Some of Southern Rhode Island’s
Great Paddle Spots
Check out these great paddle maps created by local watershed groups and the Rhode Island Blueways and Greenways Alliance. For more information on great places to paddle and hike in Rhode Island,
visit the RI Blueways and Greenways alliance Here.
The Salt Ponds
Point Judith / Salt Pond
Point Judith Pond offers wonderfully diverse scenery ranging from woodlands in the north to barrier beach in the south.
Green Hill Pond
There are small islands all over the pond and much of the area is home to lush salt marshes and oyster beds.
Ninigret Pond
Ninigret Pond is in the town of Charlestown and is the largest of the southern RI salt ponds. Much of the shoreline is kept in its natural state.
Quonnie Pond
Quonnie Pond, as it is affectionately known, is a mostly pristine coastal lagoon shared by the Towns of Charlestown and Westerly. There are several small brooks which flow into Quonnie, with little development around them.
The Pawcatuck / Wood River Watershed
Chipuxet - Taylors Landing to Biscuit City
The narrow stream winds through the open marshland of the Great Swamp Management Area for about 4 miles to Worden Pond. Cross the pond to the west and find the entrance to the Pawcatuck River.
Pawcatuck - Potter Hill to Westerly
From Ashaway to Little Narragansett Bay, the river is the boundary between Rhode Island and Connecticut. This is a beautiful, bucolic section of the river.
Pawcatuck - Biscuit City to Cronan / DEM
This is a great paddle with lots to explore and some excitement along the way!
Wood River - Upper Stretch
The Wood River is RI’s premier river for fishing and paddling. According to a study by the National Parks Service, the Wood River has the highest biodiversity of any river in New England. It has been recommended for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Pawcatuck - Cronan / DEM to Potter Hill
A fun paddle through the Carolina Wildlife Management Area. The Wood River Joins the Pawcatuck shortly after the launch which doubles the size of the river.
Wood River - Lower Stretch
The Lower Wood River offers lots of scenery, with steep wooded banks covered in mountain laurel, swamp azalea, silky dogwood, and swamp rose. There is very little industry on the river, but the paddler will get to see two mill ruins and three dams. It’s a great area to see wildlife, with osprey nests, beaver lodges, and the ubiquitous painted turtles.
Narrow River
Narrow River - Upper
The last great ice sheet began to recede from Rhode Island 23,000 years ago, then left the Narrow River Watershed by 20,000 years ago and was gone from Rhode Island by 18,500 years ago. The Upper and Lower Ponds of Narrow River, separated by shallow Casey’s Sill, are two deep ice-block basins. After deglaciation, both basins contained freshwater lakes.
Narrow River - Lower
The Lower Narrow River offers some of the most scenic paddling Rhode Island has to offer. This area is part of the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge at Pettaquamscutt Cove. The refuge is home to a multitude of wildlife including white tail deer, fishers, foxes, otters, osprey, black ducks, willets, marsh sparrows, hawks, herons, egrets, terns, wild turkeys, turkey vultures, Canada geese and mute swans among others.
