Welcome to the ExploreRI Mapper
This mapper will help you locate boat launches and other points of interest to for small boat recreation throughout the state of Rhode Island. To get started, click anywhere on the map to zoom in on that area. To zoom out use the zoom control to the left of the map. Once you have zoomed in, boat launches and other points of interest will show up on the map as clickable red icons (see the key below the map). Click on an icon to get more information about that location. If you prefer to search by criteria or simply look up a site by name, try the boat launch search page. If you have a high-speed Internet connection (e.g., DSL or Cable), you may want to try our Google-based mapping system which also includes sites in the Narragansett Bay Watershed in Massachusetts.
KEY
Hand Carry Boat Launch
Boat Ramp
Portage
Other Type of Site
The location you clicked on is a site for launching hand-carried boats such as canoes or kayaks.
Site Name: Poppasquash Road
Town: Bristol
Driving Landmarks: From Route 114 (a little north of downtown Bristol but south of the entrance to Colt State Park) take Poppasquash Road east for 1 mile and look for the Bristol Marine Complex and the adjacent beach (on the north side of the marine complex) that can be used to launch hand-carried boats.
ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no
Shoreline: Sand and gravel beach
Float/Dock: no
Approximate Length of Carry between Car Access and Water: 30 feet
Hours of Operation: 24/7, year-round
Parking: parking lot, 20 spaces, overnight parking permitted
ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? no
Water 'Features' At Site: ocean/bay
Note: Because one boat launch can access, say, both a lake and a river or both the upstream and downstream portions of a river, not all paddling trips at a given site will necessarily encounter all of the features listed.
Comments & Overview:Launching on the west side of Bristol Harbor gets you away from the very busy shoreline on the east side of the harbor near downtown Bristol, but you should still keep and eye out for boat traffic. From this put-in you can explore Bristol Harbor or, if you want to go further, it is 2.5 miles to Poppasquash Point on the west side of Bristol Harbor or to 3.5 miles to the Mount Hope Bridge out the east side of Bristol Harbor. Rounding Poppasquash Point takes you towards Colt State Park but the area around Poppasquash Point and on up to Colt State Park and beyond is often windy and rough. Also, watch out for ship traffic using the channel just offshore. Heavy boat and ship traffic should also be expected near the Mount Hope Bridge. In either case, if you venture beyond Bristol Harbor you should expect larger waves and stronger tidal currents. Especially around the points and in narrow areas such as under the Mount Hope Bridge and around Poppasquash Point the tide can interact with the wind to create particularly rough conditions.
On most days the southwest wind fills in strongly throughout this area in the morning and blows through the afternoon, producing significant waves, so be prepared for this when planning your trip. Mornings are often calmer and less windy, and so are usually a better time to paddle.
This map and guide, created by the RI Blueways Alliance, has more details on paddling routes in Bristol Harbor.
For more details see the full site report
The data on this website comes from many sources, including volunteers and organizations across the state of Rhode Island and nearby parts of Massachusetts. We have done our best to make sure the data are accurate and up to date, but any information critical to the success of your trip should be confirmed before you start. The maps and information on this website should not be substituted for nautical charts, topographic maps, or other more detailed maps and guides. We welcome corrections and additions. To send a correction or provide other feedback, please use our feedback form.
Credits: The data for the base maps was provided by the Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS) and the Office of Geographic and Environmental Information (MassGIS), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. The site data came from numerous sources and organizations. Much of it was collected through the hard work of volunteers for various conservation, watershed and outdoor recreation groups around the state of Rhode Island.