(Last Updated On: March 7, 2023)
Olney Pond at Lincoln Woods State Park

Olney Pond at Lincoln Woods State Park. Photo: Swampyank, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lincoln Woods State Park is a popular outdoor recreational area located near Providence.

Spanning around 627 acres, this Rhode Island state park offers a range of activities for visitors, including hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, and picnicking.

The centerpiece of the park is Olney Pond, a 126-acre freshwater lake that is stocked with trout and other fish. The park also features over 2.5 miles of hiking trails, which wind through the woods and around the lake. Additionally, there are several picnic areas, a playground, and a beach for swimming.

Open year-round, admission to the park is free. Unfortunately, there is no overnight camping accommodation available. However, it is a popular destination for families, outdoor enthusiasts, and nature lovers alike.

Activities

This delightful state park offers visitors a number of ways to immerse themselves within its spectacular natural beauty.

Outlined below is a quick overview of some of the most popular leisure outdoor activities you can take part in whilst you are at Lincoln Woods State Park.

Boating at Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park is known for its beautiful freshwater lake, which is perfect for boating enthusiasts. The lake is surrounded by dense forest, which adds to its scenic beauty.

Visitors can bring their own boats or rent them from the park. The rental fees for boats are very reasonable, and guests can rent kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats by the hour or for the entire day.

Boating on the lake is a peaceful and serene experience, and it is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty of the park. If you decide to do it, just be sure to adhere to the park’s regulations when it comes to safety equipment like lifejackets.

Fishing at Lincoln Woods State Park

Fishing is another popular activity at Lincoln Woods State Park.

The park’s lake is stocked with a variety of fish, including largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, and sunfish.

Fishing is allowed year-round, but visitors must have a Rhode Island fishing license. Once you have got one, you will be able to fish from the shore or rent a boat to drop a line from the lake.

The park also offers fishing clinics for children, which are a great way to introduce them to the sport of fishing.

Hiking and cross country skiing at Lincoln Woods State Park

Hiking at Lincoln Woods State Park is an excellent way to explore the natural beauty of the park. The park features more than 12 miles of hiking trails, which wind through the forest and along the shore of Olney Pond.

The trails at Lincoln Woods State Park are well-maintained and offer different degrees of difficulty, making them suitable for hikers of all skill levels. The trails are marked with blazes, and maps are available at the park’s visitor center.

It’s important to note that during the winter months, the trails at Lincoln Woods State Park can be covered in snow and ice, making them more challenging to navigate. However, the park’s trails offer a beautiful and peaceful winter hiking and cross country skiing experience for those who are prepared for the conditions.

Picnicking at Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park has several picnic areas that are perfect for family gatherings or group outings.

The park’s picnic areas are equipped with picnic tables, grills, and restrooms and visitors are welcome to bring their own food or purchase something from the park’s concession stand.

Most of these areas are shaded and offer wonderful views of the lake. If you do enjoy a picnic at any one of them you are reminded that the consumption of alcohol is not permitted anywhere in the park.

Birding at Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park is a very good destination for bird watchers, so you will definitely want to bring your binoculars with you.

The park is home to a variety of bird species, including woodpeckers, warblers, and owls, many of which reside there permanently.

Visitors can spot them and many other species throughout the park in the dense woodland or near the water.

To help you maximise your experience, the park also offers birding workshops and guided birding tours, which are a great way to learn more about the different bird species in the park.

Pets

Lincoln Woods State Park is pet-friendly public recreational space, so visitors are allowed to bring their pets with them to the park.

The park’s hiking trails are a popular spot for dog walkers, and the lake is a great place for your pooch to cool off on a hot day.

However, some restrictions are placed on their presence by the authorities which you will have to be mindful of. This includes them not being allowed in certain buildings and also having to be restrained on a leash and well behaved during their entire time at the park.

Camping

Unfortunately, there are no camping facilities at Lincoln Woods State Park, but within a half an hour drive of it there are several campgrounds you can stay at.

These include the George Washington State Campground and Holiday Acres Campground, both of which are in Rhode Island, as well as the Normandy Farms Family Camping Resort located over the border in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Between them, these campgrounds offer a range of accommodations to suit all styles and preferences. This includes rustic tent sites, as well as RV and trailer sites that come with hookups for electricity and water.

In addition, some also offer cute cabins, safari tents and yurts as well, which provide guests with a more unique camping experience.

Depending on where you stay amenities do vary. The Holiday Acres Campground, for instance, has a game room, an adults-only rec room and a camp store. While at Normandy Farms they have four swimming pools, a wellness center that offers massages, a jacuzzi, 18-hole disc golf course and a bike park. The George Washington State Campground is a more rustic campground with fewer amenities.

Park Location

Lincoln Woods State Park
2 Manchester Print Works Rd
Lincoln, RI 02865
Phone: 401.723.7892

Park Website

Map

Video

Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at Lincoln Woods State Park: