Best Hiking and Walking Trails Near Providence, RI

Located right in the center of Rhode Island, Providence is quintessential New England — a thriving big city with small-town charm. As one of the oldest cities in the country and known for its delicious clam chowder and the prestigious Brown University, Providence offers visitors and residents many cultural attractions, including museums and a thriving art community. There’s also a booming food scene and miles of coastline and green spaces providing the opportunity for many recreational and outdoor activities.

A popular activity among locals and visitors alike is walking or hiking one of Providence’s picturesque trails. Whether you’re looking for a scenic trail for a leisurely stroll, a rugged trail to challenge your hiking skills, or a well-traveled path to break a sweat while running with your puppy, Providence has a trail for you. If you’re looking for a great place to walk or hike and take in the city, our list of the seven best hiking and walking trails near Providence is a great start.

Image by MOHANN is licensed with Pixabay

Neutaconkanut Hill Park Loop

One of nine hiking trails available in Neutaconkanut Hill Park, the Park Loop takes visitors through the untouched forests of Providence. Boasting the title of the highest point in the city, the trail is a favorite among hikers, birdwatchers, and nature enthusiasts. Dogs are welcome, too, if kept on a leash. Consisting of dirt trails, the Neutaconkanut Hill Park Loop takes about 44 minutes to complete.

Trail length: 1.7 miles.

Trail type: Loop.

Great for: Hiking, running.

Difficulty: Easy to difficult.

Accessible: No.

Providence River Walk

Running along the Providence River, the Providence River Trail offers walkers a scenic view of downtown Providence with the beauty of urban greenspaces and access to Waterplace Park and Riverwalk. Because of its proximity to businesses, shops, and restaurants and access points to the river, the trail can get crowded. It’s very popular with families and pet owners because it is stroller and dog friendly. Paved with asphalt and mostly flat, the Providence River Trail takes about 42 minutes to complete.

Trail length: 2.4 miles.

Trail type: Out-and-back.

Great for: Walking, running.

Difficulty: Easy.

Accessible: Yes. There are two designated accessible spaces along the trail.

Roger Williams Pond Trail

Creating a perimeter around four of the lakes located within Williams Park, the Roger Williams Pond Trail is the longest of the trails. Varying in difficulty, the trail offers majestic views, unique wildlife and vegetation, and access to recreational activities on the water, such as canoeing. Popular among residents for birdwatching and hiking, the Roger Williams Pond Trail can get crowded in the summer. The trail takes about an hour to complete. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.

Trail length: 3.8 miles.

Trail type: Loop.

Great for: Walking, hiking.

Difficulty: Easy to difficult.

Accessible: Yes. Certain areas are paved, but the entire loop is not ADA accessible.

Swan Point Cemetery Perimeter Loop

Tracing the perimeter of the beautiful Swan Point Cemetery in downtown Providence, the Perimeter Loop offers a little piece of solitude within nature. Popular with walkers and bird watchers, the trail offers views of the Seekonk River and pathways that go into the interior of the cemetery. Taking a little under an hour to complete, the mostly dirt and gravel Swan Point Cemetery Perimeter Loop is open year-round. Dogs are not allowed on this trail, and it’s important that visitors are respectful when exploring the interior of the cemetery.

Trail length: 2.4 miles.

Trail type: Loop.

Great for: Walking.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Accessible: No.

Blackstone Park Loop

The tree-lined Blackstone Park Loop offers plenty of shade and views of the Seekonk River, waterfalls, and wildlife. The trail is mostly dirt covered in wood chips with some paved areas along the riverbank and offers flat and inclined surfaces especially popular with hikers. Located in East Providence, this trail takes about 42 minutes to complete. Leashed dogs are welcome.

Trail length: 1.8 miles.

Trail type: Loop.

Great for: Walking, hiking.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Accessible: No.

Ten Mile River Greenway

Following along the Ten Mile River between East Providence and Pawtucket, the Ten Mile River Greenway is a paved asphalt trail that is popular with hikers, runners, and bikers. Offering majestic views of the river and traveling through leafy woodlands, the Greenway has a few climbs and curves that offer different levels of difficulty. The Greenway is stroller and dog friendly, as long as your dog is on a leash.

Trail length: 6.1 miles.

Trail type: Out-and-back.

Great for: Hiking, walking.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Accessible: Yes. There are four designated accessible spaces along the trail.

India Point and Bike Path

Circling India Point Park, the paved concrete and stone dust walking trails of the India Point and Bike Path offer views of the Seekonk and Providence Rivers and Providence Harbor. Popular with families and birdwatchers, the trail gives you a glimpse into Providence’s rich nautical history. Leashed dogs are welcome, and the path takes under half an hour to complete.

Trail length: 1.2 miles.

Trail type: Out-and-back.

Great for: Walking, running.

Difficulty: Easy.

Accessible: Yes. There are two designated accessible spaces along the path.

We hope that you will decide to visit one or more of the trails above. Let us know if we missed your favorite trail so we can check it out for ourselves.

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