Beautiful Hiking and Biking Trails in Lincoln, RI

A favorite local park for mountain biking, walking, or jogging is Lincoln Woods in Lincoln, RI just off Highway Route 146. I would spent time regularly at Lincoln Woods between weight training days. The parking is free and easily accessible, there is swimming with life guard during the summer season and picnicking is allowed. You can horse-back ride, fresh water fishing summer and winter. The earlier morning hours Is my favorite time, the air is fresh and clear, you can hear the breeze through the trees and the people you meet are friendlier at that time of day.

Hiking tips aren't necessary except to enjoy the atmosphere. Compared to other true hiking trails Lincoln Woods is small, but soon, it will be expanded greatly by the East Bay Bike path, a 14.5 and 10 foot wide trail that winds through a number of area state parks. Also under construction is the 17.1 mile by 12 foot Blackstone River Bikeway which will eventually link to the East Bay Bike back creating 31.9 mile scenic route.

In addition to the usual info about trials, let me ad that the last time I jogged that trail it was fall and it was so beautiful, I went home and got my camera. I spent more time that day looking for scenes and things to shoot it took hours more than the usual amount of time I would spent there. It became more than hiking and jogging. It became hiking and shooting, shooting the bright, colorful foliage, shooting unique reflections off the lake and appreciating the contrast of a dead tree against the lake and skyline on a gloomy day. It seldom remains just a hike or a bike ride for me.

I doubt if there are any new tips to give experienced bikers and hikers. But what I do suggest to the rest is when you plan to travel these tens of miles long trails, keep your cell phone, carry a back pack with water and snacks. For some and as I have carried myself is a sturdy stick. Mine is a hardened pine tree root about foot long by 2 inches thick.

I carried this mostly while working as a mosquito technician in Florida because of the areas in worked in and to be my last ditch defense in the event I got too close to a gator. Obviously, there are no gators or venomous snakes in Florida but there are people and those are long trails winding through beautiful but isolated and wooded areas. Awareness is a tip not to be ignored.

http://www.riparks.com/blacksto.htm

http://www.visitrhodeisland.com/what-to-do/beaches/4/lincoln-woods-state-park/