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Massachusetts | Berkshire County / Pittsfield to Ashley Falls
Housatonic RiverFred Garner Park to Lee Athletic Field
The complete guide-listed Fred Garner-to-Lee access chain, with the mandatory Woods Pond Dam portage and a technical downstream finish.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
The complete guide-listed Fred Garner-to-Lee access chain, with the mandatory Woods Pond Dam portage and a technical downstream finish.
Access map
Put-in
Fred Garner Park official canoe access water-entry edge, Pomeroy AvenueUse only the named official accesses. At Woods Pond Bridge, take out and portage around the dam on its signed right-bank path; never run the dam.
Take-out
Lee Athletic Field public canoe access water-entry edgeGreat Barrington River Walk is a trail, not a public boat launch; use only the named public canoe sites. The former Bridge Street/Searles access is permanently closed for public safety.
Road shuttle
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Access planner
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This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Fred Garner Park official canoe access water-entry edge, Pomeroy Avenue to Lee Athletic Field public canoe access water-entry edge is about 14.9 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use only the named official accesses. At Woods Pond Bridge, take out and portage around the dam on its signed right-bank path; never run the dam.
- Great Barrington River Walk is a trail, not a public boat launch; use only the named public canoe sites. The former Bridge Street/Searles access is permanently closed for public safety.
Watch for
- USGS 01197145 discharge and trend; HVA’s broad 150 cfs minimum is a planning screen only
- PCBs in river sediment and current fish-consumption advisories
- Cold water, rainfall rises, shallow rocks and strainers
- Dam exclusion zones and mandatory take-out/portage boundaries
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
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USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Housatonic River at Lenoxdale, MA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
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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.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Housatonic River at Lenoxdale, MA |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 150 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | HVA Housatonic 150 cfs planning cue and nearest-gauge guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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.
- Named reach and distanceFred Garner Park to Lee Athletic Field; 14.9 guide or derived miles
Derived sum of HVA 2023 Sections A (6.0 mi), B (4.6 mi), and C (4.3 mi): 14.9 miles.
- Scoring threshold150 cfs broad minimum planning cue
HVA’s guide cautions against paddling below 150 cfs and names Great Barrington and East Branch Coltsville gauges for reference. Use this community cue as a low-water screen only, not a guarantee of floatability or safety.
- GaugeUSGS 01197145 Housatonic River at Lenoxdale, MA
Selected same-mainstem gauge reference for this trip. HVA’s 150 cfs minimum is broad paddling guidance, not a local operating limit; check intervening tributaries and conditions at the selected reach.
- Public water accessFred Garner Park official canoe access water-entry edge, Pomeroy Avenue to Lee Athletic Field public canoe access water-entry edge
Use only the named official accesses. At Woods Pond Bridge, take out and portage around the dam on its signed right-bank path; never run the dam.
- PCB and fish advisoryHousatonic PCB contamination and active state fish/waterfowl advisories
Massachusetts identifies PCB contamination in river water, sediment, banks and floodplain and publishes Housatonic-specific advisories. Avoid swimming/sediment contact and follow current consumption guidance.
- CampingDay trip; no on-route camping documented
HVA identifies public day-use access only; no on-route overnight campground or riverbank camping right is documented.
- Overlap and consolidationmacro in housatonic-berkshire-upper-access-chain
This is the full HVA upper chain; retain the source-defined sections for short-day options. The Woods Pond Dam portage is mandatory.
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Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
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Reports
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
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All 15Nearby routes within 75 miles
Quick answers
Housatonic River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Fred Garner Park to Lee Athletic Field route on the Housatonic River?
Paddle Today watches Housatonic River at Lenoxdale, MA and uses 150 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does the Fred Garner Park to Lee Athletic Field route on the Housatonic River start and end?
This route starts at Fred Garner Park official canoe access water-entry edge, Pomeroy Avenue and ends at Lee Athletic Field public canoe access water-entry edge, about 14.9 river miles on the water.
Is the Fred Garner Park to Lee Athletic Field route on the Housatonic River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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