110  John St., Lincoln RI 02865

The old Lonsdale Drive-In site is now a restored meadow and wetland along the Blackstone River. The Blackstone River Bikeway goes through the area and the parking lot off John Street for the bike path provides good access to the Blackstone River via a newly constructed set of stairs that lead to a path to the river. To find the stairs walk across the bike path at the upper end of the parking lot and look for steps leading down the bank into the woods. Follow this path down to the river, where there is a good place for launching small boats just upriver from the bridge.

The Blackstone River in this area is broad and slow, making for easy paddling. At most river levels it is quite possible to make a round trip down to Valley Falls Pond and then back up to the put-in. Valley Falls Pond is an extensive area of wetlands with many side channels to explore. Paddling down the Blackstone, look for a large opening on the right, which leads into the main part of Valley Falls Pond. There are various branches leading off from the main pond, and the whole area is a great place to see birds. It is about 3/4 mile from the put-in at the Lonsdale Drive-In site to the entrance to Valley Falls Pond. The next put-in downriver from the Lonsdale Drive-In put-in is a mile downriver at Central Falls Landing where you must stop before the Valley Falls Dam. Continuing downriver below Central Falls Landing involves a long portage.

Lonsdale Drive-In

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