Last Updated:      December 9, 2024

To start in Providence from India Point Park [Southern End]; From I-195 eastbound take exit 1A. Turn left on Portugal Parkway (previously called India St) and the India Point Park parking lot will be on your right. From I-195 westbound take exit 1D. Turn left on Gano St and spot the Gano Street parking lot on your left or continue underneath I-195. Take your first left and follow Portugal Parkway (previously called India St) to the India Point Park parking lot on your left. 

Blackstone River Bikeway; Southern Section:

From the 0 Mile Marker; The paved Blackstone River Bikeway & India Point Park Loop Trail travels East through India Point Park. You quickly come to an intersection, head left. Pass by the India Point Park parking lot on your left and continue straight to Portugal Parkway & Marston Boathouse entrance. The trail continues straight, traveling underneath the Washington Bridge (I-195), heading North and leaving the park behind. You'll pass by the future Gano Street parking lot and out to Gano St. Cross an off ramp for the interstate and the trail turns right after 0.4 miles. Here the trail travels through Gano Park Boat Launch and alongside the Seekonk River. Pass by the 0.5 Mile Marker, granite Mileage Markers every 0.5 miles. After 0.7 miles you pass a bench on your right. This is where an old rail line traveled, crossing the river along the old RR bridge with its draw bridge still raised. Travel along Cold Spring Point out to Pitman St at 1 mile where you'll find the granite 1 Mile Marker. A BIKE LANE travels right bringing you to Richmond Square. From here it's on-road BIKE SHARROWS along narrow East River St. Travel downhill underneath the Henderson Bridge between the river and Paterson Park. Pass by the Narragansett Boat Club & Blackstone Park. Follow the road left along Irving Ave out to an intersection. Bear right along Irving Ave across Blackstone Blvd where you'll pick up the off-road Blackstone Blvd Path after 2.1 miles. 

Blackstone River Bikeway; Northern & Central Sections:

Starting from Jones Street in the Valley Falls section of Cumberland [Central Section]; [Re-zeroing Mileage] The paved Blackstone River Bikeway heads North, alongside the Lonsdale Marsh and over one of the widest boardwalks I've ever encountered. There are granite Mileage Markers giving you the distance from Providence every 0.5 miles, as well as interpretive signs all along the trail. After 0.3 miles you'll pass your first granite Mileage Marker [Mile Marker 7.5]. A cross-walk takes you over John St (Route 123) and then left over the Blackstone River. This brings you to the Lonsdale Drive-In parking lot at 0.6 miles in Lincoln. A sign board with Map is located here. From the parking lot the path winds through an open field that used to be the Drive-In. You then cross over Route 122 at a cross walk and continue alongside the river with cedar fencing on both sides of you. You now get to cross the Blackstone River along a 6 span bridge that was built using the existing piers from the old railroad trestle over the Pratt Dam at 1.3 miles [Mile Marker 8.5]. You then come to the Blackstone Canal. Left takes you over the Canal to the Blackstone State Park parking lot. Turn right and travel alongside the Canal on your left and the river out along your right.. Nice split rail fencing accompanies you on both sides of the path. Keep an eye out for sunning turtles along the banks of the Canal, we saw dozens of them.  Keep an eye out for an old Blackstone Canal overflow sluiceway that you'll cross over. At 3 miles you come to the Martin Street Bridge. A spur takes you up and over this beautifully built bridge with wooden trusses. However, the trail travels beneath the bridge. You then pass a rocky area with a granite bench and a granite marker calling this "Canoe Rock" [Mile Marker 10.5] followed by a Spur Trail on your left at 3.4 miles.

Note; This Spur Trail leads to the Historic Towpath. This hard packed dirt & stone-dust trail takes you North alongside the Blackstone Canal, with lots of informational signs before joining Towpath Rd and passing by the yellow "Kelly House", which contains a museum about the Canal and Blackstone River area. You come to Lower River Rd after 0.4 miles. Right, East, returns you to the paved Blackstone River Bikeway. However if you continue straight, North, through the Lower River Road parking lot and underneath the Route 116 Bridge you may continue along the old towpath. This hard packed dirt & gravel trail travels between the Blackstone Canal & Blackstone River, passing a small wooden bridge over the Canal that leads to the Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center. The trail ends after 0.2 miles (0.6 miles total) where the river is diverted into the Canal. There are some granite steps here leading down to the canal for a canoe put in. There is also a walkway for carrying your canoe around the dam. 

