EAST BAY BIKE PATH LETTERBOX:
EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
NOTE; They are planning to start repaving some sections of this trail during the summer of 2009. Check the link below for trail closings before you head out.
Planted: June 29, 2002
Length: East Providence to Bristol; 14 miles
Veterans Memorial Highway parking lot 1 to Letterbox; 2 ¼ miles
Veterans Memorial Highway parking lot 2 to Letterbox; 1 ¼ miles
Difficulty: Easy. Paved trail, mostly flat with a hill on the northern end in East Providence.
Directions:
To start in East Providence; You can park at India Point Park off of I-195, exit 2. However you have to ride over the Washington Bridge which has a narrow path. They are currently replacing this bridge and will be adding a new pedestrian path. As of 2008, it is closed and will be for at least a year. There are two parking areas along Veterans Memorial Highway. Take exit 4 off of I-195 and follow Veterans Memorial Highway south for approximately a ½ mile. The first parking area will be on your right. Another mile will bring you to a second parking lot on your right.
To start in Bristol; Take Route 114 to Independence Park, where the trail begins. You may also park at Colt State Park, a bit further north up Route 114 on your left.
To start in West Barrington; You can park at Haines Park, which is roughly the half way point on the trail. From Route 114, take County Road west to Willett Avenue, then left on Bay Spring Avenue.
The East Bay Bike Path runs from Independence Park in Bristol, through the towns of Warren, Barrington and Riverside, up to East Providence. You can also cross over the Providence River via the Washington Bridge and enter India Point Park. The trail is very scenic with views of the Narragansett Bay, marches, ponds and Bristol Harbor. Maps of the trail are posted along the route. A second Letterbox is located along another nearby bike trail, See; Ten Mile River Greenway Letterbox. For more information check out; BIKE RI , EAST COAST GREENWAY or EAST BAY BIKE PATH .
The trail begins off of Veterans Memorial
Highway in East Providence, two-tenths of a mile before the first parking lot.
Note; To access the beginning of the trail from India Point Park, head east through the park to the highway tunnel underpass on your left. If you are coming from Providence, there is a pedestrian bridge that crosses over I-195 to India Point Park. After passing through the tunnel you will see the Washington Bridge above you. A ramp to the left will take you up to the pedestrian walkway and over the bridge. The walkway is narrow, but plans have been approved to add a separate bike path on the bridge, Note; the bridge is currently open for bikes, but will close as soon as they start construction on the new bikeway. Last updated August 2009. After crossing over the bridge, a trail brings you down to the right. Cross over the road and travel one-tenth of a mile straight along the street to the beginning of the paved path on your right, alongside Veterans Memorial Highway. This is roughly a 1 mile trek from the parks center.
From the start of the paved trail in East
Providence, it's only two-tenths of a mile uphill to the first parking
lot on the left. There is a board here with a map of the trail. You then
travel another mile to the second parking lot on your left. From this
point you head downhill along the Providence River. At 1 ½ miles you
cross over a bridge alongside the old railroad tracks that parallel the trail. A
marsh is on your left and the beginning of the Narragansett Bay is to
your right. You then pass by the Squantum Association on the right,
jutting out into the bay. You'll cross over another bridge, parallel with an old
railroad bridge and another marsh to your left. If you look towards the right
side of the marsh, you'll see a boardwalk extending out to it. You pass over a
white “3 mile” marker painted on the blacktop, which represents the distance
back to the west side of the Washington Bridge. This is roughly the 2 ½
mile point from the beginning of the bike trail. To your right will be a small
island with a gazebo on top. Look for a small path off the left side of the
trail. It had tall reeds alongside it when we were here. Head down this path,
cross under a fallen tree and you'll come to an intersection with a #8 wood
marker. Continue left and you'll come to another intersection. Left will bring
you to marker #7 and that boardwalk you saw earlier jutting out into the
marsh. Check it out, then continue right up a small knoll to a T
intersection. Straight ahead will be marker #5. From this marker take a
compass reading of 126 degrees. Take 6 paces (1 pace = 2 steps) to the backside
of a double-trunked Beech tree. Under some leaves and a rock is the East Bay
Bike Path Letterbox. The Letterbox is only one-tenth of a mile off the bike
path. Continuing south down the trail another ¼ mile you'll pass underneath
some large gas or oil pipes. Keep an eye to your right to spot a small
lighthouse on an island. After 3 ½ miles, check out the old railroad station on
your right. You reach Haines Park in West Barrington after
5 ¼ miles. You cross over County Road in Barrington at a cross walk after 8
miles. Another ½ mile takes you over the Barrington River on a wooden
bridge. Look for an old granite railroad Whistle stop marker on your right after crossing over. At 9 miles
you cross over the Warren River into the town of Warren. More residential
along this stretch. After 11 miles you'll be riding along the bay again. Nice
tall reed grass along the trail. Keep an eye out for the Audubon Society boardwalks.
Note;
The right boardwalk takes you down a ¼ mile to the shores of the Narragansett
Bay. The left boardwalk takes you a ¼ mile to the Audubon Society Environmental
Education Center. A fee is charged to tour the center.
Soon after the boardwalks you'll come to
Asylum Road.
Note;
A sign will point right for the entrance to Colt State Park (See; COLT
STATE PARK ). Very scenic
park along the bay, worth a side trip. Trails encircle the park.
After 14 miles you enter Independence Park in Bristol Harbor. From here you can go into downtown Bristol for restaurants and shopping.
HH
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON
APRIL 23, 2007
TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING