BVPC Schedule

To participate in the Blackstone Paddler's Events, a RI Canoe and Kayak Association membership fee of $15.00 is required, as is a $10.00 membership fee for the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club. These fees provide a family membership and are good for the entire season. If you are a current RICKA member, you may join for the additional $10.00 membership fee. If you are not yet a RICKA member, you may join and pay your dues for both RICKA and Blackstone Valley Paddle Club by going to our Membership Page for payment options. Note: Inflatable PFDs (life vests) and inflatable kayaks are not acceptable for paddling on RICKA Flatwater trips or Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trips.

BVPC paddles May through August!

RICKA Main Page

July 22nd Blackstone Gorge Meet at 6:00 for a 6:15 launch
Trip coordinators Earl MacRae patandearl@comcast.net , Jim Crowley crowbird888@msn.com and Bob Larrive rml405@charter.net

Blackstone Gorge to Millville lock, Blackstone MA Suitable for all levels of experience.

The Blackstone Gorge : GPS Coordinates: N42 00.923 W071 33.165

66 County Street, Blackstone MA

See this location in: Google Maps

From the North (Massachusetts, Worcester Area) Go to Route 146 South. In Rhode Island, take Exit 14 for Forestdale/North Smithfield. Turn left off the exit ramp and cross over the highway bridge. Go straight through the traffic light for Great Road, Route 146A south. Follow Great Road, Route 146A straight to the next traffic light. Turn left onto St. Paul Street. Follow St. Paul Street to the traffic light at the end. Turn left onto Route 122 north, Main Street, Blackstone Mass. Follow Rt. 122 north for about 1 mile. A sign will direct you to turn left onto County Street towards the Blackstone Gorge. The gorge is at the end of County Street with parking on the left.

From the South (Rhode Island and the Providence Area) Go to Route 146 North. While still in Rhode Island, take Exit 14 for Forestdale/North Smithfield. Turn right at the end of the exit ramp. Take an immediate right at the traffic light onto Route 146A South, Great Road. Follow Great Road straight to the next traffic light. Turn left onto St. Paul Street. Follow St. Paul Street to the traffic light at the end. Turn left onto Route 122, Main Street North in Blackstone Mass. Follow Rt. 122 North for about 1 mile. A sign will direct you to turn left onto County Street towards the Blackstone Gorge. The gorge is at the end of County Street with parking on the left.

For questions about the BVPC, Contact Cheryl stonefoxfarm75@gmail.com 401-497-5887. Membership is required. Click on the link to learn how to join: Membership link . If you are not a yet a member and are undecided about joining, come join us for a trip to help make up your mind. Introduce yourself to one of the trip leaders in the orange shirts who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Note: Please inspect your boat and gear for any invasive Aquatic plants. If you have been on the water in the past 5 days, please clean and dry your equipment. Also, check, clean, drain and dry after.

If the trip is cancelled due to weather we will try to offer it on the next day (Wednesday). Check the message board for changes and cancellations to trips - flatwater message board.

Please check the board before leaving for any trip. We provide directions as a courtesy to paddlers however, you are responsible to refer to a map and familiarize yourself with the trip location.

July 29th Smith and Sayles Reservoir in Glocester RI Meet at 6:00 for a 6:15 launch Trip coordinators are: _______

Trip is suitable for all

82 Sand Dam Road, Chepachet (Glocester), RI

GPS Coordinates: N41 53.804 W071 40.685

Paddling access to Smith & Sayles Reservoir is at the Smith & Sayles fishing Area on Sand Dam Road in Chepachet (Glocester), RI.

It is located in the Chepachet River sub-basin which drains into the Branch River. The reservoir is a 186-acre body of water with a number of coves to explore in a kayak or canoe. The reservoir is limited to 10 HP motors so boat traffic is not a problem. If you circumnavigate the shoreline, it is about four and a half miles around. Most of shore is wooded, but there are a few houses. The maximum depth is about 10 feet deep.

