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Rhode Island | Providence County / Blackstone Valley

Blackstone RiverCaptain Wilbur Kelly House to Pratt Dam above-dam take-out

A short, documented Blackstone State Park reach from the Kelly House granite-stair launch to the Pratt Dam above-dam portage access.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 2.5 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow 2–4 hours with scouting and the Pratt portage boundary
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Blackstone River corridor in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Route photoBlackstone River corridor near the Kelly House to Pratt reach; same-river contextPhoto by National Weather Service

Need to know

Why this call
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 2.5 river milesCaptain Wilbur Kelly House to Pratt Dam above-dam take-out
DifficultymoderateClass I–II mill-corridor water with frequent dams, rapids, strainers and carries. These are not continuous no-portage floats; verify each managed portage and access before departure.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the named public access, then drive to the upstream launch.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm municipal, state-park and portage rules before unloading.
CampingDay tripNo overnight camping is included; use established campgrounds and do not camp on private mill property.
SeasonApr-NovRain, mill operations and dam pools change conditions quickly. Check Woonsocket telemetry, trend, weather, water-quality notices and every portage before launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A short, documented Blackstone State Park reach from the Kelly House granite-stair launch to the Pratt Dam above-dam portage access.

Access map

Skip map

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Start

Put-in

Captain Wilbur Kelly House river access (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use documented public access and portage routes only.

Finish

Take-out

Pratt Dam above-dam portage access (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to take-out

Portage every dam and mill obstruction; never trespass for a carry.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use documented public access and portage routes only.
  • Portage every dam and mill obstruction; never trespass for a carry.
  • Recheck seasonal parking, water levels and water-quality notices.

Watch for

  • Pratt Dam buoy line and mandatory portage
  • Mill structures, strainers and shallow water
  • Private property and water quality

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Blackstone River corridor in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Blackstone River corridor near the Kelly House to Pratt reach; same-river contextPhoto by National Weather Service
U.S. government source

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteBlackstone River at Woonsocket, RI
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
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Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
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Rain timingChecking
Preferred range200 cfs to 1,200 cfs
Low threshold100 cfs
High threshold4,400 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreRiverScout Blackstone flow and reach guide
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Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Public access and portagesCaptain Wilbur Kelly House to Pratt Dam above-dam take-out

    Blackstone River Watershed Council and ExploreRI identify the named access and dam-portage context.

    Source

  • Scoring band200–1,200 cfs Class I–II planning window

    RiverScout ties this window to direct USGS 01112500; verify live telemetry and trend before travel.

    Source

  • GaugeUSGS 01112500 at Woonsocket

    Direct Blackstone telemetry for the Rhode Island corridor.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Rhode Island

All 18 routes
Rhode Island route guideBrowse every tracked Rhode Island route.Providence County / Blackstone ValleyJump to routes in this region.

More on Blackstone River

All 11
Albion Dam above-dam access to Captain Wilbur Kelly HouseProvidence County / Blackstone ValleyModerate · About 3 river milesManville Landing to Albion Dam above-dam accessProvidence County / Blackstone ValleyModerate · About 2.5 river milesManville Landing to Captain Wilbur Kelly HouseProvidence County / Blackstone ValleyModerate · About 7.5 river milesManville Landing to Sycamore LandingProvidence County / Blackstone ValleyModerate · About 1.2 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Woonasquatucket RiverGeorgiaville Town Beach to Esmond Park · about 5 straight-line mi awayModerate · Estimated 1.1 river milesWoonasquatucket RiverGeorgiaville Town Beach to Cricket Park / Greystone Mill Pond · about 5 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 2.5 river milesWoonasquatucket RiverEsmond Park to Cricket Park / Greystone Mill Pond · about 5 straight-line mi awayModerate · Estimated 1.6 river milesQuinebaug RiverSimonzi Park Canoe Launch to Cotton Bridge Road · about 25 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 4.9 river miles

Quick answers

Blackstone River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Captain Wilbur Kelly House to Pratt Dam above-dam take-out route on the Blackstone River?

Paddle Today watches Blackstone River at Woonsocket, RI and treats 200 cfs to 1,200 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Captain Wilbur Kelly House to Pratt Dam above-dam take-out route on the Blackstone River start and end?

This route starts at Captain Wilbur Kelly House river access (water-entry edge) and ends at Pratt Dam above-dam portage access (water-entry edge), about 2.5 river miles on the water.

Is the Captain Wilbur Kelly House to Pratt Dam above-dam take-out route on the Blackstone River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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