 (Home) |
Blackstone River Valley HikeUxbridge & Blackstone, MASaturday November 26th, 2005 |
Historically, the only action you'd be apt to find at Clark during Thanksgiving break would be the tumbleweeds
blowing across the Green. But not everyone goes home for the holiday, so this year we joined forces with the
Office of Intercultural Affairs to offer a trip to the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor State Park.
|
Despite the cold weather and recent snowfall, eight of us hailing from six countries hiked the Canal Towpath
and King Philip's Trail up to Lookout Rock and back.
|
The patchy snow created some pretty sights along the trail.
|
Our starting point was at the park's River Bend Farm Visitor's Center. The center is located in a beautifully restored barn.
|
After our hike, we spent some time upstairs in the exhibit area learning a
little bit about the river's history.
|
We then drove a few miles south for a brief visit to the Blackstone Gorge, a whitewater section of the river located
on the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border. The Gorge's Rolling Mill Dam reminded us of a miniature Niagara Falls.
|
Below the dam, we could see the cliffs begining to rise above the river. Those who proceed further downstream
will find that they eventually reach heights of 60 feet in the steepest portions of the gorge.
|
Although it covers only a short distance from end to end, the Blackstone Gorge is the most pristine and
untamed section of the river, and certainly the most exciting to visit.
|
|
|