Trail description: 15 mile bike path runs north from Bristol to Providence, RI. Access fee: None Towns along the trail: Bristol and Providence, RI Web site:RI Parks | Bristol Trail map: Available on the RI Parks website Trail surface: Paved Designated activities: Bicycling, walking, snowmobiling Facilities on the trail: Colt State Park in Bristol has restrooms Points of interest: Bristol Town Beach (fee), panoramic views of Narragansett Bay Lodging: Providence has several choices of accommodations Camping: Not available in the parks Bike shops: In East Providence and Bristol Weather forecast:Providence Tourism info:Providence Tourism Council | East Bay Tourism Getting to the trail: Parking for the north end of the trail is in East Providence, 1/2 mile south of Route 195 on Veterans Parkway. Map of local region:Bristol | Providence
Trail name: East Bay Times biking the trail: Several Date of last visit: May, 2005 Sections that I biked: Entire trail My favourite sections of the trail: From East Providence south. Best time to go: When it isn't covered in snow. Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Like other Rhode Island rail trails, it is extremely well maintained and the scenery is beautiful What I disliked: No real dislikes. Comments: Have cycled the entire Bike Path many times. Rhode Island does a great job with designing and maintaining its rail trails (5 stars, for example, to the South County and Washington Secondary Trails). Trail markings and landscaping are much more prevalent than those found (or not found) on similar trails in some other states). Submitted by: Barry Fulmer from: Freehold Twp., N.J. Date submitted: Sept 9, 2005
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Trail name: East Bay Bike Path Times biking the trail: Weekly Date of last visit: June, 2005 Sections that I biked: The entire trail. My favourite sections of the trail: From Burr's Hill Park in Warren to Independence Park in Bristol and from Market Street in Warren to Riverside are very scenic. Best time to go: Anytime the weather permits. Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: What I disliked: The trail needs better cross street markings so that you know where you actually are. Also, pedestrians need to be more considerate of the bikers (after all, it IS a "Bike Path") and not walk 4 and 5 abreast down the middle. Comments: Submitted by: Ron from: Warren, RI Date submitted: June 13, 2005
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Trail name: East Bay Bike Path Times biking the trail: Several Date of last visit: August, 2004 Sections that I biked: Barrington River bridge to Watchemoket Cove. Previously I have biked in the other direction to nearly the end, in Bristol Harbor. My favourite sections of the trail: In Riverside and East Providence. Also the section in Bristol by the Audubon. Best time to go: Spring and Fall Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: Basically flat; almostly perfectly smooth; not many street crossings; great scenery along the way. What I disliked: The water treatment plant in East Providence - I wonder who decided to locate it there, right in a very scenic spot. Comments: Submitted by: LJK from: Barrington, RI Date submitted: Sept 3, 2004
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Trail name: East Bay Bike Path Times biking the trail: Weekly Date of last visit: August, 2004 Sections that I biked: all My favourite sections of the trail: barrington and bristol Best time to go: fall Trail marking: Poor Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: needs better mile markers, nice scenery What I disliked: pedestrians and kids Comments: will continue to bike this path daily for exercise and fun Submitted by: rep from: barrington, ri Date submitted: Aug 30, 2004
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Trail name: East Bay Times biking the trail: Several Date of last visit: June, 2004 Sections that I biked: The whole trail My favourite sections of the trail: From Bristol Harbor to Burr Hill Park in Warren and from Veteran's Memorial Highway in East Providence along the bay to just before the waste water treatment plant (pew!) Best time to go: Summer, but Fall is a close second and Spring is good, too Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: The scenery along the water's edge is great, and the rest of the trail is very nice, as well. Lots of spots to stop for food etc. It's my favorite. What I liked: The scenery along the water's edge is great, and the rest of the trail is very nice, as well. Lots of spots to stop for food etc. It's my favorite. What I disliked: Lots of road crossings. Smell of the water treatment plant in E.Providence. The odor doesn't last for long depending on wind direction. Comments: The people fishing off the bridges that share the bike path between Barrington and Warren can be forgetful about approaching cyclists.
