See all 15 routes on Housatonic River
Massachusetts | Berkshire County / Pittsfield to Ashley Falls
Housatonic RiverPark Street Canoe Access to Glendale Dam take-out
A guide-listed Stockbridge flatwater trip from the Park Street canoe access to the official Glendale Dam take-out above the dam.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.

Need to know
Why this call
Safety
Route safety
CautionThis route has hazards or access considerations that require extra verification.
Safety details
Wear a properly fitted PFD; use cold-water protection, a communication plan and rescue gear suitable for current conditions. Check weather and the live gauge trend immediately before launch.
- HVA recommends at least 150 cfs as a broad paddling screen for the Berkshire Housatonic. This is local planning guidance, not a safety guarantee; the current guide names the Great Barrington and East Branch Coltsville gauges as references.
- The river rises quickly after rain. Scout shallow rock, bridge features and strainers; portage anything beyond the group’s ability and never rely on private banks for bailout.
- PCBs have contaminated Housatonic River water, sediment, riverbanks and floodplain. Avoid swimming and sediment contact, do not ingest river water, cover cuts, and follow current state fish advisories; do not eat fish from listed advisory waters.
- No legal overnight campsite is documented along these reaches. Do not camp at launches or on riverbanks; arrange separately permitted lodging or a campground.
- The HVA section is flatwater. Take out at the marked public site above Glendale Dam; do not drift into the dam exclusion area or treat the below-dam portage launch as the same access.
- Park Street can be muddy and slick. Glendale Dam is the take-out boundary; a separate signed portage path serves paddlers continuing below the dam. Never run or paddle into the dam exclusion area.
Keep Housatonic River handy
Save this route in PaddleToday and check its conditions before your next paddle.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A guide-listed Stockbridge flatwater trip from the Park Street canoe access to the official Glendale Dam take-out above the dam.
Access map
Put-in
Park Street official canoe access water-entry edge, StockbridgeUse the official Park Street canoe access and leave the water at the marked Glendale Dam take-out above the dam. The take-out is the safety boundary; do not approach the structure.
Take-out
Glendale Dam official take-out water edge above the damGreat 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
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use the official Park Street canoe access and leave the water at the marked Glendale Dam take-out above the dam. The take-out is the safety boundary; do not approach the structure.
- 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 01197500 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
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
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 near Great Barrington, 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 note
Minimum 150 cfs · Housatonic River near Great Barrington, MA
Does this gauge apply to my trip?
Check the live USGS 01197500 Housatonic River near Great Barrington, MA discharge and trend, recent rain and current water-quality notices. HVA’s Flatwater reach guidance uses 150 cfs as a broad minimum planning cue; that cue does not guarantee safety.
New to reading stage or flow? Read the paddler's gauge guide.
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampWeather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
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 near Great Barrington, 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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| 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 distancePark Street Canoe Access to Glendale Dam take-out; 5 guide or derived miles
HVA Berkshire guide Section E: 5.0 miles, approximately 3 hours, flatwater.
- 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 01197500 Housatonic River near Great Barrington, 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 accessPark Street official canoe access water-entry edge, Stockbridge to Glendale Dam official take-out water edge above the dam
Use the official Park Street canoe access and leave the water at the marked Glendale Dam take-out above the dam. The take-out is the safety boundary; do not approach the structure.
- 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
The HVA guide describes day-use launches and take-outs only; no on-route overnight camping is documented.
- Overlap and consolidationsegment in housatonic-berkshire-glendale-day-use
This named flatwater reach ends at the upstream dam take-out; the below-dam Class III reach is a separate trip after a land portage.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- Housatonic Valley Association Berkshire County Paddling Guide (2023)
- HVA Housatonic 150 cfs planning cue and nearest-gauge guidance
- USGS Housatonic River near Great Barrington, MA gauge
- Massachusetts Housatonic River PCB contamination and restoration
- Massachusetts Housatonic River fish and waterfowl advisory
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
More level reports needed
Only a low-water floor is known.
We can tell when this route is likely too low, but we do not yet have enough reports to define a best range. If you paddled it recently, send a condition report with how the level felt.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
More in Massachusetts
All 32 routesMore on Housatonic River
All 15Nearby routes within 75 miles
Quick answers
Housatonic River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Park Street Canoe Access to Glendale Dam take-out route on the Housatonic River?
Paddle Today watches Housatonic River near Great Barrington, 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 Park Street Canoe Access to Glendale Dam take-out route on the Housatonic River start and end?
This route starts at Park Street official canoe access water-entry edge, Stockbridge and ends at Glendale Dam official take-out water edge above the dam, about 5 river miles on the water.
Is the Park Street Canoe Access to Glendale Dam take-out route on the Housatonic River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.
