Eightmile River (Connecticut River)
Encyclopedia
The Eightmile River has its source along a small drainage into several small swamps in an undeveloped region about three miles east of Bashan in the town of East Haddam, Connecticut
. This source is fairly centered between Ackley Road, Hall Kilbourne Road, Usher Swamp Road, and Miles Standish Road. The Eightmile River runs for 13.4 miles (21.6 km) to Hamburg Cove near Hamburg, Connecticut.
The East Branch begins 1/10 of a mile west of the junction of Route 85
and Witch Meadow Road, which is about 1 mile north of Salem, Connecticut
. A popular paddling route begins about 3 miles southwest of Salem along Darling Road about a half mile southwest of the junction of White Birch Road. Most of the route is whitewater
reaching Class III-IV at its most difficult with some flatwater and quickwater between the rapids. A take-out can be reached at the Route 156 bridge just before the river's confluence with the main flow of the Eightmile River.
East Haddam, Connecticut
East Haddam is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,333 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. This source is fairly centered between Ackley Road, Hall Kilbourne Road, Usher Swamp Road, and Miles Standish Road. The Eightmile River runs for 13.4 miles (21.6 km) to Hamburg Cove near Hamburg, Connecticut.
The East Branch begins 1/10 of a mile west of the junction of Route 85
Route 85 (Connecticut)
Route 85 a north–south state highway in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Connecticut linking the city of New London to the town of Bolton.-Route description:...
and Witch Meadow Road, which is about 1 mile north of Salem, Connecticut
Salem, Connecticut
Salem is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,858 at the 2000 census.- Pre-incorporation :The area was originally inhabited by Mohegans. The very first settlement of European origin in present-day Salem was deeded in 1664. In the early 18th century, more...
. A popular paddling route begins about 3 miles southwest of Salem along Darling Road about a half mile southwest of the junction of White Birch Road. Most of the route is whitewater
Whitewater
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...
reaching Class III-IV at its most difficult with some flatwater and quickwater between the rapids. A take-out can be reached at the Route 156 bridge just before the river's confluence with the main flow of the Eightmile River.
External links
- Connecticut Explorer's Guide Online paddling maps of Eightmile River