| Skug River | |
| Map: | USGS Lawrence, MA-NH 15 minute Quadrangle SE (1893).jpg |
| Source1 Location: | Harold Parker State Forest |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 42.635°N -71.098°W |
| Mouth Location: | Martin's Pond, North Reading, MA |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 42.5988°N -71.1238°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Massachusetts |
| Subdivision Type3: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name3: | Essex and Middlesex |
| Length: | 4.9miles |
The Skug River is a 4.9adj=midNaNadj=mid river[1] in North Andover, Andover, and North Reading, Massachusetts that constitutes part of the Ipswich River watershed.A popular etymology gives Skug as a misspelling of Skunk,[2] however the name is more likely derived from the Abenaki, meaning snake.
The river arises from wetlands just south of Boston Hill in the Harold Parker State Forest, and flows mainly southwest to empty into Martin's Pond in North Reading. From there, Martin's Brook carries its waters onwards to the Ipswich River.
The river was dammed over 200 years ago for a sawmill and grist mill. Although the dam has since disappeared, the large stone walls of its millrace can still be seen in the Harold Parker State Forest and Andover Village Improvement Society Skug River Reservation, as can the old Jenkins Soapstone Quarry abutting the river.