Canoeing: There are a number of  great opportunities for canoeing on the Shawsheen River.  When planning a canoe trip, it's important to carefully consider the ease of access and, as with all outdoor recreational activities, to take extra care with regards to personal safety.  Before you go, access real time stream gauge data by connecting to USGS at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ma/nwis/uv/?site_no=01100600

To find out more information on stream gage data and what it means for your canoe trip: click here

The Shawsheen River Watershed Association has chosen a few of its favorite trips.  For a description of these trips click here

The Shawsheen River Recreational Map (http://www.shawsheen.org/recmap) includes specific information on canoe access points and portages along the river, as well as the Shawsheen River Watershed Association's favorite canoe trips.

The Shawsheen River Watershed Association plans group canoe outings.  For more information, access the SRWA events calendar from http://www.shawsheen.org.

Fishing: There are several good fishing spots, accessible by boat or by wading from shore.  Click on the river access points or fishing icons on the interactive map for information about which spots are best for fishing.  For information on fish stocking and licenses, contact the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife at (617) 626-1590 or access MassWildlife's recreation page at http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/dfwrec.htm

Click here for detailed information on the best fishing spots in Middlesex County (from:Fishing Guide to Middlesex County Rivers, Purgatory Cove Press 1996, by David Kaplan).  Use the Shawsheen River Recreational Map (http://www.shawsheen.org/recmap)to locate these fishing spots along the Shawsheen River.

For more information, try checking out:

Fishing Guide to North Middlesex Ponds, Purgatory Cove Press 1995, by David Kaplan; available in many public libraries in the area.

Hiking: Many of the open space lands in the watershed have trails available for hiking, walking and jogging.  The towns of Andover and North Andover have the most comprehensive online information on local trails, but trail maps can be obtained from many of the other towns upon request.  The Department of Environmental Management also maintains online information and downloadable trail maps.  Select trail maps are accessible via this interactive map.

The Bay Circuit Trail stretches from Plum Island to Kingston Bay and runs primarily North-South in this portion, spanning most of the length of the watershed.  Find more details at http://www.baycircuit.org.

The West Parish Meadow, Baker's Meadow, and Indian Ridge Reservations in Andover share a network of trails that passes Baker's Meadow Pond, Marshes and Eskers. (Approximately 3 miles)  West Parish Trail Map, Bakers Meadow Trail Map, Indian Ridge Trail

The Hartwell Town Forest in Bedford has a network of walking trails through a relatively large, contiguous tract of mature forest that are easily accessed from both the town center and the bay circuit trail/minuteman bikeways. For more information click here.

Swimming:

Berry Pond, Harold Parker State Forest, Andover: Berry Pond has a sand beach and new washhouse with flush toilets and changing stalls set against a beautiful backdrop of trees reflected in the surface of the pond.  Lifeguards are on duty from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.  978-686-3391.

Spring Brook Park, Bedford: This park on Springs Road in Bedford has a bathhouse, volleyball, basketball, picnic area and grills.  It is open 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until 8/10, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 8/11-9/1.  781-275-1392.

Micozzi Beach/Nutting Lake, Billerica: Off Middlesex Turnpike, this facility includes a bathhouse, volleyball, basketball and a picnic area.  978-671-1304.

Pomp's Pond, Andover: Recreation Park in Andover features swimming at this pond, along with tennis, softball, picnicking and canoeing.  The pond is open 6/15 – 8/18, 12 noon to 7 p.m.  Season tickets for residents are 25$, day pass for visitors $10.  978-475-9732

The Minuteman Bike Trail passes through Bedford, Lexington, Arlington and Cambridge.  Bicycling, walking, jogging, in-line skating and cross-country skiing are permitted on this 11-mile trail.  Visit http://www.minutemanbikeway.org for maps and other information.

A portion of the Bay Circuit Trail from Bedford center north to Fawn Lake is suitable for biking. Find more details at http://www.baycircuit.org.

The Shawsheen River Bike Trail in Costello Park, Lawrence runs along the Shawheen River from Loring Street to Crawford Street. Access a trail map from http://www.mvpc.org/Trail_maps/lawrcostello.pdf.

Local roads suitable for bicycling can be found on Andy Rubel’s Eastern Massachusetts Bicycle Map, http://www.bikemaps.com.  Information on off-road bicycling opportunities in the watershed can be obtained from the New England Mountain Bike Association at http://www.nemba.org.