Squannacook's Black Rock

I'd been wanting to visit Black Rock (photo at left) on the Squannacook River in Townsend for quite awhile.  Thanks to some time off, good water levels in the river, and this afternoon's pleasant weather, I made it happen.

 
I launched between Adam's Dam and the Route 119 bridge which involved sliding my boat down the riverbank from the parking area above...

I checked out the long abandoned Peterboro and Shirley Railroad trestle between my launch spot and the dam...

...before turning about and paddling upstream the approximately half mile to Black Rock...

Arriving there I stumbled upon this submerged old horseshoe...

...which will hopefully bring me some luck.

The blackened underside of the rock speaks to the many fires stoked by visitors over the eons...

The view down to my boat from the rock's topside speaks to its majesty...

This rock face below Black Rock would have made a great spot for a petroglyph...

Following my visit to the rock I continued upriver until encountering a couple of canoeists getting in a downriver run in preparation for what they told me will be a canoe and kayak race this upcoming Saturday 4/18.  The race is hosted by the Townsend Lions Club and this will be its 32nd year.

Continuing further upriver found more and more obstructions in the form of downed trees which persuaded me to turn about and ride the current back to my takeout location.

I was struck by how clean and clear the water was.  It reminded me of the Nissitissit  and Swift rivers.
The Squannacook is said to be one of Massachusett's better trout streams.

As usual, though, trash of a plastic nature was found lurking behind many of the snags...