The Housatonic River is a river, approximately 149 miles long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about 1,950 square miles of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound. Its watershed is just to the west of the watershed of the lower Connecticut River.

The river's name comes from the Mohican phrase "usi-a-di-en-uk", translated as "beyond the mountain place".

Inspired by the river during his honeymoon, the American classical music composer Charles Ives wrote The Housatonic at Stockbridge as part of his composition Three Places in New England during the 1910's. The town of Stockbridge is located in extreme SW Massachusetts, the river entering from the eastside of town then turning south towards Connecticut.

The Housatonic rises from four sources in far western Massachusetts in the Berkshire Mountains near the city of Pittsfield. It flows southward through western Massachusetts through the Berkshires and into western Connecticut, and empties into Long Island Sound between the towns of Stratford and Milford.

The river's total fall is 1430 feet (959 feet from the confluence of its east and west branches). Its major tributaries are the Williams, Green and Konkapot Rivers in Massachusetts, the Tenmile River in New York, and the Shepaug, Pomperaug, Naugatuck, and Still Rivers in Connecticut. It receives the Naugatuck River at Derby, Connecticut, and the Still River south of New Milford, Connecticut.

Five dams impounded the river in Connecticut to produce hydroelectricity, the Falls Village, Bulls Bridge, Shepaug, Stevenson and Derby dams. The last three dams form a chain of lakes, Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar and Lake Housatonic, from New Milford south to Shelton.


The Housatonic River is a popular whitewater paddling destination beginning at Weatogue, CT and continuing to Gaylordsville, CT. Most of the river is quickwater and Class I whitewater with long sections of Class II-III whitewater. A deadly and extreme Class VI resides at Great Falls and is most likely not able to be paddled. The most dangerous and difficult section that is navigatable is by Bulls Bridge, CT with Class V whitewater.

For more information on Housatonic River properties please contact Sean Michael Aikman at Sotheby's International Realty.

Sean Michael Aikman
Broker/Associate ? RSPS, TRC, CIPS
Cell: 860.777.7434
NYC: 212.710.5607
Fax: 860.927.1755

www.HousatonicBroker.com