Shetucket River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shetucket River
The river at Salt Rock State Park in Sprague
Shetucket River and environs
Country	United States
State	Connecticut
Counties	Windham, New London
Physical characteristics
Main source	Confluence of Willimantic River and Natchaug River Willimantic, Windham County, Connecticut, United States 41°42′46″N 72°11′31″W / 41.71278°N 72.19194°W / 41.71278; -72.19194
River mouth	Confluence with Yantic River to form Thames River Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, United States 41°31′20″N 72°04′40″W / 41.52222°N 72.07778°W / 41.52222; -72.07778
Length	20 mi (32 km)
Basin features
Tributaries	Right: Quinebaug River, Little River (Shetucket River)

The Shetucket River is a tributary of the Thames River, 20.4 miles (32.8 km) long, in eastern Connecticut in the United States.

It is formed at Willimantic by the junction of the Willimantic and Natchaug rivers. It flows southeast and south. Approximately 4 miles (6 km) northeast of Norwich it receives the Quinebaug River and broadens into a wide estuary which stretches southeast for approximately 5 miles (8 km) and joins the Thames estuary on the south side of Norwich.

The river flows through a rural section of New England, despite the historical presence of industry in the surrounding region. Parts of the rivers have been designated by the federal government as the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor. The National Park Service describes the river valley as the "last green valley" in the Boston-to-Washington megalopolis. In nighttime satellite photos, the valley appears distinctively dark amidst the lights of the surrounding urban and suburban regions.

Crossings

Carries	Location
Route 2	Norwich
Providence and Worcester Railroad
Route 12/Route 2
Route 2
8th Street
Providence and Worcester Railroad	Norwich/ Lisbon
Route 12
Route 169
Connecticut Turnpike
Bridge Street/Main Street	Norwich/ Sprague
Route 97	Sprague
Route 203	Windham
Providence and Worcester Railroad
Plains Road

Paddling the River

The entire length of the river, as well as the lower part of the Natchaug River flowing into it, is a popular recreational paddling route.

Canoe/Kayak launch sites are located at the following locations:

• Lauter Park off Route 195 - Willimantic (on Natchaug River 1 mile above Shetucket River)
• Recreation Park on Plains Road - Windham
• Baltic Riverside Park on Route 97 - Sprague
• Occum Dam canoe portage - Sprague
• Lisbon Canoe Launch off Route 169 - Lisbon
• Greenville Dam canoe portage - Norwich
• Howard Brown Park - Norwich

Short, marked portages are required at four hydroelectric dams: Scotland Dam, Occum Dam, Taftville Dam, and Greenville Dam.