Gaffney Road Landing
Take a paddling adventure on the gorgeous Slocums River in Dartmouth from the town-owned landing on Gaffney Road. This small, gravel shoreline launch provides access to the wide middle section of the river, where you can enjoy a day of discovery along these marshy shores.
Features
The town landing at Gaffney Road in Dartmouth is a gravel shoreline launch that’s best for paddlecraft.
Perfect for adventurers with kayaks and paddleboards, the Gaffney Road landing sets you on an exploration of the Slocums River. From this spot on the river, it’s easy to paddle upstream toward the Slocum’s River Reserve and Russells Mills Landing, or head downstream toward the open waters of Buzzards Bay.
Along the way, there are many places to stop and discover parks, beaches, and trails. Paddle south, and you’ll soon reach the Lloyd Center for the Environment. Eventually, you’ll find the sandy shores of Demarest Lloyd State Park, where you can stop to swim, picnic, and rest.
Habitats & Wildlife
The Gaffney Road Landing is located on the shores of the Slocums River, about halfway between its head at Russells Mills Village and its mouth at Barneys Joy. The Slocums River is a brackish tidal river fed by the fresh waters of the Paskamansett River, which begins all the way north at the Acushnet Cedar Swamp in New Bedford.
The river hums with a vibrant, diverse array of animal and plant life. Look for herons and egrets stalking the salt marshes for prey, and ospreys soaring through the skies in summer. Below the surface of the water, schools of striped bass swim in spring.
