WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER GREENWAY:

WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER GREENWAY-WASHINGTON SECONDARY BIKE PATH CONNECTION:

JOHNSTON-PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Last Updated:      August 03, 2026

Length:                Woonasquatucket River Greenway; 5 miles 

                               Buttonhole Trail-Merino Park Trail; 1.4 miles

                               Woonasquatucket River Greenway-Washington Secondary Bike Path Connection; 1.4 miles

Difficulty:            Woonasquatucket River Greenway; Easy. Paved, flat trail. 

                               Buttonhole Trail-Merino Park Trail; Easy. Paved, mostly flat trail. 

                               Woonasquatucket River Greenway-Washington Secondary Bike Path Connection; Easy. Paved, flat trail. 

Directions:

To start from Providence [Eastern End]; 

From Routes 6 & 10; Head east on Route 6. Take the Dean St exit. Head left (north) on Dean St and turn right onto Providence Place (one-way eastbound) heading towards the Providence Place Mall. 

From I-95; Take exit 37D to Providence Place (one-way eastbound) and turn right, heading towards the Providence Place Mall. 

You can park at the Providence Place Mall (parking fee). Commercial parking lots available off Promenade St (one-way Westbound) . These two streets are divided by the Woonasquatucket River. 

To start from Riverside Mills Park [Central Section]; From Route 6, take the Hartford Ave exit and travel east. Turn left onto Manton Ave and then your next left onto Aleppo St. The Park will be on your left. This is the recommended starting point if biking with kids.

The Woonasquatucket River Greenway follows the Woonasquatucket River from Providence Northwest, to Johnston. Future plans will extend the trail to the Smithfield line. Part of the trail follows the rail bed of the former 1873 Providence & Springfield Railroad which was the acquired by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad around 1900. Off the Woonasquatucket River Greenway you can access the Woonasquatucket River Greenway-Washington Secondary Bike Path Connection. This trail will eventually connect the 2 trails, but as of 2026, a GAP remains. See; Washington Secondary Bike Path . For more information Check out; WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER WATERSHED , BIKE RI or  EAST COAST GREENWAY .    

Woonasquatucket River Greenway:

Starting from the Providence Place Mall in Providence [Eastern End]; The BIKE LANE section of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway starts at the entrance to the Providence Place Mall parking garage. The Woonasquatucket River flows underneath the mall through downtown, where it enters the Providence River.

Note; Before you head out, I would suggest a quick detour to check out downtown Providence and the River Walk area. Just head up the ramp that travels under the mall, next to the river and it will bring you to Francis St, in the front of the mall. To your left is the State Capitol. Straight ahead is the River Walk. Great views of the downtown skyline from here. See; Providence River Trail .  

A cross-light takes you over Park St, then Promenade St to a SEPARATED BIKE LANE. Travel West, alongside Promenade St (one-way Westbound) along the Northern Side of the Woonasquatucket River. Pick up a wide, paved trail on your left at 0.3 miles, where you cross over the river to Providence Place (one-way Eastbound). Trail continues West, along the Southern Side of the Woonasquatucket River, crossing Dean St, where the trail continues alongside Kinsley St to Acorn Street.

 Note; You can access a ^Secondary Trail from here. Head right, across the river to Promenade St, where you'll pick up the narrow, stone-dust Secondary Trail on your left, that travels West, along the Northern Side of the Woonasquatucket River. The trail surface consists of stone-dust, paving, pavers stones and sidewalk along the route. Pass by the old brick Alco mill buildings on your right and 2 old iron bridges that crossed the river on your left. It continues past several parking lots before coming to *Eagle Street, where you head left back to the Woonasquatucket River Greenway after 0.5 miles [0.9 miles].

Continuing along Kinsley St keep an eye right, to spot 2 old iron bridges that crossed the river. Industrial area with old brick mills. Cross *Eagle Street at 0.9 miles, where you'll find a Map Board.

Note; Right, you can access a ^Secondary Trail. See; Above.

