Planted:                 May 1, 2002

Starting from Jones Street in Valley Falls: Jones Street is a residential street, so I'm not sure about parking. However, it connects to Route 114 and there are places to park along there. The southern portion of the bikeway currently ends here, however, there are brown signs posted along an on-road route towards Providence. I didn't try this route so I don't know how far its signed. From the end of Jones street, the paved bikeway takes you alongside the Lonsdale Marsh and over one of the widest boardwalks I've ever encountered. There are granite mileage markers giving you the distance from Providence every 1/2 mile, as well as interpretive signs all along the trail. A cross-walk takes you over Route 123 and then left over the Blackstone River. This brings you to the Lonsdale Drive-In parking lot at 0.6 miles. A sign board with map is located here. From the parking lot the path winds through an open field that used to be the Drive-In. You then cross over Route 122 at a cross walk and continue alongside the river with cedar fencing on both sides of you. You now get to cross the Blackstone River along a 6 span bridge that was built using the existing piers from the old railroad trestle over the Pratt Dam. As you cross over the bridge you'll be leaving Cumberland  and crossing into Lincoln. You then come to the Blackstone Canal. Left takes you over the canal to the Blackstone SP parking lot. Turn right and travel alongside the canal on your left and the river out along your right.. Nice split rail fencing accompanies you on both sides of the path. Keep an eye out for sunning turtles along the banks of the Canal, we saw dozens of them.  Keep an eye out for an old Canal overflow sluiceway that you'll cross over. At 3 miles you come to the newly built Martin Street Bridge. A spur takes you up and over this beautifully built bridge with wooden trusses. However, the trail passes beneath the bridge. You then pass a rocky area with a granite bench and a granite marker calling this "Canoe Rock". The trail then heads away from the old towpath and passes through a meadow. This brings you closer to the river and then the yellow "Kelly House" building on your right. This is a museum about the canal and Blackstone River area. During the summer its open 7 days a week and is free. Left takes you to the front entrance of the museum and also the trail leading up to the Route 116 parking lot and Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center. If you head towards these parking lots, take a detour over a wooden bridge on your right. This is where the Blackstone River is dammed and diverted for the Canal. There are some granite steps here leading down to the Canal for a canoe put in. There is also a walkway for carrying your canoe around the dam. Right takes you over the Blackstone River via the Ashton Mill Bridge at 4 miles. After crossing over, you'll be back in Cumberland where the trail continues left underneath the Route 116 bridge. Right will take you over the railroad tracks to the Ashton Mill parking lot. Continuing north the trail runs alongside an active railroad line. A black fence separates you from the tracks on your right, with the river over to your left. Next, you'll pass below I-295 and at about 5.3 miles you'll cross over the tracks, complete with a railroad crossing signal. The trail goes slightly uphill, with the tracks below on your left. Just before you crest the hill you’ll spot a large rock outcropping on your right. This is before the sharp rock cut up ahead. Go to the top of this rock, also a good spot for lunch and take a reading of 26 degrees. About 4 paces (1pace = 2 steps) over some Low Bush Blueberries, you should spot a low rock outcropping. Tucked underneath, behind some rocks is the Blackstone River Bikeway Letterbox. Continuing down the trail, you cross over the Blackstone River on a new bridge parallel to the railroad bridge. Note the nicely restored old mill on your left. You cross over Albion Road and through the parking lot. A low dam crosses the river here. Now the river is on your right and the tracks to your left. Keep a lookout to your left for a stone arch bridge with a small waterfall and stream on the opposite side of the tracks at about mile 6.3. At just over 7 miles, you pass through the Manville parking lot. After passing underneath a bridge, you come to the Manville Dam with a nice overlook. As you travel alongside the tracks, watch for a couple of old railroad mileage posts. The first will be P13, which means, 13 miles to Providence. The other side reads W?, showing the distance to Worcester. At around 8.3 miles, the trail travels underneath Route 99. I believe the waterway on your right that follows the trail is part of the old Blackstone Canal.  At 8.9 miles the trail passes by the Woonsocket Water Treatment Plant. Route 126 (Manville Road) is on your left. The trail heads up a hill (possibly a reclaimed landfill) and out into the open. Nice views of the river below. You'll pass by a soccer field and Par 3 golf holes before coming to a gravel access road at 9.5 miles. 

Note; Head left to the Rivers Edge Recreation Complex, which has a snack bar, restrooms and parking. Their is also a canoe launch located here.

The trail follows this access road out to the Davison Ave parking lot at 9.9 miles. The last granite mileage post read 17. The trail currently ends here as of September, 2009.

Note; You can continue your journey into downtown Woonsocket via an on-road/sidewalk route. Only 0.8 miles to downtown where you can explore the old train depot and market square.

To travel into Woonsocket; Head through the parking lot and travel right along Davison Ave to Hamlet Ave (Route 122). Use the cross-light and turn left along Hamlet Ave past a large brick mill building on your left and the newly constructed Woonsocket Middle School Campus on your right. Nice wide sidewalks available. You'll come to an intersection of Routes 122 & 126, with the RR tracks crossing here as well. Cross in front of  Morton Ave and then over the RR tracks where Hamlet Ave (now Routes 122 & 126) continues. Sidewalks available. Check out the large brick church on your left at 0.6 miles. Next is another beautiful brick building on your left (old school building?). You'll come to an island at Front Street which contains a statue from the Spanish American War. An old stone building is on your left which I believe was the old Courthouse (the sign read "Courthouse Condo's). Continue straight over the Court Street Bridge (sidewalks along both sides). The views from the left side are best. Old mill buildings and the river, quite a drop, below. To your right you'll spot the RR trestle over the river. The bridge also crosses over Truman Dr. After crossing over via the left sidewalk you'll come to the small Veterans Memorial Park next to Main St in downtown Woonsocket at 0.8 miles. 

Note; You have three options from here. You can easily do all three.

First; Cross over Main St to High St and visit the old Woonsocket Depot, built by the Providence & Worcester RR in 1882, which now houses the headquarters of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Open Mon –Fri 8-5. For more information visit; NPS and Blackstone Valley-RI .

Second; Return to Main St and head left (north) checking out all the beautiful old buildings such as the Paradis building built in 1895. You'll come to another island in the road which houses a monument to the Civil War. 

Third; Return back up Main St and follow it southwest past all the old bank buildings and City Hall. A few shops still making a go of it. Some very nice stone and brick buildings remaining. You'll come to Market Square which contains informational signs about the old canal and city. The Blackstone Canal opened for business in 1828 from here. In the far corner of the square is a brick pavilion containing more historical information. Just across River St are views of a dam across the river and the gates above. Across Main St is the River Falls, a beautiful old brick mill building now housing a restaurant and bar that overlooks the river. Beautifully redone inside. Just left of this building is the Museum of Work and Culture. See; Museum of Work and Culture . Head back along Main St and take your first right down Bemon St. This will bring you to River Island Park on your right. A trail brings you alongside the river, bandstand, gazebo and picnic tables. After checking out the park continue over the bridge along Bemon St and you'll come to Front St. Turn left and take Front St back to Court St for a completed loop. You can then return to the bikeway by heading right.