Hamilton Canal Locks

Below Middlesex Dam just above where the Concord flows into the Merrimack River are a set of 19th century locks used to access the canal system from the Merrimack. They are still in operation today and usable by river trips by prior arrangement. Note: As of 2006, the innermost lock gate is jammed shut by a large log and the gates are partially silted shut. Once the locks raise you up to street level you have to take out and portage around the last lock gate. This area is the raft take-out since they use the nearby Doubletree Hotel as a base of operations. Hamilton Canal connects to the other canals in Lowell as well as the
Merrimack River upstream of Lowell.