Suitable for all skill levels: YES

Parking on site: 20 spaces,

Access: Boat ramp Supervising Entity: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

For questions about the BVPC, Contact Cheryl StoneFoxfarm75@gmail.com 401-497-5887. Membership is required. Click on the link to learn how to join: Join by clicking here If you are not a yet a member and are undecided about joining, come join us for a trip to help make up your mind. Introduce yourself to one of the trip leaders in the orange shirts who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

August 5th Providence River Bold Point in East Providence. Meet at 6:00 for a 6:15 launch. Trip coordinator is Erik Eckilson eckilson@cox.net 617-794-0378

We will put in at Bold Point in East Providence, paddle across Providence Harbor, through the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, and up the Providence and Woonasquatucket Rivers to the Providence Place Mall.

Put-in: Bold Point Park, East Providence

https://maps.app.goo.gl/gvmeRhvP1roqG6SY7

Waterplace Park, an urban park is the centerpiece of the redevelopment project that transformed Providence’s downtown into a trendy European-style tourist destination. The park, sitting on both banks of the Woonasquatucket River in downtown Providence, connect to cobblestone-paved pedestrian walkways along the waterfront known as the Riverwalk. Most of the Riverwalk is below street level and is closed to automobile traffic. Waterplace Park and the Riverwalk are also known for Providence's famous Waterfire festivals.

This paddle will start in East Providence in Bold Point Park which has ample parking space for boaters. From the Bold Point put-in, kayaks travel through the Green Jacket Shoal at the northern end of Narragansett Bay.

August 12th Stump Pond, Smithfield RI Meet at 6:00 for a 6:15 launch
Trip coordinators Bob Larrive rml405@charter.net and Steve Norris sirron30@gmail.com

Trip is suitable for all.

aka Stillwater Reservoir or Woonasquatucket Reservoir

41° 54.044' N 71° 32.776' W

See this location in: Google Maps

(Parking across from 64 Log Road, Smithfield, RI)

The 300-acre reservoir commonly known as Stump Pond is also known as the Stillwater Reservoir and the Woonasquatucket Reservoir. The Stump Pond name comes from the time dead tree trunks stood in the water after the land was flooded to create the reservoir. The put-in parking lot is used by many fishermen and can be crowded at times. There is a concrete ramp for boat trailers and grassy space on either side for launching kayaks if the ramp is being used to launch larger boats.

From Route I-295 northbound or southbound, take Exit 8B for Route 7 north. Travel about 0.4 mile on Route 7 north to the next traffic light. At the light, turn left onto Route 116 South. Go one mile on Route 116 South to the T intersection traffic signal and turn left.

Immediately, turn right at the next light to continue on Route 116/Route 5. Pass the Smithfield Police Department station on the left and cross over the bridge. Where Route 116/5 curves sharply to the left, take the first right for Log Road. Shortly after, bear right at the fork to remain on Log Road. Go one quarter mile more and turn right into the Stump Pond Fishing Area parking lot. (The entrance is across the street from 64 Log Road, Smithfield.)

August 19th Slatersville Reservoir and Uncle Ronnies Red Tavern. Slatersville in North Smithfield. Meet at 5:45 (due to the early sunset) - launching promptly at 6:00. Trip coordinators are Cheryl Thompson stonefoxfarm@juno.com 401-497-5887 and Tom Farley

Join us for a paddle around Slatersville Reservoir and a visit after the paddle to nearby Uncle Ronnie's Red Tavern.

Trip is suitable for all.

Slatersville Reservoir and the Branch River- North Smithfield (Slatersville)

41° 59.223' N 71° 36.035' W

See this location in: Google Maps
The Slatersville Fishing Area is located at 2890 Broncos Highway, Route 102, Burrillville, RI.
The Slatersville Fishing Area boat ramp sits on the upper part of Slatersville Reservoir, a 144-acre body of water with many interesting coves to explore. The Branch River, which is also navigable by small boats, flows into the southwest end of the reservoir. The east side of the reservoir is largely wooded, while the west side has more houses.

