Gillian may be out enjoying the great restaurants in the Nutmeg State, and this blog has been discontinued. Thanks for visiting and happy travels!

One of the best trips I took last summer was in a kayak on the Housatonic River. I paddled 10 miles (a record for me) and even tried whitewater for the first time.

We started our journey at Clarke Outdoors in West Cornwall. Clarke rents canoes, kayaks, and rafts for 6-mile and 10-mile trips. Keep in mind that the trips fill up early in the day so make advance reservations or be prepared to wait. Also be prepared to drive past Clarke Outdoors because it comes up fast on the left when you're driving north on Route 7.

Having our own kayaks, we paid for and jumped on the shuttle, which brought us to the put-in at Falls Village. The first half of the trip is pretty calm - flat water, lush river banks, and the occasional turkey vulture. Most people stop at the covered bridge to eat lunch by the water or wander in West Cornwall and get a dose of New England village cuteness.

The leg after the bridge is short. The water moves faster, especially under the bridge where there's a small patch of whitewater. I was told "just go straight," which proved to be great advice. Soon we found the take-out, a small dock at the Housatonic Meadows Picnic Area at the state park, where we got out and caught the shuttle back to our car.

More Summer Outdoors Ideas
My Outdoors Posts
Kayaking Photos and Links
Explore New England's Outdoors Guide