Recreation
The WRWC hosts paddle, hiking and biking trips with its friends and neighbors to share the wonder, beauty and history of the Woonasquatucket River. Join us as we float along different sections of the river, bike through history, and discover wildlife while meandering up the Woonasquatucket River Greenway! If weather is bad, we may reschedule events, and will contact all registratrants via email if so.
Learn more here about how to support WRWC’s efforts to continue bringing paddles, hiking and biking to the Woonasquatucket River community!
“Explore the Woonasquatucket Recreation Series”
Join us as we explore the full length of the 19-mile Woonasquatucket River–from top to bottom, North Smithfield to downtown Providence. We’ll paddle, bike and hike, highlighting the different types of environments as we explore the length of this Rhode Island treasure. Schedule is subject to change. Pre registration is required for all recreation events.
Saturday, March 18, 10am: Hike Heritage Park Conservation Area This is a lovely, wide path with rolling hills. On our walk through this section of the Glocester Land Trust’s 447 acre property, we’ll amble through beautiful forest land, pass majestic rock ledges and loop up and around Steere Hill before heading back. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Saturday, April 1, 10am: Hike Connors Farm Conservation Area Located in Smithfield RI, Connors Farm is a 2.9 mile loop trail that passes by cranberry bogs, small brooks and ponds and features a picnic area at the top of a look-out spot. It’s a beautiful rocky terrain, with ups and downs – there is some uphill traversing on rocks. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Saturday, April 22, 7pm: Meteor Shower Hike at Steere Hill Join us this Earth Day for a potential viewing of the Lyrid Meteor Shower! We’ll hike to the beautiful and historic Steere Hill in Glocester, RI. Starting at the trailhead on Route 44, we’ll travel the wide, flat trail for about 40 minutes to the top of Steere Hill, where we’ll have some hot cocoa and enjoy looking out for the celestial fireworks. Kid friendly! Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Friday, May 5, 7pm: Full Moon Hike at Mowry Commons Hike with us from the Revive the Roots Farm to Mowry Conservation Area and back to eat some wood fired pizza and view the full moon on the property of this working farm. This hike will take about 1 hour and will end at sunset. Extra fee included for pizza supplies! Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Saturday, May 20, 10am: Hike Sprague Farm in Glocester Join the WRWC for a pleasant, 2-hour hike at Sprague Farm in Glocester and take in the beautiful fall colors. Consisting of nearly 1,200 acres of forest, Sprague Farm has several miles of foot paths created by the Glocester Land Trust. Most trails have a gentle slope and visit scenic ledge vistas. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Thursday, May 25, 5:30pm: Wild Edibles of the Woonasquatucket Greenway Join Iris Weaver, Bioregional Herbalist and Foraging Instructor, on a ramble along a section of the Woonasquatucket Greenway at Merino Park in Providence to learn about over a dozen species of edible wild plants. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Saturday, June 10, 10am: Hike Powder Mill Ledges This site, headquarters of the RI Audubon Society, is home to 100 acres of habitat graced with deep woodlands and interesting rock outcroppings. These 2.5 miles of trails are home to many species of birds and the site is the headquarters of the Audubon Society of RI. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Saturday, June 24, 12:30pm: Paddle Downtown Providence/Tour of New Promenade/Kinsley Plans In downtown Providence, explore a beautiful stretch of hidden wilderness from the water. We’ll be joined by Lisa Aurecchia, WRWC’s Director of Projects, who will talk about the big plans for this storied stretch of the Woonasquatucket River and bike path. We will start at the boat launch on South Water Street and travel through bustling downtown Providence, through Waterplace Park and up to Eagle Square. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Wednesday, July 12, 6:00pm: Olivia’s Forest This is a short, 0.7 mile hike, but it is delightful and has some tricky spots to traverse. Get ready to enjoy the serenity of this quiet, peaceful, lovely path. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Sunday, July 16, 6:30pm: Paddle and Swim at Georgiaville Pond Cool off and unwind on this early evening paddle on Georgiaville Pond in Smithfield. We’ll launch from the historic Smith-Appleby House and make our way to the town beach, where participants are invited to take a refreshing swim or a short hike to the Georgiaville Pond dam. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Friday August 11, 4:30pm: Paddle Downtown Providence This Summer, explore a beautiful stretch of hidden wilderness from the water. We will start at the boat launch on South Water St. and travel through bustling downtown Providence, through Waterplace Park and up to Eagle Square. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Wednesday, August 23, 6:00pm: Paddle Stillwater Pond This paddle takes us through the “narrows of the Woonasquatucket,” under the historic Smithfield Viaduct and up towards the dam at Stillwater Reservoir. This is a beautiful and serene paddle. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Saturday, September 9, 12:00pm: Paddle Curran Reservoir Join us for a brand new paddle on the lower part of the Woonasquatucket Reservoir, an old favorite. We’ll launch from the Smithfield Conservation Center, the site of some exciting new plans in partnership with the WRWC’s education program. Amanda Peavey, Director of Education Programs will join us to talk more about what’s to come! Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Sunday, September 17, 9:00am: Meet the WRWC Board & Staff: Downtown Paddle Join us for a crisp Sunday morning paddle on this beautiful stretch of hidden wilderness, the lower Woonasquatucket River. On this paddle, you’ll meet some members of the WRWC Board and Staff and hear about our past, current and future projects, along with post-paddle apps and drinks at a nearby eatery! We will start at the boat launch on South Water St. and travel through bustling downtown Providence, through Waterplace Park and up to Eagle Square. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Saturday, September 23, 10:00am: Bike to Dame Farm for Apple Picking Join the WRWC as we take a pleasant, 7-mile bike ride to Dame Farm in Johnston for some classic autumn apple picking. We’ll have a support vehicle for you and your apples, if you need it! More information here. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Saturday, October 7, 10:00am: Latham Brook Preserve Hike Join us for a brand new hike in Smithfield. The Latham Brook Preserve trail is being blazed this Spring and we’ll explore this 125 acre property with volunteers from the Smithfield Land Trust, who recently acquired this land. Pre-registration is required. Register here.
For more details and to register, visit WRWC.ORG/EVENTS.
Check out all of our events!History
The WRWC has been taking people out on river tours since the 1990s, igniting a passion for transformation and learning along the way. Fred Lippitt and Jane Sherman were known for blazing a trail through the tall brush in what would later become our amazing parks and Greenway. This is how we have shown change makers, funders, and supporters the potential of the river corridor as a catalyst for change in the surrounding communities. And since then, starting in 2004, with our first guided paddle trips, we have been hosting more ways for people to explore the Woonasquatucket River corridor and become Woony River Heroes.