This next section winds through old mill buildings, now converted for retail space. Turn right when you reach the double-wide sidewalk. Eagle Square Plaza parking lot here. Cross Ericson Place (bridge on your right) where the paved trail continues alongside the river, bringing you to a **Green Bridge on your right at 1.1 miles.

Note; The trail travels briefly along both sides of the river here. As of 2026, to continue along the Woonasquatucket River Greenway, you'll head right, across the **Green Bridge. To access the Woonasquatucket River Greenway-Washington Secondary Bike Path Connection you'll continue straight, South, along the Eastern Side of the Woonasquatucket River. See; Below.

Continue right, across the **Green Bridge (closed to traffic, picnic tables) to the Price Rite parking lot. The paved trail then continues left, South, along the Western  Side of the Woonasquatucket River to Atwells Ave (cross-walk). [River bypass] Continue straight, on-road along Tuxedo Ave, then right up Amherst St (residential streets) and across Valley St (cross-walk) and enter Donigian Park (Map Board, sports fields & courts, playground) where the wide paved trail travels West. 

Note; A narrow paved path Loops around Donigian Park.

The trail travels to the back of the park and South, along the Northern Side of the Woonasquatucket River. Cross a bridge (look left to spot a dam & fish ladder) along the Southern Side of the Woonasquatucket River and you'll come to Sonoma Ct. Follow this short Dead End street out to Delaine St at 1.8 miles. [River bypass] Turn left on-road, along Delaine St (low traffic). Check out the converted Cuban Restaurant and apartments in the old mill complex at the end of Delaine St. Look up and spot the artwork attached to the old chimney. Turn right on Valley St and travel on-road (no shoulder) to San Souci Dr on your right where you'll pick up the paved path heading West, at 2 miles. This takes you along the Southern Side of the Woonasquatucket River. Come to Manton Ave [River bypass] and head right Northwest (Caution; no shoulder/sidewalk available). After 1 block you'll pick up a 2 WAY SEPARATED BIKE LANE along the left side of the street. Slight hill as you pass by an old mill on your left with two domed towers before a double-wide sidewalk brings you to Aleppo St. Head left, on-road and you'll quickly pick up the paved trail on your left at 2.5 miles. Nice murals. Map Board. On your right is the Riverside Mills Park parking lot. The wide, paved trail now travels through Riverside Mills Park . Past here the trail is all off-road the rest of the way. Pass by a platform overlooking a dam & fish ladder, a playground, community garden, picnic tables and the RED SHED BIKE SHOP in an old red shipping container. Check out the wild "bike" artwork. Follow the trail Northwest, along the Northern Side of the Woonasquatucket River. You'll come to an intersection on your left at 3 miles. Red poles. Map Board.

***Note; This Spur Trail crosses a pedestrian bridge over the river & Route 6 to Merino Park, where you can access the Merino Park Trail. You can also connect to the Buttonhole Trail via a short on-road route. The Buttonhole Trail connects back to the Woonasquatucket River Greenway further North of here. On my return trip, I utilized the Buttonhole Trail-Merino Park Trail to Loop back here. See; Buttonhole Trail-Merino Park Trail Below. 

The trail now travels out to and alongside Route 6. Pass by a Spur Trail on your right. Map Board.

Note; This Spur Trail brings you out to Salmon St.

You pull away from Route 6 and travel under the Glenbridge Ave Bridge along the old rail bed. This section is a bit more secluded. You'll come to another Spur Trail at 3.6 miles on the right.

Note; This Spur Trail leads uphill, past the Manton Ave Skate Park to Manton Ave, where you'll find a small memorial and Map Board.

Cross a small bridge where, if you look right, you'll spot an old railroad bridge that was probably part of a siding to the building up ahead. Cross another bridge over the river and continue along the Southern Side of the Woonasquatucket River. Come to another Spur Trail on your left at 3.8 miles.  

***Note; This is the paved Buttonhole Trail. I utilized this trail to Loop back to the Woonasquatucket River Greenway South, of here. See; Buttonhole Trail-Merino Park Trail Below. 

