Welcome to ExploreRI!
ExploreRI is designed to be a one-stop portal for information on freshwater and saltwater paddling in Rhode Island and the Narragansett Bay Watershed, including the Blackstone River and soon the Ten Mile and Taunton River systems in Massachusetts. This project is being led by the Rhode Island Blueways Alliance but many other partners have made major contributions. What can you learn from this site:
Get out on the water with Paddle10!
The Rhode Island Blueways Alliance, in partnership with many local groups and partners, is once again organizing a series of paddling events throughout Rhode Island and the Narragansett Bay watershed this summer. There is a paddle almost every weekend from June 5 to July 20 plus some weekday evening paddles. All are open to the public and most are good for inexperienced as well as experienced paddlers. For more details see the events page!
Please Remember...
The spring floods resulted in a lot of trees down in and across many rivers. While they are great fish habitat, for paddlers these trees can range from just a nuisance to a deadly hazard if you are swept against a tree in the river and end up underwater trapped against the tree. So, when paddling on rivers in particular, be perpared for the unexpected!
As always, please remember to wear your life jacket!
If you come across small buoys marked "research," please do not disturb them. They are part of research being conducted by RI DEM to try to improve water quality. For more details, see this flyer.
Where to go Paddling
Using the Boat Launch Map you can look for sites to launch canoes, kayaks, and trailered boats througout Rhode Island and the Narragansett Bay Watershed. We currently have 213 boat launches listed, including freshwater and saltwater sites, sites on ponds, rivers, lakes, bays and the ocean. If you want to find just certain types of boat launches, such as just launches with boat ramps or just sites on saltwater, or just sites in certain towns or counties, try the Boat Launch Search page.
America's Newest Statewide Water Trail Network:
Read the national feature release about Rhode Island Blueways sent out by the Rhode Island Blueways Alliance in partnership with the National Park Service Rivers & Trails Program and Rhode Island Tourism Division.
Join the Blueways Alliance!
Help us continue this project and make it even better by becoming a member! Help us continue this project and make it an even better resource. More details on the Join Us page.
The original funding for the ExploreRI website was provided by the Rhode Island Rivers Council. The National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program helped launch the project and continues to provide important input and assistance. For information about the Rhode Island Blueways Alliance, which now leads this project, see the about us page.
