NATURE
by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent
Summer is paddling season – the prime time to enjoy the water with a canoe, a kayak, or perhaps a rowing shell. Or how about a stand-up paddleboard (SUP)? In the last decade or so, this versatile watercraft has become all the rage.
A stand-up paddleboard resembles an oversized surfboard. To use it, you stand at its center and use a long-handled paddle to propel yourself forward. It may seem daunting, but once you get the hang of it, SUP’ing can be quite relaxing! Slower-paced than kayaking, it’s often a meditative experience. And because you’re standing instead of seated, you can take in more of the view!
Quieter waters are my personal choice for paddleboarding. While rivers and oceans may be suitable for some, I prefer to skip the waves and the boat traffic. The list below highlights ten rivers and ponds where SUPs are welcome. For more, consult the Paddling section of our Get Outdoors database.
When you go, be sure to wear a personal flotation device (PFD). Check the forecast, and remember that wind and tide will greatly affect your experience. Tell someone where you’re going, and bring drinking water and a snack, especially if you’re planning to be out for a while. It’s also a good idea to have a whistle on-hand, just in case.
Do you love the outdoors? Are you following “365 Nature Places to Know,” our Explore South Shore program for 2024? Every morning we highlight one of the region’s best nature places on Facebook and Instagram. Every Wednesday we feature a spot with water access. Not on social media? We’ve listed all the locations on our website as well!
Pembroke Town Forest
While nearly all of the North River is navigable by paddleboard, the upper reaches are relatively quiet, with only occasional motor boats. This short-but-sweet SUP excursion begins at the public launch on Brick Kiln Lane. Put your board in the water at ocean high tide or soon after. Paddle upstream until you’re close enough to the Washington Street Bridge to see its bricks, but not close enough to pass underneath it. Admire the historic bridge from a distance and then return downstream. Limited on-site parking.
Francis Keville Footbridge, Marshfield
The lower half of the South River is navigable by paddleboard, and this seasonal ramp and float is the perfect place to access it. Boat traffic increases as you approach Humarock, but the section between Keville and Rexhame Beach is relatively serene. Carry your board from the CVS at 1880 Ocean Street to the bridge – just 0.15 miles down the Rail Trail. If you start 2-3 hours before ocean high tide, you can enjoy a pleasant out-and-back — perhaps an hour each way.
Jacobs Pond, Conservation Area, Norwell
This 60-acre pond in Norwell offers two distinct launch areas – one on Jacobs Lane and one on Duncan Drive. Motors are not permitted, making Jacobs Pond a lovely locale for paddleboarding. While you’re there, see if you can spot where Third Herring Brook enters and exits the pond, on its way to the North River. Limited on-site parking.
Maquan Pond and Cranberry Cove, Hanson
Maquan Pond is a tributary to both Furnace Pond and Indian Head Brook, and one of the North River’s many sources. The 48-acre pond is open seasonally for swimming, and year-round for non-motorized boating. Surrounded by trees and scattered homes, it’s an idyllic spot for paddleboarding. Limited on-site parking on Camp Kiwanee Road.
Crocker Memorial Park, Duxbury
If you enjoy small ponds, check out Crocker Memorial Park in Duxbury. This wooded property at 287 Tobey Garden Street offers non-motorized boat access to the 35-acre Island Creek Pond. Fed by natural springs, Island Creek flows south for two miles, through Mill Pond and into Kingston Bay. On-site parking.
Winsor Shores, Hull and Cohasset
This tiny property on the Hull-Cohasset line provides paddling access to the 92-acre Straits Pond, a tributary to the Weir River. While in earlier times, the waters at this historic spot weren’t especially inviting, recent improvements have dramatically improved water quality. Very limited on-site parking (2-3 vehicles) at 30 Atlantic Ave, Hull.
Fresh Pond Park, Plymouth
There are 450 ponds in Plymouth, and many are suitable for paddleboarding. Consider this 62-acre kettle hole, located at 220 Bartlett Road in Manomet. Fed primarily by groundwater, it’s in the watershed of Beaver Dam Brook. Only non-motorized boats are permitted. There’s also a seasonal swimming beach, with restrooms and lifeguards on summer weekends. Limited on-site parking.
Stetson Pond Beach, Pembroke
Most of Pembroke’s ponds are within the North and South Rivers watershed, but this one is part of the Taunton River system. Located on Plymouth Street, this quiet natural pond is ideal for fishing, swimming, and paddling, with limited on-site parking.
Peter Igo Park, Marshfield
If you’d like to explore the Green Harbor River via paddleboard, this is the place to start. The tide gate at Route 139 keeps water levels relatively consistent, so if the wind is right, you can set off anytime, dawn to dusk, and head inland. Check out Everson Island, a short distance across the water, or continue upstream toward Wharf Creek and Mass Audubon’s Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary. Limited on-site parking at 29 Marshall Ave.
Mulliken’s Landing, Kingston
This is a great spot to access the Jones River — now more than ever! Recently renovated, with a boardwalk to the water plus a seasonal ramp and float, this state and town-owned landing offers over a mile of river in both directions. You’ll find quieter waters upstream, and the best paddling here occurs around high tide. Look for the small parking lot on Landing Road, at the intersection with River Road.
Kezia Bacon’s articles appear courtesy of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local non-profit organization devoted to protecting our waters. For membership information and a copy of their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781) 659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org. You will also find 27+ years of Kezia’s Nature columns there. For more information about the Explore South Shore 2024 Challenge, visit https://www.nsrwa.org/get-outdoors/2024-explore-south-shore/