Explore the best rated trails in Portsmouth, RI, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Southern New England Trunkline Trail and Stillwater Scenic Walkway . With more than 45 trails covering 313 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This isn’t one of those trails that you can zip along mindlessly, since it’s stitched together with various public spaces and has quite a few street crossings and pedestrians. But I found it to be a leisurely ride through Boston’s urban landscape. Northeastern University’s campus, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the Fenway and Back Bay neighborhoods are all easy off-shoots if you’re up for city streets with bike lanes. The park also has a cool backstory as a planned highway connection between I-95 and Boston that was blocked by community activists in favor of mass transit, public spaces, and a bike trail. I’m sure it’s busy during peak commuting times, though it wasn’t too bad on the Sunday morning I visited.
Mile 17-7 going south from Woonsocket the trail is marked. Very enjoyable ride.
Love the beautiful trail, but horseback riders should have a manure bag on the horses to catch their droppings. Not fair to others walking the trail.
When I first rode this trail in 2012, it was horrible, even though I had a mountain bike. My wife and I just settled on driving over to Coventry, RI to ride; Moosup was next to impossible. But several months ago work began to get it fixed up. What a nice job, with drainage, a new stone-dust surface, and nice fencing. We have ridden trails all over town country, and this is one of the nicest anywhere. Now, if RI will finish the Washington Secondary Trail from Summit to the state line, I could ride all the way to Providence without having to go on the road!
So much of this path is great so it’s unfortunate that the portion of the path nearest Norton is in such a state of disrepair. There are quite literally blocks inserted between the path and the road to fill the gap, but only on one side of the path so if a cyclist chooses the wrong side they will take a lovely concrete spill. Not only that, it’s not always the same side. Sometimes left, sometimes right. I chose poorly and am now the bearer of some lovely watercolor designs all the way up my right side. Had this been temporary, it would be understandable, but a month after the first visit they are still present and repairs are not made. Also, the holes, or planters, or whatever they are, that split the path into right and left are dangerous. After you’ve traversed the gap (maybe you’ve chosen the side with the block and didn’t fall in!), you will then be required to navigate around a water-filled pit. If you’re teetering from choosing the side without a filler block, hope you don’t fall in! (Just fill that in. They’re dangerous and unnecessary. It’s. Bike path, not an English garden.)
This trail was mostly on high traffic streets with many intersections to cross. It was not a favorite for my children. We started in Milton at Blue Hills Parking Lot (which only has about 8 spots) and turned around in Mattapan.
Easy walk from Medfield to Dover. Much of the path is paved, but into Dover, it still has rr ties; there is a cool, (1/4m?) tree tunnel.
This was an absolutely beautiful trail a few crossovers on some busy intersections but most crossings were in small neighborhoods car drivers in these neighborhoods were observant and allowed the bikers to cross Today was a gorgeous day weather wise so lots of walkers and bikers out there no issues. We will definitely be riding this trail many more times
I have been using this bike/run trail for 13 years. You can zip around the island on a beautiful, private trail. There are some spots in towns that put you on the road- or places that you need to cross a road. from our house, I can jump on the trail and happily head all over the place. I used to put my kids in a bike trailer and ride them all over the island. Certain years for barrack obama and his family have been on the trail with their secret service agents. I was engaged on this trail after a 10 mile round trip ride into edgartown to dine at seafood shanty. please don’t let bad review discourage you from testing out the trail!
Southern end of the trail has had about .3-.5 miles of paved section added.
Along the river to Quandock Brook.
There is still some work being done. mostly placing fencing. but, the surface is finished, and the trail is open. Public making use of it again.
Mostly stonedust, with a few paved sections. New signage/crosswalks for road intersections. signs, no blinking lights.
new parking. 3 new lots.
A new parking lot has been added to the corner of Railroad ave and Spring lake rd, just off 14 and 14a in sterling, towards the "end" of the trail, at the ct state line.
A parking lot has been added on industrial park rd, in sterling, up the big field, next to the trail.
Another small parking lot added to Barber hill road, off n main st, across the river next to the trail in Moosup.
the .7m paved section from the start to Barber hill rd is unchanged.
2 park bench locations.
one off Main street in sterling. the north west side, next to Weidele's pizza and pub. (which recently moved from rt 14 to here).
another next to the "rainbow bridge", off the new Babcock rd access.
The project was 3.85million.
Major work done to fix drainage. The vast majority of which does seem solved. Theres a couple places with some problems still. (particularly about .5miles east from rt 14 in sterling, towards babcock/providence rd). some runoff, and one large puddle still.
The bollards blocking the bridge over the moosup river between sterling and moosup, .3 from sterling have been removed. This section is now wheelchair/stroller/bike carriage friendly.
The bollards for the rainbow bridge over Providence road have not been removed. the clearance is 36". (note, the north east side of the trail is only 34". the right side, coming from the paved section. the left side is 36")
plan accordingly.
Bypass is not quick and easy. From moosup, turn up Babcock road access, then right/south onto Providence road, go under the bridge, down to 14A/plainfield pike. Turn left/east on 14a, continue to taking a left onto railroad ave. up to the new Railroad ave trail access.
14a is a fairly heavy use road with little to no shoulder.
The .5mile paved section from Spring lake rd, to the bridge over Providence rd has also been repaired, with pavement.
Official renovations end at 14a, and the state line.
Atvs and dirtbikes are already tearing up the trail... hoping regular foot/bike traffic gets them to stop. not sure who to call, state police, or deep.
The section from RI state border to paved Washington secondary bike path is getting worse.
from ct/ri State line to Lewis farm road its dirt.
heavy use from ATVS/dirt bike is creating moguls and puddles. its still possible to go around, but is getting less fun and manageable every year.
The levee/valley for Carbunkle pond is very soft sand. roadbikes/strollers/wheelchairs beware. get off and walk, and/or try to go on the grass to the north side of the trail. a huge washout at the trail to carbunkle pond.
from lewis farm road, to hopkins hollow rd is railroad grade gravel. perpetually wet. a very large puddle at the entrance of hopkins hollow rd.
from hopkins hollow rd, to log bridge road/summit general store/102. dirt/gravel, and moguls, moguls moguls. past the wind turbines, there is also a large puddle that can be bypassed by going up into the woods.
also a few trees down.
Best to just bypass this section, if on roadbike or all terrain. if coming from Washington secondary, head north up log bridge road, then west on 117. take the right in Green, staying on 117. at Lewis farm road(a dirt road), you have a choice, take it to the trail, and do the slightly rough section between lewis farm rd, and 14a. Or, just stay on 117, continue to 14, taking a left onto it, and continue to 14a, taking a left onto 14a. 14a to the trail again. Renovated section.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
