Cold Spring Park - July 17, 2025

Boat launch at Cold Spring Park

It has been a long time since I paddled this section of the Blackstone. The last time I did this trip was January 2020, and that trip included some canoe sledding. Before that was a BVPC trip in August 2012, and a video in August 2011. I don’t know if I would have gone otherwise, but Paul’s text with an offer to paddle tandem got me out.

To be honest, this section of the river had became less and less attractive over the years. There was a large homeless camp and lots of trash at the put in, the water quality wasn’t that good, and the scenery was nothing to write home about. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised at the improvement on this trip.

Heading upstream

The Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone was leading this paddle for the "I 💜 Woonsocket" group that is connected to the Economic Development Division of the City of Woonsocket. They provided rental boats and asked RICKA to provide a few leaders to "shepherd" the group.

We put in at the Cold Spring Park boat launch and paddled up to the St. Paul Street Bridge. This section of the river runs along the newest section of the Blackstone River Bikeway at the RI/MA border. After that we paddled down to the Woonsocket Falls Dam and back. Trip was about 3.5 miles, and we ended right at sunset.

Sunset at the end of the trip

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My Pictures

Cold Spring Park - RI Blueways