The paved trail heads North away from the old towpath and passes through a meadow. This brings you alongside the river. You'll come to an intersection at 3.8 miles [Mile Marker 11]. The trail continues right, East, across a bridge over the river. Straight ahead is a Map Board.

Note; Heading left, West, brings you to the yellow "Kelly House", which contains a museum about the Blackstone Canal and Blackstone River area. During the summer its open 7 days a week and is free. This is also where the Historic Towpath comes out. If you continue over the bridge a paved trail on your right leads Northwest, 0.8 miles uphill to the Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center. A Spur Trail part way up also leads South to the Route 116 parking lot. Heading straight, North, past the Map Board brings you through the Lower River Road parking lot and underneath the Route 116 Bridge to another section of the Historic Towpath. This hard packed dirt & gravel trail travels between the Blackstone Canal & River, passing a small wooden bridge over the Canal that leads to the Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center. The trail ends after 0.2 miles where the river is diverted into the Canal. There are some granite steps here leading down to the Canal for a canoe put in. There is also a walkway for carrying your canoe around the dam. 

Right, East, takes you over the Blackstone River via the Ashton Mill Bridge to the Ashton section of  Cumberland where the trail continues left, North, underneath the Route 116 Bridge. 

Note; Right will take you over the railroad tracks to the Ashton Mill parking lot. 

Continuing North the paved Blackstone River Bikeway runs alongside an active railroad line. A black fence separates you from the tracks on your right, with the river over to your left. Next, you'll pass below I-295 and at about 5.1 miles you'll cross over the RR tracks, complete with a railroad crossing signal. The trail travels up and over a slight hill, with the tracks below on your left. You cross over the Blackstone River on a new bridge parallel to the railroad bridge back into Lincoln. Note the nicely restored old mill on your left. You cross over Albion Road at 5.3 miles [Mile Marker 12.5] and through the parking lot. Map Board located here. A low dam crosses the river here. Now the river is on your right and the tracks to your left. Keep a lookout to your left for a stone arch bridge with a small waterfall and stream on the opposite side of the tracks at about mile 6.3. At 6.8 miles [Mile Marker 14], you pass through the Manville parking lot. Map Board. After passing underneath a bridge, you come to the Manville Dam with a nice overlook. As you travel alongside the tracks, watch for a couple of RR Mileage Markers. The first will be P13, which means, 13 miles to Providence. The other side reads W, showing the distance to Worcester. At around 8.2 miles, the trail travels underneath Route 99. I believe the waterway on your right that follows the trail is part of the old Blackstone Canal.  You cross into Woonsocket. At 8.8 miles the trail passes by the Woonsocket Water Treatment Plant. Route 126 (Manville Rd) is on your left. The trail heads up a hill (possibly a reclaimed landfill) and out into the open. Nice views of the river below. You'll pass by a soccer field and Par 3 golf holes before coming to a gravel access road at 9.4 miles. 

Note; Head left to the Rivers Edge Recreation Complex, which has a snack bar, restrooms and parking. There is also a canoe launch located here.

The trail follows this access road past [Mile Marker 17] out to the Davison Ave parking lot in Woonsocket after 9.9 miles. 

Note; The trail currently ends here, as of 2024. Two other paved sections in Woonsocket are complete, but require an on-road connection. I'm not sure of the exact route the next section will take, but I believe it may follow the Blackstone River berm you'll spot along your right.

Blackstone River Bikeway; Woonsocket Section: 

Continuing from the Davison Ave parking lot in Woonsocket [Northern Section]; [Re-zeroing Mileage] You'll need to travel on-road 1.3 miles to reach the next paved off-road section. Not recommended for kids on bikes. Continue through the parking lot and travel right, North, along Davison Ave (low traffic) passing by the Armed Forces Memorial Park on your right. Come to Hamlet Ave (Route 122). Cross road and continue straight along Florence Dr (low traffic). 

