Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Rhode Island, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The East Bay Bike Path would be perfect for inline skating, if, it was maintained. As it is, it ranges from sublime to dangerous. The Northernmost mile is meh, mostly traveling next to the highway over a bridge, and then through an old industrial neighborhood. We skip that. The three miles from the parking lot on Veteran's Memorial Parkway heading South is sublime with great pavement, beautiful views and moderate wind from the South. Then, begins a very mixed 8-9 miles with lovely views and woods, but period root bumps that are dangerous to skate over. The two wood bridges are a bit worn, but, fine. Street crossings are pretty well designed.
The last few miles into Bristol are lovely, winding though a seaside neighborhood and through parks. The beer and food at a number of restaurants at the Southern end refresh for the trip back.
The takeaway: we'll still use the trail, but, not often until it gets some much needed TLC.
We tackled the Washington Secondary trail on inline skates. Starting from the Eastern end, parking was easy, the trail was pleasant, and in decent shape. The section in Warwick has significant root bumps that take attention. Road crossings are generally good, although one entering West Warwick had a big lip down to the road. In West Warwick, there was one 20 yd area that we had to walk around, the pavement was so poor. But, the high bridge over the old soap factory also gave one of the best views on the trail. Then, the last 9 miles is smooth and excellent except the 3 wood bridges which are older and very bumpy). At the end is the Summit General Store with great sandwiches, drinks and bales of hay if you want to take one home.
So, what's the take away? We wouldn't repeat the Eastern half of the trail - too many hazards. We'll certainly do the Western end again, when it's not too hot!
This was a nice trail for the most part, with beautiful scenery and all. It just has one major flaw- it dead-ends behind an old, delapitated, half collapsed mill. You actually have to pass through the property filled with rubble, broken glass, briars, and barbed wire to reach the road on the Harris end. Until this is rectified, it is my belief that this trail is FAR to dangerous for average hikers. Stick with the Coventry/West Warwick Greenway.
Many thanks to the person who found my daughter Sarah's lost drivers license on your trail, and took the time to mail it to her!!! She was over-the-moon excited and frankly it has helped her to realize that there are kind people in this world. As her mom I thank you also for teaching her this lesson which I'm sure, should a similar occasion arise, that she will do the same in the future for someone else (paying it forward) remembering how great she feels now.
This trail is easy and perfect for young children or a person who needs a fairly flat, smooth ride. This was my daughter (age 9) first time on a bike trail so it was perfect for teaching her the "rules of the road" and common courtesies when meeting other riders and walkers. As for the ride itself it short. Straight down and back with a short detour to a "duck pond". We plan on returning and walking the path around the pond to see how that is.
This trail could not be nicer, I highly recommend for anyone!
When it's crowded the traffic patterns are crazy because RI has this crazy rule about walkers on the the left and bikes on the ride. That would be just perfect if the paths were one-way, which they aren't. So the oncoming walkers are coming at you in your lane if you are biking, and when you are passing you are cycling coming up on walkers from their backsides and some cyclists have to go 25 mph no matter how crowded, and throw into the mix bikers and walkers going in the opposite direction and then to add to the confusion about a 1/3 of the trail users don't follow the rule and you can't really be sure if they do or don't...CHAOS!!
But I love RI bike trails anyway!
once you find it...this trail is great! we took our dogs for their first big walk after some medical issues and it was perfect!! easy to walk..no hills. ..perfect for us and the dogs! !
I live in Cranston and have ridden this trail many times. It has some very picturesque areas, in particular, the mills in Warwick, the Coventry Greenway, and the trestle trail. It's length is very good - doing a round trip gives you 38 miles of riding.
People call this the West Bay trail - never heard of the "Washington Secondary Bike Path". Unlike the start of the East Bay trail in Providence, it is easy to park at the start or along the route at either end.
However, there are a few areas that need work. Portions of the trail in West Warwick are in great need of resurfacing (there are a number of large frost heaves), and the Cranston trail needs resurfacing in some areas as well, as it is aging.
Such a beautiful trail. Very well maintained. Do the round trip and you get to see beautiful scenery both ways. So many places to stop and take in the views. Thanks to RI for funding and maintaining such a recreational treasure.
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