Even though Bruce Lessels had left the Shelburne Falls area for many years, he always came back. He never forgot the reliable streams of the Deerfield River, an escape from the more developed areas in the state of Massachusetts. Meandering throughout the scenic and historical landscape of the area, the Deerfield River stayed in his mind.
So in 1989 he came back because of the river.
With over 35 miles of trail designated for horseback riding, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, and another six miles of hiking trails following the shape of the river, the recreational opportunities are almost as endless as the flow of the river itself. Camp sites surrounded by forest have made their homes along Deerfield River. And some people even spend their lives on and around the river.
Once part of the US White Water Raft Team, Lessels has been rafting and boating in the Deerfield River since he was 15.
“I just love the energy of the river,” he said. “It's a really unique thing to be on a river, working with the flow and energy...”
And since the Deerfield River offers such a large variety of flows, Lessels started Zoar Outdoor, which offers three white water rafting tours on three different sections of the river.
“Having that variety means a lot of different people with different appetites for adventure can get out there on the river,” he said. Camping at Zoar Outdoor is set in a wooded environment off the beaten track on a plateau 60 feet above Deerfield River Valley floor. Cabin tents, yurts, and tent sites are available. A traditional camping site is $12/person/night, while cabin tents are offered at $23/person/night.
Something For Everyone
At 27 miles long, it’s ideal for rafting, kayaking and fishing. Some parts are like a little stream, explained Shelburne Falls resident Eric Halloran, while others are like a big river. Some fishing spots “you have to hike to,” he said. “It's relatively secluded and you don't see people. Other places, you can just pull up, walk 10 feet, and you're fishing.”
Fly fishing on the Deerfield River, fishermen will see beaver, otter, and minx. Halloran has seen bald eagles frequently. There's also a lot of trees, plants and flowers to admire. Or eat.
“I was guiding a raft trip a couple of years ago,” said Lessels, “and I mentioned we were looking for a particular mushroom that was easy to identify and edible. As I was explaining it, one of the people on the trip pointed to an area in front of the boat and said, 'You mean that?' It was right in front of us.”
And of course, there's fish. There's rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, small mouth bass...
A retired teacher, Halloran now teaches people how to wade fish through his company Fish Tale Fabricators. He loves fishing. He loves teaching people things. So, it's a nice way to spend his retirement, he put it simply. And he loves tying his own flies.
“You're making a piece of art for the appreciation of a non-human being,” Halloran said. “The fish is the ultimate judge of how crafty you are.”
Having placed first in the Deerfield River One-Fly event (organized by the Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited) for the past couple of years, it's safe to say that the fish find his art inspiring and thought-provoking.
With two catch-and-release locations between the Fife Brook dam and the Route 2 bridge, the fly fishing is endless on the river.
The Flow That Never Ends
The Deerfield River can support this amount of various activities because of its unique geography. The descent of nearly 1,100 feet over 50 miles has given the river a lot of water power at many locations. The 10 dams on the Deerfield have also shaped the flow and ecology of the river in the past few years.
So even people who have spent their lives out on the Deerfield River are always finding something new to explore.
“When you're in your own boat,” Lessels said, of kayaking out on the river, “you can determine where you go, what you do. It's a great way to explore a lot of places that are hard to get to otherwise. Places you can't get to any other way. There's little islands in the middle of the river, and little coves. Those are things only accessible by kayak.”
There's a swimming area by the Stillwater Bridge with cliffs up to 40 feet high. While it's definitely dangerous, swimmers can – and have – jumped from these cliffs into the water below. We do not recommend you do so if you have any injuries or medical conditions. Even when it comes to swimming, the Deerfield River offers something exhilarating and adventurous.