West Branch North River (Crowningshield)
Heath, MA · about 30 min from Greenfield (typical, off-peak)
The Heath wild-brook mile Trout Unlimited and FLT conserved — named land-trust trailhead, not a farm hop.
Salt River / stream Lake / pond Shop (desk) Guide only Parking Stay State access Private — ask first
- Season
- General-law trout streams are in the main season. Bag limits change after Sep 10. MassWildlife is the source of truth. Official rule
- License
- Massachusetts freshwater license
- Park
- Franklin Land Trust Crowningshield Conservation Area trailheads on the south side of West Branch Road, Heath (signed pull-off about 0.7 mile southeast of the old barn, plus roadside parking at the barn ~300 feet southeast of Al Stetson Road). DFG holds a conservation restriction. Not a MassWildlife WMA lot.
- Walk in
- Steep half-mile hike from the West Branch Road trailhead down to the river.
- Wading
- Small remote brook. Do not go alone. Stay on FLT land.
- Usual window
- Spring and fall. Confirm MassWildlife / DMF.
- Wednesday conditions
-
W 2 mph around dawn. Fine to go.
- Sky
- ⛅ 83° partly
- Sun and moon
- Rise 6:08 · 🌔 Waxing gibbous · Set 7:38
- Wind at dawn
- W 2 mph · Partly Cloudy · 52°F
- Wind later
-
- dawn: W 2 mph
- 10am: W 1 mph
- 2pm: N 2 mph
- dusk: W 7 mph
- Flow
- 34 cfs · in a wadable band · 1.45 ft · 6:30 pm · North River at Shattuckville · USGS gauge · wadable band is a sketch, not a safety rating
- A setup that belongs here
- 2- or 3-wt, small dries.
- Notes
- Franklin Land Trust plus DFG conservation restriction. Native brook trout. Neighboring Coe APR and private farms are not this pin. Confirm MassWildlife / DMF.
Steep hike. Park at the signed FLT pull-off only. Do not block the barn or farm drives.
Log this trip
Stays on this phone only. Nobody else sees it.
Shops
Guides
Shop desks, plus a few independents who fish public water. We do not take a cut. Call them.
Concord Outfitters — book a day
Concord, MA · wade / shore · Half or full day — ask the shop
Good for: MetroWest rivers and ponds, first local trout day
Shop desk, not a scraped independent. Call them; they put you with someone they trust.