Cochrane Dam, Dover To Cutler Park, Dedham

Cochrane Dam
Cochrane Dam, Dover  To Needham St, (Cutler Park) Dedham
50 Mill Street, Dover,  To 475 Needham St, Dedham

Trip 4.6 miles / 7.5 km     Paddling Time ~ 2h15min
Start: ~ 50 Mill St, Dover, MA
Finish: Needham St, Dedham, MA

The start is just below the Cochrane Dam on the Dover-Needham line.
Parking is allowed Dusk To Dawn.
The arrival is on Needham St, Dedham,  right next to Cutler Park.
There is room to park few cars, and the river is right there.

I like this part of the Charles River as it runs trough Dover/Needham,  the fall colors are fantastic.

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Access: 
Go to (about) 50 Mill St, Dover, MA.  "Pahk the cah"  and look on right, there is a clear path giving access to the river. Very easy access.

Path To The River

Landing

Difficulties / Impediments 

☞ Short portage may be necessary in low water level.

1)  A USGS station is located about 340 yards downstream. GPS 42.256395° -71.259429°

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A very-very small dam runs across the river. The dam is made to provide the measuring station with an horizontal water level. This small dam is nothing really serious but under 1.5 feet of water, you'll probably need to get your feet wet to bypass the small dam and portage the boat over the dam, otherwise you may get stuck or scratch the boat.  You can always check the water level with either the USGS or the NOAA before going.

I cannot recommend to drop the boat right after the USGS station as there is a sign "No Trespassing-Private Property".
  

2)  The Needham "Rapids"
Right after the bridge on Dedham Ave. (Route 135) There is a small acceleration. Calling them "rapids" is an overstatement, nevertheless, it will give you a 2 seconds thrill.  The "drop" is less than a foot over 20 yards. 
The issue is on low water:  You may have to give a little push, or get out of the boat  if the water is below 1.2 ft at the Dover USGS.  Above 2ft, you won't even notice it, at 2.5+ ft, the river is "flat" at that passage.

Notes:
As of Sept 2012, the bridge on Mill St, above the dam, is under construction and traffic is restricted.   Use Dedham street in Dover to access Mill St. 
☞ Do not start above the Cochrane Dam: It's 7ft high (2m) and cannot be passed on a boat.

The Cochrane Dam, here seen @ ~5,000 gal/sec .  (600 cu ft/s ,  USGS Gage height 2.5 ft).  Hidden by the water, there are some nasty rocks just under the chute. If you survive the fall, your boat won't. 

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 Cochrane Dam, USGS gage 1.1 ft.  You can see the rocks

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The USGS Station @ 2.5 feet. The Dam cannot be seen.  Safe to paddle.

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☞ Always Check the Safety Page, The Checklist and the Tips:  It's a boat, not a coffin!

☞ Always Check the water level. This NOAA page gives you an actual and forecast level of a river.   Here is the link to the Charles River @ Dover.
(Hey! psss! :  Forecast means estimate)

☞  Google Earth .kml file of all rivers in New-England, with Water Level, Forecast









Paddling time:
All paddling time are given as approximation on TRMC
(Tourist Relaxed Mode on a Canoe) 

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