A Paddle
The best time to paddle on the Parker River is in spring or fall, avoiding the peak mosquito season in June through September. For a quick canoe trip, launch at Thurlow Bridge on Middle Street about one hour before high tide. Canoe upstream until the tide turns and paddle back out to the starting point, returning no later than 2 hours after the tide has turned. This timing makes for easy paddling and good visibility, and often offers a little wind to ward off any early or late-lingering mosquitoes. For a longer trip, paddle farther up the Parker, past the intersection with Cart Creek, around the next bend, which is Greenbelt owned land on the right, and to a rock outcropping on the right hand shore. This is the beginning of the Great Meadow property. If you would like to stretch your legs, plan to arrive at this point at high water, so you can step out directly onto the rock face. Otherwise, footing can be awkward once the tide goes down. The trails and meadows are off to the left, and one trail is just on the other side of the rock, away from the river.