Stay away from the dam at the northeast end of the reservoir. Water flows over the dam into the lower part of Slatersville Reservoir, dropping around 20 feet in the process.

Directions

From the South (Rhode Island and the Providence Area) Travel north on Route 146. Take Exit 14 for Forestdale/North Smithfield/Route 5/Route 102. At the end of the ramp turn right onto School Street. Go 300 feet to the traffic light and turn left onto Victory Highway/Route 102/Route 146A. Go straight on Victory Highway for about 3 miles. Turn left into the second dirt driveway for the Slatersville Fishing Area parking lot.

From the North (Northern RI and the Worcester Area) Travel south on Route 146. Take Exit 14 for Forestdale/North Smithfield/Route 5/Route 102. At the end of the ramp turn right onto Victory Highway/Route 102/Route 146A. Follow Victory Highway for about 3 miles.
Turn left into the second dirt driveway for the Slatersville Fishing Area parking lot.

August 26th Spring Lake- Party and Paddle at Spring Lake. Meet at 5:45- launching promptly at 6:00 (note the earlier time due to the earlier sunset).

Join us for a short paddle around Spring Lake and then a gathering at Julie and Steve's waterfront home for pizza and a party!

Trip Coordinators are Julie Julierie87@gmail.com and Steve Reindeau steverie154@gmail.com. Please RSVP to Julie at Julierie87@gmail.com if you are coming to the party.

Trip is suitable for all

Google Maps

Spring Lake Boat ramp:
N 41° 58.695' W 071° 39.864'

From Rt. 146 North take Slatersville/Forestdale exit. At end of the ramp, take left onto School Street. School Street merges into Greene Street in Slatersville, next to white church. Greene Street then becomes Main
Street. Follow Main street until end at light at intersection with Route 102/Bronco Highway. Make a left onto Route 102. Follow Rt. 102 about 2 miles to Glendale. At Bella's Restuarant, on left, take left on to access
road. At end of road, turn right onto Victory Highway and first right onto Joslin Road. Take first left onto Spring Lake Road. Proceed about 1/2 mile and take left onto Black Hut Road - there is a sign to the beach here. Go past Spring Lake beach parking lot and follow Black Hut along the shore
line of the lake through a small lake front neighborhood. State boat launch will be on right at the bend in the road.

From Rt. 146 South: Take Slatersville/Forestdale exit. At end of ramp, turn right onto School Street. School Street merges into Greene Street in Slatersville, next to white church. Greene Street then becomes Main Street. Follow Main street until end at light at intersection with Route
102/Bronco Highway. Make a left onto Route 102. Follow Rt. 102 about 2 miles to Glendale. At Bella's Restaurant, on left, take left on to access road. At end of road, turn right onto Victory Highway and first right onto
Joslin Road. Take first left onto Spring Lake Road. Proceed about 1/2 mile and take left onto Black Hut Road - there is a sign to the beach here. Go past Spring Lake beach parking lot and follow Black Hut along the shore line of the lake through a small lake front neighborhood. State boat launch will be on right at the bend in the road.

From Rt. 295 Take exit 8 B for Route 7 North. Follow Rt. 7 north about 7 miles to light at intersection with Route 102. Turn left onto 102. Follow Rt. 102 about 1 mile to Glendale. At Bella's Restaurant, on left, take
left on to access road. At end of road, turn right onto Victory Highway and first right onto Joslin Road. Take first left onto Spring Lake Road. Proceed about 1/2 mile and take left onto Black Hut Road - there is a sign to the beach here. Go past Spring Lake beach parking lot and follow Black Hut along the shore line of the lake through a small lake front neighborhood. State boat launch will be on right at the bend in the road.

Spring Lake Boat ramp: N 41° 58.695' W 071° 39.864'

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End of our 2025 season, please join us on RICKA Flatwater trips until next May! Thank you all, for your participation and support of the club!