Continuing along the wooded trail you travel alongside the river before coming to Manton Ave at 4.3 miles. A sign board and informational plaque is located here. Two cross-lights take you over Manton Ave and back along the trail. Come to Goldsmith St. 

Note; Right leads to a dam and fish ladder on the Woonasquatucket River.

Come to Lyman Ave where the trail currently ends after 5 miles. Another sign board located here.

Note; Just before Lyman Ave, a gravel trail on your right leads to another dam and overlook of the lake.

Future plans call for continuing the trail North, along the river to Cricket Field in Johnston.

Buttonhole Trail-Merino Park Trail:

***Starting from the Buttonhole Trail access off the Woonasquatucket River Greenway [Northern End]; Follow the paved Buttonhole Trail up a short hill alongside the Buttonhole Golf Course and past the driving range out to King Philip St. The trail parallels King Philip St out to Buttonhole Dr. 

Note; Future construction will build a paved trail alongside Buttonhole Dr to Glenbridge Ave. Not started as of June 2025. See; BUTTONHOLE DRIVE GREENWAY PROJECT .

Travel on-road along Buttonhole Dr to Glenbridge Ave. Turn right and cross the bridge over Route 6. On your left you'll pick up the paved Merino Park Trail at 0.8 miles. Map Board. 

Note; You'll also find the WOONASQUATUCKET ADVENTURE PARK parking lot here. The Woony Adventure Park shares a lot of history with Merino Park. Both sites are located near the old Lincoln Lace & Braid Company. The site was formerly a sheep farm, a factory yard, a swimming and skating pond, a soccer field and abandoned park, a landfill dump, and a road-salt storage area. The park consists or will consist of Cyclocross & Pump Tracks, Parkour & Bike Skills Areas, River overlook and rough-hewn black locust picnic tables & benches.

Travel down between the Woonasquatucket River and Bike Track areas. Cross a bridge over the river and enter Merino Park. 

Note; Right, a narrow paved trail circles the park. 

Turn left and travel around sports fields to the Merino Park parking lot at 1.2 miles. Mural, Map Board, sports court, Porto-Potty and playground here. 

Note; Construction is underway in 2026 that will build a paved trail from Merino Park 0.3 miles along Heath St out to Hartford Ave.

A ramp takes you up to a pedestrian bridge that crosses over Route 6 and the Woonasquatucket River before delivering you back to the Woonasquatucket River Greenway after 1.4 miles. 

Woonasquatucket River Greenway-Washington Secondary Bike Path Connection:

Starting from the **Green Bridge the Woonasquatucket River Greenway follows a SEPARATED BIKE LANE South, along the Eastern Side of the Woonasquatucket River, out to and across Atwells Ave (cross-light). Map Board. The trail continues alongside the Woonasquatucket River, passing by Gotham Greens on your left and a small overlook on your right with an informational sign. The Gotham Greens are high-tech hydroponic greenhouses. This site was the former Providence Base Works, a GE facility that manufactured lamp bases. Past the greenhouse building look left to spot the old shipping containers now transformed into a building. Come to DeSoto St after 0.3 miles. 

Note; The Woonasquatucket River continues right, West. Not sure if future plans will continue the trail through this closed area, to connect to Donigian Park.

Woonasquatucket River Greenway-Washington Secondary Bike Path Connection:

[Re-zeroing Mileage] Continuing on-road, along DeSoto St, you'll come to Helmet St. Continue left, crossing Harris Ave Southbound, where you'll pick up the wide, paved Woonasquatucket River Greenway-Washington Secondary Bike Path Connection at 0.1 miles. Follow the trail out to Harris Ave Northbound and head left, next to the RR tracks. The trail then turns left, following a ramp up Toby St and over the RR tracks. You then cross Toby St (Caution) and continue over Route 6. The trail then continues right, South, high above Route 6. You parallel the highway, crossing Broadway and Westminster St, before traveling between the highway and Service Rd 1. After 1.1 miles, the trail ends next to Waverly St, just shy of the Union Ave Bridge. I'm not sure how this trail will connect to the Washington Secondary Bike Path in the future.

HH

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