Lincoln Woods State Park: A Rhode Island Gem
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Lincoln Woods State Park is a beautiful Rhode Island state park located just a short drive from Providence (~20min). Summer activities include: hiking, jogging, fishing, picnicking, and swimming at the beach. The highlight here is the gorgeous covered bridge (pictured above) located at the entrance to the park. The bridge was dedicated in 2005. Although it doesn’t hold much historical significance, it is a gorgeous site, and I am assuming incredible when surrounded by colorful fall foliage.
We love checking out old covered bridges whenever we travel. It’s like taking a step back in time, and it’s great to see them while they still exist. At one time, there were more than 14,000 in the US; today, the number is sadly less than 600. Now is a great opportunity to check out these historic gems before they are all gone. I would love to come back and view this bridge during the peak of fall. We have been doing a lot of leaf peeping at various parks since moving to the area.
Park attractions
This is a beautiful park to take a walk around as beautiful tall, old trees comprise the backdrop. The paved walking/jogging path runs about 2.5 miles long, which I think is perfect for an easy walk, bike ride, or jog.
The gorgeous paved path is the highlight of the park. While we typically take a bike ride on paved paths like this, we decided on a nice easy weekend walk. The scenery is lush and green, and really perfect for any type of summer recreational activity.
The views of Olney Pond along the walk are absolutely beautiful. This pond is popular for fishing for bass and trout. Take a look at these gorgeous pictures!
We didn’t see any marked hiking trails that went through the woods, rather just a few shorter trails. We took the opportunity to just focus on hiking, rather than following a maintained trail like usual which was nice. Here are a few pictures of the lovely forest which I assume would be gorgeous during prime leaf peeping season. Update: There are now separate trail zones for horseback riders and mountain bikers due to heavy usage. Zone A is now only for horseback riding, while zone B is for mountain biking.
There are lots of big rocks located within the park, where you can take some fun photos.
It’s always fun to climb on the big boulders and “be a kid again.” Mike loves exploring the forest and climbing on any rocks. I’ve noticed so many preserves in this region have big boulders which seemingly pop out of nowhere.
The beach seemed to be the hot spot on a warm summer’s day. I am not a fan of swimming in lakes (I’ve heard too many horror stories about brain eating amoeba), however, it looked like the kids were having a blast.
If you don’t feel like exercising or swimming, simply relaxing and taking in the gorgeous views is another option. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables scattered throughout the park where you can just relax and enjoy the scenery.
Grab a cup of coffee on the way over or pack a picnic lunch and enjoy lunch with a view. What a gorgeous place to simply take in nature for an hour or 2. As I am on the computer all day long, I appreciate anytime I can get outside and soak in some nature. I love seeing the trees, the water, birdwatching, hiking, or just enjoying a nice lunch.
This park offers an on site Kayak school called the Eastern Mountain sports kayak school. I wouldn’t mind returning for a early morning kayak trip as the combination of calm waters and beautiful scenery would make for a fantastic trip.
If you are looking for more beautiful recreation spots in the region, I recommend East Bay bike path (a wonderful rail trail which runs along the water) and Slater Memorial Park (a gorgeous park with many amenities including a historic carousel).
Additional Info
- Address: 2 Manchester Print Works Rd. Lincoln, RI 02865.
- Parking: Free
- Pet friendly: Yes, they must be leashed.
- Restroom facilities: May 1st-Oct. 31st
- Shoreline fishing: 2nd Sat in April – Columbus Day
- Seasonal lifeguards: 9am-6pm
- Accessible shoreline fishing: April-Columbus Day (the second Saturday of the month).
- Boating: Motorized boats are not allowed on weekends from Memorial-Labor Day.
- Check out the park website for more details
