Assabet

I wanted to comment because there haven't been any updates for a few years on this river. I brought my kids down it in a canoe (Rogue River 14' - a giant slow plastic canoe). I ran it last sprint in the canoe during snow melt season around 5' and it was wild. Good sized rapids, not stuck anywhere, the whole trip was 20-30 minutes. We got up to 11 mph according to a GPS we carried with us. There were a couple down trees that posed hazards that were avoidable and once we slammed hard into a bridge. It was a great time.

We ran it again 6/15/17 and the gauge height was 2.39 - below recommended. Scratchy isn't the right word, we got stuck a few times. I had to get out and push the boat. Rapids were exciting for the children and not overwhelming. The water was very warm to stand in. Great trip. I'll watch and go again after rain, it is really a good time if you live in the area. I live about 15 minutes away.

Parking note - On weekends the building at the dam appears closed/no one is parked in back. I parked there with no problem. Weekday there were people around but lot was still mostly empty. I look for the no river access sign but didn't see it until we were leaving. It is still posted but has been bent over. No one said anything to us and my car was there for about 3 hours total. There is a canoe launch called ice house landing above the dam but I haven't scouted it to check parking.

The best take out is Elks as suggested, but the river continues. We went down to West concord and took out there, and in the past have gone all the way to Concord's Lowell Rd Boat launch. There is a really difficult portage around a dam across from the Buick dealership. After that dam there is a couple more small rapids and by the old Damon Mill building there is a rapid though a broken dam. A bit downstream the river is blocked by down trees but in an area of flat water. I was able to pull my canoe over it.