• Our Town Trails
    • Andover Trails Guide, 6th edition
    • Bay Circuit Trail
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      • Abbot Bridge Drive
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      • Virginia Hammond Res.
      • Merrimack River Reservation
      • Penguin Park
      • Pole Hill
      • Pomp's Pond/Foster's Island
      • Robert Pustell Reservation
      • Serio's Grove Reservation
      • Shawsheen Pines
      • West Elementary School Woods
      • Wood Hill/Bald Hill
    • AVIS Reservations
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    • Town of Andover Land >
      • Fish Brook
      • Penguin Park
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      • South School Woods
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    • Other Land >
      • Cochran Wildlife Sanctuary
      • Den Rock Park
      • West Parish Cemetery
  • Shawsheen River
    • Paddle Your Shawsheen
    • Where to Paddle >
      • Dale St - Central St (Abbot Bridge Dr)
      • Shawsheen Pines - Serio's Grove - Ballardvale
      • Shawsheen Pines - Sanborn Reservation (Tewksbury)
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  ANDOVER TRAILS LIVE
  • Our Town Trails
    • Andover Trails Guide, 6th edition
    • Bay Circuit Trail
    • Shawsheen River Greenway
    • Bicycle Routes
    • Andover Conservation Commission Land >
      • Abbot Bridge Drive
      • Bellevue Reservation
      • Carmel Woods
      • Castle Park
      • Dale Street
      • Doyle Link
      • Lightning Tree Reservation
      • Mary French Reservation
      • Haggett's Pond & Rail Trail
      • Virginia Hammond Res.
      • Merrimack River Reservation
      • Penguin Park
      • Pole Hill
      • Pomp's Pond/Foster's Island
      • Robert Pustell Reservation
      • Serio's Grove Reservation
      • Shawsheen Pines
      • West Elementary School Woods
      • Wood Hill/Bald Hill
    • AVIS Reservations
    • Massachusetts DCR
    • Town of Andover Land >
      • Fish Brook
      • Penguin Park
      • Sanborn School Woods
      • South School Woods
      • West Elementary School Woods
    • Trustees of the Reservations
    • Other Land >
      • Cochran Wildlife Sanctuary
      • Den Rock Park
      • West Parish Cemetery
  • Shawsheen River
    • Paddle Your Shawsheen
    • Where to Paddle >
      • Dale St - Central St (Abbot Bridge Dr)
      • Shawsheen Pines - Serio's Grove - Ballardvale
      • Shawsheen Pines - Sanborn Reservation (Tewksbury)
    • Safety & Areas to Avoid
    • Water Levels
    • History
  • Activities
    • Events Calendar
    • Hiking
    • Paddling
    • Fishing and Hunting
    • Biking
    • Events >
      • Past Events
  • Projects
    • Dam Removal Projects
    • RHC
    • River Crew
    • Bellevue Project
    • Bay Circuit Trail Bridge Project
    • Skug River Beaver Re-routes
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • About
    • Board
    • Affiliates
    • News
    • Contact
  • News
  • Andover to Everest

Where to Paddle

Dale Street - Central Street (Abbot Bridge Drive)

This section runs from immediately below the Ballardvale dam at Dale Street downstream to Central Street at the Abbot Bridge Drive canoe launch. 
  • The most recommended section for family friendly paddling at both low and high-water levels. 
  • 1.8 river miles (about one hour downstream) through the woodlands and marsh of protected lands of AVIS and Andover Conservation for a wilderness-like experience. 
  • Good parking and access at the end of Dale Street (dirt parking lot) and along Abbot Bridge Drive (short walk from the street to the launch). 
  • Scouted and maintained by Shawsheen Greenway. 
  • Can be paddled in most water levels upstream (some effort) or downstream for flexibility of put-in location and paddling effort. 
  • For more exploring, you can carry over the berm into the South Marsh of Pomps Pond (a short way downstream from Dale St.) and see a diversity of wildlife. The marsh can be paddled only in high water, generally early season. 
  • Another exploration is to travel the old ‘Andover Canoe Club’ hand-dug canal from the half-way point on the trip over to Pomps Pond. This is only accessible at higher water levels and may require local river knowledge to locate. 
Warning: It is not recommended to paddle downstream from Central Street! This section has fast water sections and a breached dam with a very narrow, rocky, fast channel that is not appropriate for family friendly paddling. Also, there are no good access points downstream of Central Street. 

Map (PDF):
This map is available to assist in paddling this area.
A color, glossy, foldable printed copy is available for purchase – Contact Us. ​
Print on 11" x 17" stock.
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Copyright © 2018
  • Our Town Trails
    • Andover Trails Guide, 6th edition
    • Bay Circuit Trail
    • Shawsheen River Greenway
    • Bicycle Routes
    • Andover Conservation Commission Land >
      • Abbot Bridge Drive
      • Bellevue Reservation
      • Carmel Woods
      • Castle Park
      • Dale Street
      • Doyle Link
      • Lightning Tree Reservation
      • Mary French Reservation
      • Haggett's Pond & Rail Trail
      • Virginia Hammond Res.
      • Merrimack River Reservation
      • Penguin Park
      • Pole Hill
      • Pomp's Pond/Foster's Island
      • Robert Pustell Reservation
      • Serio's Grove Reservation
      • Shawsheen Pines
      • West Elementary School Woods
      • Wood Hill/Bald Hill
    • AVIS Reservations
    • Massachusetts DCR
    • Town of Andover Land >
      • Fish Brook
      • Penguin Park
      • Sanborn School Woods
      • South School Woods
      • West Elementary School Woods
    • Trustees of the Reservations
    • Other Land >
      • Cochran Wildlife Sanctuary
      • Den Rock Park
      • West Parish Cemetery
  • Shawsheen River
    • Paddle Your Shawsheen
    • Where to Paddle >
      • Dale St - Central St (Abbot Bridge Dr)
      • Shawsheen Pines - Serio's Grove - Ballardvale
      • Shawsheen Pines - Sanborn Reservation (Tewksbury)
    • Safety & Areas to Avoid
    • Water Levels
    • History
  • Activities
    • Events Calendar
    • Hiking
    • Paddling
    • Fishing and Hunting
    • Biking
    • Events >
      • Past Events
  • Projects
    • Dam Removal Projects
    • RHC
    • River Crew
    • Bellevue Project
    • Bay Circuit Trail Bridge Project
    • Skug River Beaver Re-routes
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • About
    • Board
    • Affiliates
    • News
    • Contact
  • News
  • Andover to Everest