Canaan River Access
Name of Project: Canaan River Access 
Location: Canaan, VT
River: Connecticut River
Type of Project: Paddlers’ Access and Boat Launch
Date Completed: January 2012
Size: 2.5 Acres
Water Frontage: 550’
Landowner: Town of Canaan; Easement held by Vermont River Conservancy
Funding Partners: Funded by Tillotson Foundation, Davis Foundation, Plum Creek, the Upper Connecticut Mitigation and Enhancement Fund, and individual donors.
Property Description: This parcel in Canaan, Vermont serves as an important boat launch in the area. For years, anglers and paddlers have been parking illegally on this privately owned land, causing tensions and disputes between recreationalists and the landowner. The Vermont River Conservancy transferred the property to the town of Canaan and orchestrated site improvements, including a parking lot for paddlers and snowmobile users, an official boat launch, a portable toilet, a kiosk that contains a map and site etiquette expectations, and a riparian buffer planted with native species to provide wildlife habitat and to protect water quality.
Directions: This boat launch is located in the heart of Canaan village, downstream of the Rt 114 bridge that crosses the Connecticut River and connects Canaan VT to West Stewartstown, NH. Access the river via a loop road to the west of this bridge. This road down to the river must be kept clear for emergency vehicles; park in the parking area downstream of the loop road.
