Portaging The Dams
All in all, there are about twenty dams on the Charles River, ten of them within the area covered by this site. None of the portages are particularly difficult, but most involve a bit of walking (especially Hemlock Gorge and the Circular Dam). Having portable wheels to put on your boat is definately helpful, rather than carrying it.
South Natick Dam
The South Natick Dam is before the Pleasant Street bridge, less than a mile after the Route 16/Elliot Street launch area. There is a park to the right of the dam. Take out there and carry a short distance across the park and to the left. Put in below the dam.
Cochran Dam
The take-out spot here is a few hundred feet above the dam on the left at Redwing Bay / Fisher Street. Carry your boat along Fisher Street and take a right onto South Street / Willow Street. Go over the bridge and look for a small parking area on the left (across the street). You can put in just to the right of the parking area. Or, keep walking a little farther and take a left on Mill Street. There are a couple of spots to put in through the trees along the road.
Silk Mill Dam
The Silk Mill Dam is at Hemlock Gorge. Take out on the left after going under the Elliot Street bridge. Carry your boat up the hill to the right. Follow the path into the woods. Stay to the right until you get to the dam. There is a path to the left, down the hill to the river, below the dam.
Metropolitan Circular Dam
Shortly after going under Echo Bridge, there is a fork in the river. The circular dam is to the left, but stay to the right and go into the small channel. Take out before the small dam. Carry your boat across the access road, under the bridge (Route 9), and across the other access road. Take a left and walk along the sidewalk. At the break in the guardrail, turn right and walk into the woods onto Turtle Island. Put in wherever it seems best.
Cordingly Dam
Take out on the left, well before the footbridge. Carry through the parking lot and put into the fast water at the bottom of the dam.
Finlay Dam
There is a small park on the left, just before the Finlay Dam and the Route 16 bridge. Take out along the park and carry your boat across Route 16 and to the left of the office building. Go all the way to the back of the parking lot to the river. Put in anywhere. This is private property, but they generally allow launching (not parking).
Moody Street Dam
As you approach the Moody Street Dam, stay to the left of the river. Go under the left arch of the bridge and take out in the little canal directly in front of you. The dam is to the right. Walk toward the right along the river, and put in anywhere along the riverbank below the dam.
Bleachery Dam
Take out on the right just before the dam. Walk through the grassy area and put in below the dam.
Rolling Stone Dam
This dam has bee breached for many years and can usually be paddled through. If the water is too low however, you may need to portage. If you do, just carry over the dam, which is more like an island now.
Watertown Dam
Take out on the right immediately after the footbridge. Follow the path along the river and put into the rapids on the right side of the dam.