some rocks and quick water just under the Haverhill commuter rail bridge.  Not feeling much in the mood for any more portaging I turned around headed back downstream through the same middle tunnel I came through and headed for home.  The trip back through the tunnel was uneventful but no less creepy.

End of the line on the Shawsheen River

On the way home I decided to hug the shoreline a bit in hopes of another bald eagle sighting, I was not to be disappointed.  About a mile downstream a beautiful mature bald eagle took off from a branch above my head.  I did not have my camera ready but I watched as he soared a few hundred yards downstream and flew into the trees.  So I readied my camera and continued hugging the shore paddling downstream just in case he decided to surprise me again.  Just as I was thinking I missed him he popped out just above my head again but I had my camera ready this time.  Not a great shot but if you click on the picture below you can see the white on his tail.

Total mileage of this trip was about 5 miles and I was on the water for just under 2 hours.  I was really hoping to be able to paddle further upstream on the Spicket and Shawsheen Rivers but I am beginning to think it may only be possible in the early Spring.  Overall a nice little trip the highlight being my second trip of the year seeing a bald eagle.

Spicket River Kayak Trip- Methuen MA to Salem NH

View Spicket in a larger map

The Spicket River is a tributary of the Merrimack River that, according to Wikipedia, starts at Island Pond in Derry NH and empties into the Merrimack River in Lawrence MA.  I tried to use google maps to follow the river to its source but I seem to lose it somewhere around the Rockingham Mall in Salem.

I have tried twice to paddle upstream in the Merrimack River from Methuen to the mouth of the Spicket River but have yet to make it.  My first attempt was one of my first paddling trips and I simply tired out before I got there.  My second attempt I made it a little further but this time was turned away by wind from incoming thunderstorms.  I realize that even if I do make it to the mouth of the Spicket I may not get very far as there are a series of dams upstream that severely restrict the flow of the river and require portaging.  But I will take another shot at it soon.

 In the meantime I have been asking around about putting in upstream of the dams in hopes of exploring the area.  I got in touch with Joyce Godsey, President of the Methuen Rail Trail Alliance who offered to take me on a tour of the area.  I had the pleasure of getting out in the water with Joyce a couple weeks ago for an early morning tour.  Joyce and her group are doing a great job of cleaning up the area and attracting some interest.  Unfortunately I did not bring my camera for the tour so I headed out this weekend in the late afternoon and the wildlife was still very active.

Put in on Pine St

Old Rail Trestle

We put in behind an industrial building at the end of Pine Street in Methuen.  The launch site is a little rocky but fine for a kayaker or a canoe.  The paddle was upstream but there was no current to speak of on the Spicket so it was a very easy paddle.  From the put in heed upstream to the left and you will pass under a low rail bridge, it is a little tight but you can pass through on the left or right side.  The initial part of this trip requires navigating some very sharp turns along a fairly narrow portion of the river.  This area is also the beginning on the Nevins Bird Sanctuary.  You will see various species of birds in this area along with beavers and other small rodents.  After paddling for about a half mile you will pass under Route 213 twice and the river will curve to the left and then straighten out.  At the beginning of this straightaway if you look to the right there is a heron rookery where you will see at least a half-dozen nesting herons.

First Heron Sighting

Heron Rookery

What is he doing here?

This unnaturally straight part of the river runs alongside route 93 for a few miles which is a harsh reminder that you are not too far from civilization.  I believe the straightness of this part of the river is due to a retrenching when route 93 was built.  Kind of sad actually.  At the beginning of the straight portion there is a sandbar on the right hand side so you will need to stay to the left.  We followed this straight section for about a mile into Salem NH where we came upon a large tree across the river that would have required portaging.  At this point is was getting pretty warm out so we turned around and headed back.  On my second trip out I investigated the tree blocking the river a little closer.  I actually think if I had tried hard enough I could have gotten by without portaging, but there was a pretty large debris field behind the tree with some fairly stagnant smelly water that scared me off.  The total length of this trip was 4 miles round trip.  There is a little pollution in the river that left a ring of muck around the waterline of my kayak and required some scrubbing with soap and water.  But I am told that the river is slowly getting cleaner with wildlife returning in the last couple decades so it can't be too bad.  Hopefully with a little more interest cleanup will continue and the Spicket River will be discovered be more paddlers.

Straight Portion of the River

End of the Line

This is not the most challenging kayak trip i have taken, the highlight of this trip is really the wildlife.  It is not often that you can sneak up on a Great Blue Heron fishing for lunch.  A large portion of the river is pretty well shaded so you won't be sitting directly in the sun for most of the trip, which is nice.  If you want to spend a couple hours relaxing in the water checking out the wildlife this is a trip for you.