Hi Chris, Yes, there is a put in at Riverbend Farm on the canal from which you can paddle the canal between Oak St and Rt 16. You could could also park in the back left corner of the TriRiver health Center at the corner of East Hartford and Oak and put in above the dam and paddle upstream into Rice City Pond and a section of the canal and river (beware of the waterfall where the pond empties into the river). When the water is high enough it is possible to paddle into the Goat Hill Lock on the canal. Lastly, and I'd NOT recommend doing this alone, you can paddle the river / canal loop down the river, portage across and then back up the canal. I've not paddled the river this year and, with all the storms, there may likely be be some blockages, strainers, alternate channels, etc. Also the portage from the river to canal is easy to miss and if you get swept down past Rt 16 and the broken dam, it would be very difficult if not impossible to get back upstream to the portage. If you want to paddle before the meeting, I'd suggest the Rice City pond or canal option.
