Albion Dam

The Blackstone River
The major natural feature of the Hertiage Corridor is the Blackstone River. Along its 46-mile course from Worcester to Providence, the Blackstone features dozens of places where people can get to the river - for canoeing or kayaking, picnicking, walking, or to just enjoy the natural and historic scenery.

The Blackstone River drops an astounding 438 feet in just 46 miles - an average of over 9.5 feet per mile.  This drop in elevation - along with the river's relatively narrow width and its naturally meandering path - provided a resource that could be easily harnessed for generating water power beginning in the 17th Century. 

The Blackstone River was the engine that powered the beginnings of the American Industrial Revolution. Today structures related to waterpower and early transportation- dams, ponds, mills, canals, locks and the related mill villages, towns and cities are all integral parts of the Blackstone Valley riverscape.

Portaging the Saundersville Dam

Today, the Blackstone River is used more for recreation than for industry. Traveling down the Blackstone River provides a unique opportunity to experience the valley’s diverse cultural and natural landscapes - the mills, associated mill villages, canals, locks and dams - in a way not possible on foot or by car.

In three stretches of the river, canoeists can paddle in watered canal segments and at a handful of places they can walk to remaining canal lock structures.

The industrial heritage of the Blackstone River left behind a fascinating but challenging river to paddle. Impoundments of the river, both for power production and for flood control, have transformed it into a series of ponds connected by short stretches of free-flowing river. 

Pawtucket Falls

You can enjoy the Blackstone River and/or get involved with its renaissance in many ways…

• Take a tour of the river on the Blackstone Explorer, a tour boat for the general public
• Become a member of the River Coalition and join the ZAP! the Blackstone River Campaign to improve the river
• Join the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club and explore a different part of the river each week of the summer
• Enter the Blackstone River Watershed Association’s Annual Canoe Race or the Friends of the Blackstone’s Annual Riverfest Canoe Race
• Join the Blackstone River Watershed Council in Rhode Island or the Blackstone River Watershed Association in Massachusetts and help with cleanup and restoration efforts along the river
• Enjoy one of the several river events like the Canalfest in Uxbridge, MA or Rivers Day in Central Falls, RI

Find out more about accessing the river by clicking on Get on the River or discover how partners in the Valley are working together to bring back the Blackstone at Restoring the River.

You can Get Involved with bringing back the Blackstone and find out about the Blackstone River Coalition and current activities along the River that are part of our ZAP! the Blackstone river recovery efforts.