Bristol Harbor is a great place to end a bike trip. Quito's is a nice spot on the water to have a Lobster Roll Submitted by: H.E Date submitted: June 23, 2004
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Trail name: East Bay Times biking the trail: Once Date of last visit: Oct, 2003 Sections that I biked: entire trail, round-trip My favourite sections of the trail: Any of the sections of the trail close to the Bay are beautiful. Taking time to explore Colt State Park, the entrance to which the trail crosses is also really nice. Best time to go: Spring/Summer/Fall Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: Sceneary is great. The trail is in great conditions. There's alot of options to get off the trail and explore. What I disliked: There's a section of the trail (around Warren?) that crosses a number of streets so it breaks up any momentum you might have. Comments: Bristol offers a number of options for restaurants or bars in case you are hungry or thirsty. Colt State Park is a nice sidetrip - it has a loop for a few miles. And of course, going into Providence for dinner - since it has so many great restaurants - is a nice thing to look forwards to after biking the 29 miles.... Submitted by: Michel from: Boxborough, Mass Date submitted: Oct 31, 2003
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Trail name: East Bay Times biking the trail: Once Date of last visit: July, 2003 Sections that I biked: whole trail My favourite sections of the trail: the conviences including restaurants and ice stands makes life good on a hot bike day. Best time to go: summer Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: Very well groomed! Quiet and shady and then near the ocean it was sunny and breezy What I disliked: only that we had to stop for traffic a few times Comments: Submitted by: dd from: Randolph, MA Date submitted: July 20, 2003
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Trail name: East Bay Times biking the trail: A few Date of last visit: Oct, 2002 Sections that I biked: First 2 miles, East Providence My favourite sections of the trail: The section where it runs along memorial parkway and when it sqerves downhill along the harbor Best time to go: All seasons when the weather is appropriate Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 3.5 stars What I liked: The layout of the trail is a nice use of the space What I disliked: There are parts where the surrounding city could have made a few more concessions to ensure that the trail isn't abandoned on an ill-maintained road. However, the biggest and only real issue I have with this trail is accessibility. From Providence, you have to cross the Washington Bridge at a practically hidden entry point -- it's ver poorly marked and could afford to add another half mile in India Point Park, a much more preferable start point than the pockmarked back alley where it does begin. Comments: Don't think this actually gets you to Providence. it doesn't. You'll have to travel down Wickendon and cross the canal to get to the city proper. In this it loses out to Massachusett's Minuteman trail, which skirts several town centers. Also, the trail has no bathrooms in the first few miles. beyond that I don't know. Submitted by: SRP from: College Hill, Providence, RI Date submitted: Oct 17, 2002
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Trail name: East Bay Times biking the trail: Few Date of last visit: August, 2001 Sections that I biked: Bristol to Eastchester (?) My favourite sections of the trail: The very beginning, by the water in Bristol, and the mile or two that follows. There are also some good water views further down the path toward Providence. Best time to go: Late summer/Fall. Go while the nearby restaurants in Bristol are still serving outdoors Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 3 stars Likes and dislikes: The scenery in the beginning is beautiful. Later on, it takes on more of a typical, secluded rail-trail feel. Some like this. We prefer more "civilization" along a bike trail. Comments: The town of bristol is very quaint and homey feeling. Just up the road from the beginning of the bike path is a clam bar and, slightly further down, an restaurant with outdoor, waterside seating. Be careful if you head down toward the restaurant. When we last visited, there was a lot of restoration in the area and the road was not in great condition for biking.
The path can be somewhat difficult to find if you're coming from Narragansett or somewhere else out-of-town. The main idea is to make a left off the street with the red, white, and blue stripe down the middle as soon as you can. This will take you to the path. Submitted by: Tom M from: Long Island, NY Date submitted: April 9, 2002
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