Indian Head River Photos

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Indian Head River Trail (IHRT) Map and Location

Trail map for the IHRT system. This includes the newly created Mattakeeset Path trail that connects Luddams Ford and Chapmans Landing.

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NSRWA Spring Paddle

NSRWA spring paddle on the Indian Head River in May 2024 leaving the public boat launch in Hanover

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Indian Head River Hanson

Section in Hanson near the State Street bridge.

Glacial Erratic on Indian Head River
Glacial Erratic on the south bank of the Indian Head River
Nice for a Photo - Bad for the River

This is a nice photo op but a wild and free Indian Head River would be so much better. The dam raises the temperature of the impounded water upstream as much as 10 degrees, traps sediments, and impedes the passage of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates in both directions. The North South River Watershed Association (NSRWA) is working on a plan to address the many negative impacts this dam may be having on the lower Indian Head River.

Lower Indian Head River
At Chapmans Landing and the Mass DCR boat launch located on Indian Head Drive in Hanover.

Riverside trail thru Wildlands Trust Tucker preserve.

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Riverside view from Wildlands Trust Tucker Preserve
Near the Waterman Tack Factory
Indian Head River near the Waterman Tack Factory. This is from the Wildlands Trust Tucker Preserve side of the river.
Rocky Run Lower Trail - April 24 NorEaster
Lower trail at Rocky Run with high water levels after the April 2024 NorEaster.
Indian Head River at State Street
At the State Street bridge after the April 2024 Nor'Easter
Indian Head River - Hanson Hanover
Just a bit further to the east is this spectacular glacial erratic plunked right on the edge of the Indian Head River in Pembroke MA.
April 2024 Nor'Easter
Post April 2024 Nor'Easter
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Christmas Day 2023

Old river crossing

Old fording spot along the river.

Erratic
Quiet section of the river looking east towards a large glacial erratic.
Mattakeeset Trail

Entrance to the Mattakeeset trail at the MASS DCR boat ramp on the Indian Head River. Trail runs across Plymouth County land between West Elm and the boat ramp. Connections here to the Chapmans Landing and Iron Mile Brook trails.

Chapmans Landing Overlook.
Construction phase of the Chapmans Landing Overlook.
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Post and beam construction technique was used for the framing of this viewing platform.
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Overlooking the North River from Chapmans Landing Trail.

Newly created view platform constructed by volunteers and Hanover Open Space Committee.

Indian Head River Oct 2022

Looking east along the Indian Head River from Chapman's Landing in Hanover. Just beyond the furthest bend in the distance would be where the Indian Head River joins with the North River.

Indian Head River Oct 2022
Same vantage point but now looking west or upstream along the Indian Head River.
E. Phillips and Sons tack factory

E. Phillips & Sons Tack Factory - State St Hanson. This was located at the Hanson entrance to the IHRT on State Street. The factory spanned the river and had buildings on both the Hanson and Hanover side.

Old and New
Stone foundation on the left is the abutment for an older State Street bridge used to cross the Indian Head River in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  This is slightly east of the current bridge and it can be see in photos of the E Phillips and Sons Tack Factory that once occupied this site.  
Dam at State Street Hanson

Dam at State Street. This is potentially one of the in-scope dams being looked at for removal as part of the feasibility study by NSRWA Indian Head River restoration

State Street towards Myette's Store

This photo shows the old bridge crossing where State St Hanson crosses the Indian Head River.  The current bridge is just to west of the one shown here and its foundations are still visible at the site.  The building straight ahead at teh top of the hill is what now hoses Myettes Country Store in Hanover.  

The dam shown in this photo along with the one at Luddams Ford are the two dams on the Indian Head River that will be evaluated for removal in the next few years.   If completed, it would restore free flowing water and unencumbered fish migration all the way from mouth of the North River to the dam at Factory Pond in Hanson. 

Rocky Run Stream

Rocky Run as it descends from Trout Pond just above the point where it enters the Indian Head River. The headwaters for this stream are sourced from the wetlands just to the north of Oldham Pond.

Morning Light at Chapman's Landing
Early morning at Chapman's Landing out close to the North River.
River Otter Indian Head River.
River Otter at Tucker Preserve along the Indian Head River in Pembroke MA.
River Otter Indian Head River.
River Otter on the Indian Head River in Pembroke MA.
Indian Head River Tucker Preserve

Just upstream from the Luddam's Ford dam on the Indian Head River.

River Otter - Indian Head River
River otter on the Indian Head river in Pembroke/Hanover Ma. This is just off the shore from the Wildlands Trust Tucker Preserve.
River Otter - Indian Head River
River Otter
River Otter -Indian Head River
River Otter eating a fish on the Indian Head River that forms part of the border between Hanover and Pembroke MA.
Luddam's Ford dam on the Indian Head River

Luddam's Ford Dam looking towards the Wildlands Trust Tucker Preserve.

Indian Head River

Side branch of the Indian Head River from the Hanover side. This is looking upstream close to where the river passes under State Street in Hanson.

Iron Mine Brook at the Indian Head River

Even though this is 6.7 miles inland from the mouth of the North River (the way the crow flies), the ocean tide still has impact. Here, adjacent to the MASS DCR boat ramp in Hanover, Iron Mine Brook empties into the Indian Head River at low tide.

