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South Nashua River (outfall from the Wachusett Reservoir; the Nashua River mainstem begins at the confluence of the North and South Nashua Rivers in Lancaster)
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Stillwater River (The Quinapoxet and Stillwater Rivers flow into the Wachusett Reservoir)
MA Towns in the Nashua River Watershed:
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Ashburnham
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Ashby
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Ayer
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Bolton
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Boylston
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Clinton
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Devens
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Dunstable
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Fitchburg
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Gardner
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Groton
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Harvard
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Holden
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Lancaster
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Leominster
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Lunenburg
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Paxton
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Pepperell
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Princeton
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Rutland
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Shirley
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Sterling
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Townsend
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West Boylston
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Westminster
Major Tributaries:
Segments of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers are federally designated as Wild & Scenic Rivers.
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Bowers Brook
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Catacunemaug Brook
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Flints Brook
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James Brook
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Mulpus Brook
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Nonacoicus Brook
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Still River
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Unkety Brook
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Varnum Brook
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Nissitissit River
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Squannacook River
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North Nashua River
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Quinapoxet River
Organizations working in the Nashua River Watershed:
Photo: Cindy Knox Photography
What Are People Saying?
On important steps we should take: "My feelings were then and are still now that to keep our rivers clean we must protect the natural vegetation along the rivers creating a continuous Greenway along both sides."
On past changes: "I’m happy that we were successful in getting the Federal Water Pollution Control Act passed in 1965. We had to get it passed before anyone in the United States could clean up their rivers. I’m happy, too, that we were able to pass the Massachusetts Clean Water Act the following year. We could not have restored the Nashua River without first passing federal and state legislation mandating clean water."
On progress thus far: "I’m happy that we have protected 200 miles of land along the Nashua River and its tributaries, one-half of its river frontage. I’m not happy that we haven’t protected the other 200 miles."
On hopes for the future: "My goal is to have a continuous Greenway along the length of the Nashua River and its tributaries."
- Marion Stoddart (Founding Director Emeritus, Nashua River Watershed Association)
On challenges: "Development is the biggest threat to water quality, particularly poorly planned development. Marion Stoddart is right that greenways along our rivers help to filter runoff and provide uninterrupted wildlife corridors. But we all live in a watershed, and everything that happens on the land affects water quality in our local streams and rivers."
On a cool fact about the Nashua: "In 50 years it evolved from one of the 10 most polluted rivers in the country to having Wild & Scenic status."
On a favorite memory: "I always enjoyed our once-a-month Saturday mornings in the Devens Wastewater Treatment Facility working with lab volunteers, waiting for samples to come in from field volunteers, the stories of their sites they shared with me and with each other, and the feeling that they’re there because they care about “their” rivers and streams."
- Martha Morgan (Water Programs Director, Nashua River Watershed Association)
Nashua River Activities
Swimming
Walk, Hike, Bike
Paddling
Boating & Sailing
Fishing
Swimming
There are many unofficial favorite swimming locations on the Nashua River.
The Nashua River Watershed Association posts a River Report Card on their website on their Water Monitoring Program page (click here).This report is based on NRWA’S monthly E.coli bacteria testing program and is not meant to be a health advisory for safe swimming, though it show that the water meets swimming standards at most locations.
Walking, Running, Biking
Walking, hiking, and biking locations:
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Nashua River Rail Trail. 12 mile paved trail great for biking, running, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding (for part of it)!
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Harry Rich State Forest (Groton). Several maintained trails here. Click here for a pdf map of the State Forest provided by the Groton Trails Network.
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Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge (Harvard). Includes the Riverside Trail, Tank Road, and the Turnpike Trail. The Oxbow NWR in Devens includes the Bill Ashe Visitor Center and the Bill Ashe Trail. Operated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Groton Place, and Sabine Woods (Groton). Property of the New England Forestry Foundation. Park at Route 225 in Groton (a map can be found here).
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Lancaster Town Forest (Lancaster)
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Leominster State Forest (Leominster)
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Mass Central Rail Trail (multi-town)
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Willard Brook State Forest (West Townsend)
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Pearl Hill State Park (West Townsend)
The NRWA website offers trail maps for hiking and walking based on location, and more information about birds that can be spotted in the Nashua River watershed.
Paddling
NRWA's Canoe and Kayak Guide available for purchase >>
Paddling locations: (See them on a map >>)
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Still River Depot Road/ Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge Launch (Harvard)
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From the U.S. FWS: From Massachusetts Route 2, take Exit 38 (Route 110/111) south toward Harvard; bear right to stay on Route 110 at Harvard Center; and, turn right onto Still River Depot Road at the Still River Post Office. The refuge parking area is at the end of Still River Depot Road. Please use Still River as the town instead of Harvard for GPS navigation.
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Click here to access an ONWR Recreation and Trail Guide pdf created by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Friends of Oxbow NWR. The Guide provides information on trails, parking, and launch sites.
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Hospital Road/Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge Launch (Devens)
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From the U.S. FWS: From Massachusetts Route 2, take Exit 37B north on Jackson Road toward Devens; go through the traffic light and make a left on Givry Street; bear to the left onto Hospital Road; after passing by New England Studios, either make your first left into the Bill Ashe Visitor Facility parking lot or make your second left.
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A Nashua River canoe and kayak dock and launch are located a couple hundred feet from the Visitor Center, and is accessed by a dirt parking lot that can facilitate approximately 10 cars. The Visitor Center parking lot can accommodate additional cars. Although the dock and launch are handicapped accessible, the stairs down to the dock are not.
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Petapawag Boat Launch (Groton)
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Located on Nod Road in Groton, it is just 100 feet north of Route 119. This is a public boat ramp to the Pepperell Pond area of the Nashua River – the impounded reach above the Pepperell Dam. This is a state-installed concrete ramp that can accommodate motorized boats, canoes and kayaks. A car-top only boat launch is located across the river from Petapawag.
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Rt. 117/Seven Bridge Road Launch (Lancaster)
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North Main Street Launch; Pellechia Canoe Launch; Main Street Bridge Launch (Lancaster MA)
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Rt. 119 Car-top Only Launch; Marion Stoddart Conservation Area Canoe Launch; Canal Street Launch; Downstream of Pepperell Dam Launch (Pepperell)
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Walker Road Upstream of Ayer Ice House Dam Launch; Walker Road Downstream of Ayer Ice House Dam Launch (Shirley)
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To rent canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards
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Nashoba Paddler (in Groton, MA)
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Boating & Sailing
The Nashua River is not accessible by sailboats.
