Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Take-out MA

Hamilton Canal Locks

Concord - City of Lowell to Merrimack River · MA

American Whitewater 42.6446, -71.3056

Save this feature with the run it belongs to.

Gauge Conditions

Concord River below River Meadow Brook, at Lowell, MA Downstream Primary
Runnable: 400.0 – 6,000.0 CFS
Data from American Whitewater & USGS

Photo

Hamilton Canal Locks
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater

Description

Below Middlesex Dam just above where the Concord flows into the Merrimack River are a set of 19th century locks used to access the canal system from the Merrimack. They are still in operation today and usable by river trips by prior arrangement. Note: As of 2006, the innermost lock gate is jammed shut by a large log and the gates are partially silted shut. Once the locks raise you up to street level you have to take out and portage around the last lock gate. This area is the raft take-out since they use the nearby Doubletree Hotel as a base of operations. Hamilton Canal connects to the other canals in Lowell as well as the Merrimack River upstream of Lowell.

Location

Interactive river map Loads as you approach this section.
Type
Take-out
Mile Marker
1.5 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
City of Lowell to Merrimack River
Concord
III+(IV) 2.2 mi

Current Conditions

5-Day Forecast

Whitewater data from
American Whitewater