Lake Lillinonah and the Housatonic River to the Boardman Bridge

Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Clatter Valley Park, 158 Town Farm Road, New Milford to car caravan at 10:15 a.m. to the launch site, which is unmarked and may be tricky to find. DO NOT unload your boat at the park as we are not launching there. The launch is 1 mile from the park. Launch parking is limited and potentially challenging to find. There is a gravel road about 400 feet long from the parking area to the water, so a kayak carrier is recommended. This is a moderate paced 4.5-hour, 10.5-mile out and back paddle up to the historic Boardman Bridge. We will launch into Lake Lillinonah and proceed north through the Lovers Leap gorge beneath its iconic red iron bridge. We have a short portage on flat ground around the Bleachery Dam to continue north on the Housatonic River. We turn around at the Boardman Bridge where we will take our lunch break (with a possible alternate lunch spot near Veterans Bridge). We return the way we came.
Paddlers must provide their own boat and equipment. Per club policy, paddlers must wear a zipped/buckled life jacket for the trip duration. Bring lunch, snacks, and water.
Rain cancels. Rain cancels. If the weather is uncertain, the leader will post an update by 7 a.m. the morning of the trip.
GPS track: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55608167
Directions: I-84 Exit 7 to Route 7 North / Route 202 West for 9 miles. Right on Still River Drive (becomes Grove St.) for 1.3 miles. Right on Hine Hill Rd. for 1.1 miles. Right on Town Farm Rd. for 0.3 miles. Bear left on Clatter Valley Rd., then right into the parking lot.
(If you are following Google Maps, it will tell you to turn right on Lovers Leap Road, not left on Clatter Valley Road. Believe these directions, not Google Maps for this final turn.)