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Welcome to the Sudbury River Boater's Trail! This Trail is a guide to the outstanding resources along 15 miles of the Sudbury River. It highlights natural features, ecological areas, historical sites and places described in literature, all of which help to tell the rich story of the Sudbury River. On the Trail you will pass through the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and its wide wetland floodplains which are habitat for many waterfowl. Near Heard Pond you will see Indian Point which once hosted the annual summer encampment of the Nipmucks and in Fairhaven Bay you will travel by the sites seen and written about by Henry David Thoreau. These sites, and many others, are described in the commentary on the Trail.
The Trail is divided into 3 trips, each approximately 5 miles in length -- just long enough for a half day trip. The river is generally quite slow moving and gentle, so it is possible to paddle downstream and then return upstream to your launch spot. Please do beware of windy or high water conditions that may impact both the time and ease of your trip. And please be safe and wear a life jacket (it is required by law).
Twenty nine miles of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers were nationally designated as Wild and Scenic Rivers in 1999 because of their 'oustandingly remarkable resource values' including ecology, scenery, recreation, history and literature. This Boater's Trail is one way to learn more about these rivers and their resources.