Massachusetts Towns in the Connecticut River Watershed:
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Agawam
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Amherst
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Belchertown
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Chicopee
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Deerfield
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Easthampton
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Enfield
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Gill
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Greenfield
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Hatfield
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Hadley
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Holyoke
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Longmeadow
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Montague
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Northampton
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Northfield
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Pelham
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South Hadley
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Springfield
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Sunderland
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West Springfield
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Deerfield River
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Millers River
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Fort River
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Westfield River
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Chicopee River
Major Tributaries:
Organizations that work in the
Connecticut River Watershed:
Connecticut River Activities
Swimming
Walk, Hike, Bike
Paddling
Boating & Sailing
Fishing
Swimming
Swimming in the Connecticut River is safe in some but not all locations. Check river conditions >>
One popular swimming spot is Rainbow Beach in Northampton.
Walk, Hike, Bike
Walking, hiking, and running locations:
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Skinner State Park (Hadley). Includes trails and views of the CT River, as well as access to the summit of Mt. Holyoke. Trail map here! For more information, click here.
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Mount Tom State Reservation (Holyoke). Includes hiking trails and one of the best places in New England to watch for hawks. For directions, click here.
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Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge (Longmeadow). Parkings at the intersection of Bark Haul Road and Pondside Road. There is a loop which is ~2 miles long. Look out for eagles, herons, woodpeckers, hawks, and owls.
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Connecticut River Greenway State Park (Northampton). Connects parks along the Connecticut for walking, exploring, and enjoying nature! Park at the DCR headquarters. More info >>
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Norwottuck Rail Trail (Northampton). This is a 10 mile bike trail created by the DCR between Northampton and Amherst. It crosses the CT River and provides views of the Holyoke Range.
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Elwell State Park (Northampton). Trails and bridges for walking and biking.
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King Phillips Hill (Northfield). Enjoy a historical walk next to the CT river, with dog friendly trails. Parking for one car is available next to the trailhead. More info >>
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Mount Toby State Forest (Sunderland). Extensive trails for running, walking/hiking, fishing.
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Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation (South Deerfield). 532 acres total. There are trails, beautiful views, and places to have a picnic. 5 dollar fee for MA license plates, 20 dollars for out of state plates. More info >>
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Herlihy Park (South Deerfield). Beautiful park by the CT, used for playing fields, picnics, and walks.
Camping & Biking locations:
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Hatchery Brook Primitive Campsite (Montague). This is a location which can be accessed from the river itself to eat lunch or to camp overnight.
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Elwell Island Campsite (Northampton). Features two tent areas.
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Munn's Ferry Boat Campground (Northfield). Small campground for boaters only.
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Whately Oaks Primitive Campsite (South Deerfield). More information and reviews can be found here.
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River Road Trail (Agawam). Is a 3.6 mile paved trail alongside the Connecticut River. It can be used for road biking, walking or running. Learn more More info >>
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Interpretive River Cruise (Northfield) along the Connecticut River.
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Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center (Northfield). Hiking, cross country skiing area around a pumped storage hydropower facility.
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Norwottuck Rail Trail (Northampton). This is a 10 mile bike trail created by the DCR between Northampton and Amherst. It crosses the CT River and provides views of the Holyoke Range.
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Canalside Rail Trail (Turner Falls) is a 3.7 trail for easy biking, with scenic views of the water. Parking is available at Unity Park. Trail Map >>
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Chicopee Bike Path under construction!
Paddling
Paddling locations:
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The CT River Greenway State Park has many parks and areas for launching boats along the Connecticut river. They may be named the same thing, with different locations.
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Check out the Interactive Paddler's guide along the CT River. Launch information can be found below.
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Medina Street (Chicopee). Canoe and rowing shell access, as well as recreational and fishing boat access.
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Drive to the end of Medina street, next to RT 116.
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Ample parking for 32 trailers with paved boat ramp, and no fee.
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Oxbow State Ramp (Easthampton).
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Large parking lot for 32 trailers and paved ramp for boats, including high powered boats and fishing boats. No fee.
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Cove View (Gill). There is a state boat ramp at the bottom of Cove View Lane. There are rentals available at the Franklin County Boat Club, which is right next to the boat ramp.
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includes a paved parking area (45 cars) and ramp for recreational motor boats, canoes, and fishing boats. No fee.
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Hatfield Town Ramp (Cow Bridge Brook Ramp, Hatfield).
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Parking for ~8 cars, No fee.
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Poplar Street Boat Access (Montague). Very steep, eroding access to the CT.
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Pauchaug Ramp (Northfield), 1 mile north of Northfield Center on Rte. 63, there is a ramp for all boat types
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Paved parking area.
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CT River Greenway State Park (Northampton). Damon Road next to Rt 9 and I-91. Canoes and rowing access only. Wheelchair accessible dock.
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Limited parking.
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Elwell Recreation Area (Northampton). Click for directions.
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Access area with parking, toilets, and float dock.
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Paved access off school street (Sunderland). Directions here.
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Limited parking, for ~8 trailers and 6 cars.
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Mt. Holyoke Community Boathouse (South Hadley). Boat ramp, marina, dining, and cruise opportunities.
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James Street (South Hadley) at the South Hadley/Chicopee town line, gravel ramp, shallow draft fishing boats.
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6-8 parking spaces.
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Canal Park (South Hadley). Click here for a boater’s review with more information!
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Bond Island Access (Springfield)
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Parking lot available.
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Information about Rentals:
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Barton Cove Campground (Gill). Although primarily a location for camping, you can rent canoes and kayaks to take out on the Connecticut! More information can be found here.
Boating & Sailing
The Connecticut River is a beautiful to paddle on. Multiple locations are available for motor boating, canoeing, kayaking, or paddle-boarding. If you have further information on this subject, please let us know.
Fishing
You can fish on the Connecticut River. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health advises the children under 12 and pregnant women not to eat any of the fish, specifically Largemouth Bass. The advisory is due to the presence of PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls.
Fishing locations:
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Syrek Street (Chicopee)
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Right next to the intersection of Syrek Street and Hampshire Street, there is a turn off to a parking lot with space for 10 trailers. No fee.
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Cove View Road (Gill)
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45 trailer parking spots, no fee.
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Oxbow, North Street (Northampton)
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Parking for 32 trailers, no fee.
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Other fishing activities?
- Robert E. Barrett Fishway (Holyoke). See thousands of migrating fish helped over the Holyoke dam! Learn more here. You can catch brook trout, winter flounder, blueback herring, alewife, rainbow trout, large brown trout, American shad, hickory shad, smallmouth bass, Atlantic sturgeon, and striped bass.
The Connecticut River Conservancy offers guided fishing trips in MA and VT >>