Luddam's Ford

Looking from the Pembroke side

Rocky Run Hanson
Indian Head River at Rocky Run in Hanson. This is looking towards the west.
Indian Head River at Rocky Run Hanson
At Rocky Run Conservation Area
Indian Head River at Rocky Run Hanson

Indian Head River at Rocky Run Conservation Area. Remnants of the old tack factory dam where it crossed the river.

Indian Head River at Rocky Run Hanson

Indian Head river just east of Rocky Run Conservation area. Swift waters after an autumn rain.

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IHR at Hanson
Looking down stream along the Indian Head River from the former Rocky Run dam
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Looking east along the Indian Head River, Hanover on the left bank and Pembroke on the right bank.
Indian Head River Hanson
Indian Head River in Pembroke looking upstream to the west.
Watermans Tack Factory
Looking east along the Indian Head River from the Wildlands Trust Tucker Preserve. The Waterman Tack factory is directly across the river.
Rocky Run Hanson
Rocky Run Information kiosk
Water Street (Hanover) IHR Trail Kiosk
Water Street (Hanover) entrance to the Indian Head River trail.
This section of rough water is just east of Rocky Run. Looks as if this may have been a small dam or possibly a stone bridge.

Another view of the small rapids iust east of Rocky Run.

The installation of boardwalks installed at Chapman's landing were the result of a collaborative effort by Wildlands Trust, Hanover Open Space Committee, and several volunteer groups.
Boardwalk through the initial portions of the Chapman's Landing trail raise the walking surface above a seasonably muddy section of the trail. This portion of the trail passes between remnants of man made berms that causes water to collect on the trail.
Newly installed information kiosk at the State Street entrance to Rocky Run.
Autumn 2020 along the Indian Head River Trail. Hanson Pembroke Hanover
An old Plymouth County property bound marker along side the Indian Head River trail (IHRT) in Hanson.
Indian Head River in Hanson MA.
Indian Head River on the Hanover/Hanson town line.
Just beyond the entrance to the Chapman's Landing trail head, this small bridge crosses over the Iron Mine brook.
Looking from the Town of Hanson Rocky Run conservation across the river to Hanover. The IHRT crosses directly beside the rocks on the other side of the river.
Ice bobbles - IHRT Hanover
Indian Head River as it passes under State Street in Hanson,
Autumn 2020 along the Indian Head River Trail.
Indian Head RIver, Pembroke MA.
Seasonable fast flowing water as the Indian Head River passes under the State Street bridge in Hanson. This is just upstream from the Rocky run Conservation property.
After several days of rain, the benefits provided by the newly installed bog boards are evident.
Glacial erratic in Wildlands Trust Tucker Preserve, Pembroke. This erratic is in a Hemlock grove on the banks of the Indian Head River.

Star Flower along the Indian Head River Trail.

Large glacial erratic seated along the edge of the Indian Head River, Pembroke MA.
Looking west along the Indian Head River from the Hanover side at Luddam's Ford.
IndianHead river at low tide near the Mass State boat ramp in Hanover.
The old dam and fish ladder at Ludam's Ford on the Hanover Pembroke line.
Glacial erratics along the Indian Head River.
Sunrise through the mist at Chapmans Landing.
Another view of the large erratic on the Indian Head River that divides Pembroke and Hanover.
Indian Head River near State Street in Hanson
Rocky Run Conservation area in Hanson

Early morning looking east along the Indian Head River in Pembroke.

Looking down from IHRT as it passes through Wildlands Trust Tucker Preserve. Indian Head River below. Pembroke MA.
Rocky Run Conservation area in Hanson. This is along the Indian Head River Trail
Small glacial erratic on the south side of the Indian Head River - Pembroke Hanover

Rocky Run Conservation area in Hanson. These out croppings are listed as Pennsylvanian Rocks on USGS maps. This type of rock is sedimentary and possibly Greywacke.

Looking west along the Indian Head River between Hanson and Hanover. This is not far from the State Street Bridge in Hanson.
Hanover side looking towards the Town of Hanson Rocky Run conservation preserve. The IHRT passes on either side of the river at this location.
Hole through the softer sedimentary rock at Hanson Conservation - Rocky Run. Indian Head River in the background. Accessible from the Indian Head River Trail (IHRT) in the portion that runs through Hanson.
Section of the Indian Head River Trail (IHRT) in Hanover. The full loop passes through Hanover, Hanson, and Pembroke.
These out croppings at Rocky Run are listed as Pennsylvanian Rocks on USGS maps. This type of rock is sedimentary and possibly Greywacke.
These out croppings at Rocky Run are listed as Pennsylvanian Rocks on USGS maps. This type of rock is sedimentary and possibly Greywacke.
Rocky Run Conservation area in Hanson
Site of the R.C. Waterman Tack Factory and breached dam (Hurricane of 1938) along the Indian Head River.
Indian Head River
Indian Head River Ice
Dam at Luddams Ford
Scene from the Indian Head River Trail (IHRT).
Dwelly Rock along the Indian Head River Trail (IHRT).

Indian Head River in Hanover looking upstream and to the west. Immediately on the other side of the river is the Wildlands Trust Tucker Preserve.