Olney Pond (at Kayak School) - Lincoln Woods

41° 53.338' N    71° 26.149' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Map Server   Acme Maps

This is a site for launching hand-carried boats such as canoes or kayaks.

Description & Overview:

Olney Pond is the 128 acre reservoir that forms the heart of Lincoln Woods State Park, a 627 acre park just a few miles north of downtown Providence. There are various places around the shoreline where hand carried boats could be launched and there is a cement plank boat ramp on the east side suitable for launching trailered boats as well as hand carried boats. The major virtue of the put-in at the kayak school is the availability of rental boats and gear for those who do not have their own boat.

Despite its proximity to Rhode Island's major population centers, the pond is quite scenic with tree-lined shores, large boulders, rocky outcroppings, various small islands dotting the pond, and many small coves to explore. The park is popular at all times of year so this is not a place to get away from people on a nice weekend or even a nice summer weekday, but it is a pretty pond very close to Providence and the convoluted shoreline makes the pond feel larger than it is.

This area is stocked with trout several times throughout the year.

There is a 10 H.P. limit on all outboard motors used on the pond. No motors at all are allowed on holidays and weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

This site provides access to the following water bodies in the Moshassuck River watershed: Olney Pond.

Location:

Town: Lincoln

Driving Landmarks: From Route 146 North take the Twin River Road exit and turn left at the end of the ramp. From Route 146 South take the Twin River Road exit and turn right at the end of the ramp.

Follow Twin River Road into Lincoln Woods State Park and when you come to the T-junction just inside the park turn right. Follow this one-way road for 0.7 miles to the main parking lot. Walk to the end of the lot, where there is a large sign for the park and beach, but do not follow the paved path beyond this sign. Instead, turn right onto the gravel path and follow it to the kayak school, and then on across the grass to the pond.

In the summer, when the full loop road is open, you can also drive past the main parking lot and turn left at the sign for the "boat rental" and follow this road to the lot at the end. This parking lot is closer to the pond and kayak rental site and will shorten your carry to the pond.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: lake/reservior

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.

Type of Access: Boat launch for hand carried boats

Shoreline: sand and gravel beach

Float/Dock: no

Approximate Length of Carry between Car Access and Water: 700 feet

Hours of Operation: Sunrise to sunset, year-round

Fees: No fee to enter park or launch boats. There are fees for some on-land facilities.

Parking:

Parking: yes: 50 spaces, no overnight parking

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? yes

Nearby Amenities:

Public Restrooms: In the summer there are restrooms at various locations in the park

Outfitter: Providence Kayak rents kayaks here in the summer months. See the outfitters list for more details.

Ecological, Cultural & Recreational Attractions:

Lincoln woods has many amenities including picnic areas, a swimming beach, walking trails, playing fields, horseback riding trails, and mountain biking trails. Providence Kayak rents boats here in the summer. In the winter, Olney Pond is popular for ice fishing and ice skating.

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