See all 15 routes on Housatonic River
Massachusetts | Berkshire County / Pittsfield to Ashley Falls
Housatonic RiverWoods Pond Bridge to Lee Athletic Field
A short but technical guide-listed reach below Woods Pond Bridge, with a mandatory dam portage and bridge rapids.
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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
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A short but technical guide-listed reach below Woods Pond Bridge, with a mandatory dam portage and bridge rapids.
Access map
Put-in
Woods Pond Bridge public canoe landing water-entry edge, Crystal StreetPortage Woods Pond Dam on the right-bank canoe portage path; do not run the dam. The Lee Athletic Field access is reached by carrying boats across the field to the marked river entry.
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
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Portage Woods Pond Dam on the right-bank canoe portage path; do not run the dam. The Lee Athletic Field access is reached by carrying boats across the field to the marked river entry.
- 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
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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
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Gauge
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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 |
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| 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 distanceWoods Pond Bridge to Lee Athletic Field; 4.3 guide or derived miles
HVA 2023 Section C: 4.3 miles; portage at Woods Pond Dam, then Class II increasing to Class III at railroad and Crystal Street bridges.
- 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 accessWoods Pond Bridge public canoe landing water-entry edge, Crystal Street to Lee Athletic Field public canoe access water-entry edge
Portage Woods Pond Dam on the right-bank canoe portage path; do not run the dam. The Lee Athletic Field access is reached by carrying boats across the field to the marked river entry.
- 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 consolidationsegment in housatonic-berkshire-upper-access-chain
The technical lower link begins with a mandatory right-bank portage around Woods Pond Dam; keep its distinct difficulty visible in combined options.
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Quick answers
Housatonic River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Woods Pond Bridge 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 Woods Pond Bridge to Lee Athletic Field route on the Housatonic River start and end?
This route starts at Woods Pond Bridge public canoe landing water-entry edge, Crystal Street and ends at Lee Athletic Field public canoe access water-entry edge, about 4.3 river miles on the water.
Is the Woods Pond Bridge 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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