Note; You can also head left following the official signs, but you'll miss the next paved off-road section.

The Blackstone River berm is along your right and Woonsocket Middle School on your left. Come to a pedestrian bridge over the river on your right after 0.4 miles.

Note; I believe the trail will continue along the river berm before crossing the river further North?

Cross the pedestrian bridge, East, over the river to Cumberland St (no shoulder/sidewalk available) and head left, North. Cross Clinton St (One-way/utilize from opposite direction) and come to Social St (one-way). Travel left, West (narrow shoulder/wider sidewalk available). Come to Worrall St (just before Monument Square) and turn left, South. (No shoulder/sidewalk available). Come to Truman Dr and cross over to east side (Clinton St side). Follow the sidewalk and you'll quickly pick up the paved Blackstone River Bikeway; Woonsocket Section at 1.3 miles. 

Note; I believe the trail will continue left, East, out along the river berm to connect to the Davison Ave parking lot?

The wide paved trail follows alongside Truman Dr heading South, traveling underneath a RR bridge and Court St and past some historic brick & mill buildings before coming to the Bernon St traffic circle at 1.7 miles.

Note; Straight across Bernon St brings you to River Island Art Park which fronts the Blackstone River. A trail brings you alongside the river, bandstand, gazebo and picnic tables.

Follow the crosswalk right, West, over Truman Dr where the paved trail continues. Another crosswalk over Main St.

Note; From here you can take a side trip to check out Woonsocket. Head right, North, on-road along Main St through the scenic downtown. Come to Court & High St after 0.3 miles. On your right is the Main Street Mini Park with expansive views of Woonsocket and the Blackstone River. Down below is the Truman Dr portion of the Blackstone River Bikeway. Left, just up High St on the right is the brick Woonsocket Depot, built by the Providence & Worcester RR in 1882. This now houses the headquarters of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Also home of the THE POLAR EXPRESS . The Blackstone Valley Polar Express is a special local holiday attraction because the author of the book, Chris Van Allsburg, lived in Rhode Island. This train ride leaves from here. Right takes you East across the Court Street Bridge high above the Blackstone River. Beautiful stone mill buildings along your right. Across the bridge at Court Square (0.5 miles) you'll find another beautiful old stone building.

The paved trail now travels above the Market Square parking lot and out to River St at 1.8 miles. 

Note; Lots to check out here. The Blackstone Canal opened for business in 1828 here. Spot the brick Market Square pavilion across the parking lot (historical information). To the left of the pavilion and across Main St is a converted mill (now a restaurant) next to the river. Next to that is the brick MUSEUM OF WORK & CULTURE . Across River St is an overlook for the Blackstone River Thunder Mist Falls (dam). 

To reach the final paved, off-road trail section in RI, you'll need to travel on-road 1.2 miles. Head right, North, on-road along River St (low traffic/sidewalk available). The Blackstone River is across the street. Cross some RR tracks. Cross a 2nd set of RR tracks and turn right, East, up Blackstone St (residential) just before the river. This is a steep hill that levels out when you reach Harris Ave. Continue left, North, on-road (wide shoulder) up a slight incline to Highland St. On your left is Cold Spring Park. Travel downhill alongside the park to Katherine Rd and the park's entrance on your left. Follow the road West into the park, past a playground, ball field and tennis courts to the Cold Spring Park parking lot after 3 miles. The paved Blackstone River Bikeway; Woonsocket Section picks up here next to the Blackstone River. 

Note; I believe the trail will continue left, South, along the river?

The trail travels North, alongside the river, atop the dyke and past old mill buildings. Pass by [Mile Marker 19.5] and cross Singleton St (bridge over river) and continue North, where a pedestrian bridge crosses the river to North Smithfield. The trail continues alongside the river, past [Mile Marker 20] to the Massachusetts border after 3.6 miles. Nice shaded spot here along the river.

I haven't checked out this next new section. The Blackstone, MA Trail Section has been extended another 0.5 miles, completing the Blackstone River Bikeway-MA Southern Section.

HH