Get out on the water and explore Rhode Island's Blueways!
The Rhode Island Blueways Alliance, in partnership with watershed groups and other non-profits across the state, along with a number of generous outfitters who are contributing their time, expertise and equipment, is sponsoring a series of paddling events in June and July to celebrate the launch of the Rhode Island Blueways. For more details on any of these events please contact the contact person listed for that event or check the website listed.
For a PDF you can print out with the list PaddleRI events show below, click here. For a PDF map showing the approximate location of each event click here.
Pre-registration is required for all trips. Some groups have boats available; for other events you must bring your own boat. Life jackets must be worn during any paddle. If you are bringing your own boat make sure you have enough wearable life jackets for everyone in your boat. Be safe and have fun!
| Date | Contact Person | Event | Start Location | Description |
| Saturday May 31 | Mark Bullinger: 401-322-3068 mbullinger@gmail.com www.saltpondscoalition.org |
Salt Ponds Spring Paddle - Ninigret Pond | Ninigret Pond | Explore the fascinating world of a coastal salt pond on this 4 hour paddle suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Highlights include a local historian, a demonstration of water quality sampling, and information about salt pond and barrier beach ecology. |
| Saturday June 7 | Denise Poyer: 401-539-9017 denisep@wpwa.org www.wpwa.org |
Wood River Source to Sea Paddle, First Leg | Arcadia Management Area, Exeter | On this 7-mile, 5-hour voyage paddlers will experience the most wild and scenic section of the Wood River. This event is open to paddlers with some experience on rivers. There will be one portage with lunch (byo)at WPWA headquarters. |
| Sunday June 8 | Bob Nero: 401-330-0812 pra@pawtuxet.org www.pawtuxet.org |
Paddle the Pawtuxet | TBA | Option A - launch at Rhodes Casino parking lot paddle upriver/Option B-should our new canoe launch be ready at Pontiac, have ribbon cutting, paddle downstream 6 mi to Rhodes. PRA will provide food and refreshments |
| Sunday June 15 | Keith Gonsalves: 401-474-3813 www.tenmileriver.net |
Ten Mile River Fathers Day Family Paddle | Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket | On this two hour down river trip, which is good for all levels of experience, we will paddle the surprising urban wilderness of Pawtucket. End at the Kimberly Rock Sports Complex for refreshments. A shuttle will be available to return you to your vehicles. |
| Saturday June 21 | Don at Blackstone Valley Outfitters: don@bvori.com www.blackstoneriver.org |
Rivers Day Celebration | Central Falls Landing | Join Blackstone River Valley Tourism Council and Blackstone Valley Outfitters for a free 1 hour guided tours into the Valley Falls Pond and wetlands complex on this all day event. |
| Saturday June 21 | Ruth Strach: 401-934-2277 rstrach@verizon.net. After May 30 call Cindy Gianfranseco: 401-934-9212 |
Summer Solstice Paddle | Hope Pond, Scituate | Celebrate the first day of summer on the beautiful upper Pawtuxet River with a late afternoon paddle from Hope Pond up to the Gainer Dam and back. Participants are invited to bring a picnic dinner and enjoy the sunset from the Hope Pond beach after the paddle. |
| Saturday June 21 | Paul Earnshaw at the Buckeye Brook Coalition: 401-739-6592; www.buckeyebrook.org | Ride the Tide with Buckeye Brook | Conimicut Point parking lot, Warwick | Explore Warwick’s hidden treasures on this 2 hour paddling event, which is open to all levels of experience. Highlights include discussion of over 300 years of history made along this absolutely beautiful watershed. Buckeye Brook is a jewel within the urban city of Warwick. |
| Sunday June 22 | Jason Considine: 401-317-9755 narrowriverkayaks@verizon.net www.nrpa.org | Pettaquamscutt Paddle | Middle Bridge Road , Narragansett. | This approximately 2 round-hour trip tour of the lower Narrow River will leave from Narrow River Kayaks on the east side of Middle Bridge, boat into Pettaquamscutt Cove, around Gooseberry Island, under Sprague Bridge, out to Narragansett Beach and then return to Narrow River Kayaks. |
| Saturday June 28 | Lisa Aurecchia at the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council: 401-861-9046 lisa@woonasquatucket.org www.woonasquatucket.org |
Afternoon Paddle on the Lower Woonasquatucket | Downtown Providence | Paddle the lower Woonasquatucket and Providence Rivers and see the city and the rivers from a new angle! This is an easy paddle through the heart of Providence. We will start and end at the same location so no shuttle is necessary. Some canoes and kayaks are available but please bring your own if you have one. |
| Sunday June 29 | Chuck Horbert, RIDEM Freshwater Wetlands Program; 401-222-4700 ext. 7402 chuck.horbert@dem.ri.gov | Big River Paddle | Zeke's Bridge, Harkney Hill Road, Coventry | This moderately strenuous paddle up the Big River and back, through a wide variety of freshwater wetland habitats, will take 3 to 4 hours. Some of the things to see along the way: freshwater marshes, shrub swamps, birds, fish, remnant beaver dams, beaver lodges, muskrat lodges, culverts under Route 95 and wetlands impacted by Phragmites. |
| Saturday July 12 | Rob Hancock:
401-272-3540 ext 103 rhancock@savebay.org |
Save The Bay Summer Paddle | Aspray Boathouse, 2 E. View St. Warwick | An opportunity for a saltwater paddle around Pawtuxet Cove and, weather permitting, upper Narragansett Bay. Trip comes complete with marine educators, canoe guides, and other enthusiastic paddlers. You can bring your own boat (canoe or kayak), and safety equipment (minimum requirements below) or you can coordinate a canoe rental with Save The Bay. All paddlers participating in Save The Bay’s Summer Paddle should plan on staying with the group for the duration. Minimum Requirements for Equipment: • Life Jacket – type III (fitted, zipped, and clipped). • Boat must be 12’ or longer with either water tight bulkheads OR floatation inside fore +/or after deck. • Sit-on-top boats 12’ and longer are okay. • No inflatable boats. |
| Saturday July 27 | Keith Gonsalves: 401-474-3813 | Narragansett Bay Day | Goddard State Park, Warwick |

