If you're looking for a peaceful outdoor escape in Central Mass, Blackstone River & Canal State Park is a hidden gem. Spring is the perfect time to visit. The trees are just starting to bud, the landscape has that first hint of green, and--best of all--the bugs haven't shown up yet. Add in a warming sun, and it's ideal for a long, relaxed walk. The canal and scenic trails along the Blackstone River are great for walking, running, or biking. If you take your time, you'll spot plenty of bluegills in the water, and occasionally bass or carp. You'll also see fishermen scattered along the canal and river, adding to the laid-back, local feel. What really stands out is how quiet it is compared to other state parks. Unless there is an event, there are no large crowds, and little noise--just open space and nature. Perfect for a casual stroll, a bike ride, fishing, frisbee, a picnic, or just clearing your head. read more

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A slightly secluded walkway. Paved and straight, it's good for a quick little run/walk. There were about a dozen people walking in the area I was in when I was there even with it being late afternoon, so I would imagine its even busier during peak times. read more

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It's very quiet here. Great place for you to take a walk or to ride your bike. Beautiful views. read more

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A favorite easy walk. We occasionally stop here for a walk, it's not difficult at all. We frequently see people of all ages here. It's about 2 miles total if you walk all the way to the end before heading back. We stopped last weekend and quickly noticed some turtles sitting on a log sunning themselves, and then we noticed another log with more turtles! Then we came across a group of logs and counted 23 turtles on them!! We eventually reached a count of 100 and gave up counting!!! read more

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Perfect weather, awesome sights. Great for a mini easy hike, and very friendly people! read more

Blackstone River & Canal State Park - Field - Hiking Near Me - Uxbridge, Massachusetts

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Met a friend to go for a walk. Chosen since it was a halfway point between us. And they allow dogs. We ended up walking almost 6 miles. And there were still plenty of trails. Trails range from single file to wide dirt roads. Many trails by the canal or river. But many through the woods. Lots of options. Very little change in elevation. Restrooms at River Bend were clean. Will probably come back again. read more

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We went blackstone river to kayak. It was a nice sunny day. For kayaking, a little bit too short and too shallow. Also there is one point you need to land and carry kayak because of a dam. For people who want to kayak only 1 hour, this is perfect. read more

Absolutely beautiful scenic park located in Uxbridge, MA. There are several open fields close to the river as well as wooded areas bordering the Blackstone as it meanders through the park and local country side. Between the canal and river there is a dirt pack trail suitable for walking, jogging and dogs are allowed as long as they are leashed. In one of the open areas as near the river is a stand of birch trees which was magnificent and rather unusual in their growth pattern. This park is a 5 star experience you won't want to miss if you like the outdoors and have a spirit of adventure. read more

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I liked the part of the park south of Hartford Avenue. You see the canal and towpath. There is also a visitors center with exhibits upstairs. There are picnic tables outside and a water fountain. The northern part of the park is not impressive. King Philip Trail is typical woodland you can find anywhere. We never could find Goat Hill Trail. There were several private homes with no trespassing signs so we couldn't go where it looked like it should be on the map. It would be nice if this were all one contiguous park with better signage. Maybe in the future some of the homeowners will be willing to sell and that will happen. read more

Beautifully maintained and accommodating. Mr Jody Madden went out of his way for us, though he would say he was just doing his job. Thanks again. read more

It seemed like a good idea at the time Blackstone River & Canal State Park is a track of land along the Blackstone River that has areas for hiking, picnicking and exploring history. Way back in the early 19th century the industrial revolution, fed by the many textile mills in the area, demanded a faster and more reliable way of getting the goods to the ports and large ships by the ocean. Canals seemed the logical choice and a period and extensive and enthusiastic canal digging began. Encouraged by the the success of the Erie Canal of 1817, the Blackstone Canal was seen as a great way of getting textiles and other material from the mills of Central Massachusetts to the ships of the Atlantic Ocean. It was completed in 1828 and became an immediate success. However problems with this canal, as with all the others of the time, quickly developed. Droughts dried up the canals and made them too shallow and floods made them too dangerous. Mud made the tow roads difficult to move on and locks required lots of maintenance and were time consuming. Transportation of goods became very dependent of the vicissitudes of the weather. The railroads finally drove the last nail in the coffin of the canals and by 1848 the Blackstone Canal closed for good. Like most of the other very ambitious canals of the time the Blackstone didn't last very long. Although the canal no longer serves it original propose it's still a cool place to explore and hike. Most of the structures are long gone but many areas of the tow roads, locks and canal itself can be seen and the Blackstone River and little ponds are still there. There is also a little visitors center at River Bend Farm and nice areas for a picnic or more causal stroll. The canals of New England are an important but mostly forgotten part of history. A lot of time, effort and money was poured into them but they ultimately proved less than successful. Fortunately parks like this preserve what is left of the great canals and what seemed like a very good idea at the time. read more

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We were looking for some place to take a nice walk on a lazy Sunday and alas, our GPS lead us here. I didn't expect much since the last time we relied on our GPS, it lead us to a smelly beach that filled us with GPS regret. Upon arriving, we saw wide open fields, beautiful foliage and a wonderful little red barn. It was so inviting! We began to take a walk along the trail and it lead us to more beautiful fields and various stops along the river. There were just enough people on the trail to feel safe but not too crowded. The sights and sounds were beautiful. We saw bikers, canoers, runners and walkers like us. We ended up at the end of the trail where we saw an old (but restored) Mill. While we only walked a small portion of the trail, we felt like we were in a little piece of heaven on that beautiful Fall Day. We will make it a point to return again and again. Perfect place to enjoy nature! read more

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It's a wonderful area for photography, kayaking, or just hanging around. It's not just one part, either. It's a whole series of parks along the rivers and dams. The history is also fascinating! read more

This is our go to place to walk our dog. We normally start at the mill end and walk to about halfway, although we have gone to the other end as well. We enjoy this trail because it's pretty straight (goes along the canal), it's quiet, and there are multiple places our dog can go in the water if he wants. Although the trail is frequented by walkers, runners, dog walkers, and cyclists, the dog owners dint always pick up their poop. It's not nearly as bad as some other places (Lincoln Woods) and the dogs tend to go on the edges of the trail, but it's still a thing to watch out for. read more

This was a beautiful pathway and my dog sure enjoyed the views too !! I loved that the path has fresh cut grass it's definitely care for and my dog has the choice to walk on path or grass. Wish they had water stops on the pathway but overall best bike path I've seen. read more

Blackstone River & Canal State Park - Walkies!!! - Hiking Near Me - Uxbridge, Massachusetts

So beautiful and peaceful. Such a nice place for a walk or to take some pic of the kids. Me I like to sit even for an hour and relax and read my book. read more

As an avid kayaker I was excited when I first visited the River Bend Farm and discovered that they had a small ramp and a River and Canal Guide. This past fall I returned with my kayak on the roof and my life jacket on. We launched at the Visitor Center and thankfully they were open. I needed to use the facilities which were clean and well cared for. I also spoke at length with the park ranger on duty and he gave me some great info about the canal and what to look for. The River Bend Farm State Park offers there different options ranging in skill level from beginner to intermediate. None of them were very long but My bother and I circled around a few times and each pass was more fun then the last. It is a great way to spend an afternoon enjoying a relic of our countries industrial age. read more

Great place to hike! Lots of different choices and so very pretty. Different levels of hiking make it great for whatever you are up for that day. read more

Blackstone River & Canal State Park - Canal Path - Hiking Near Me - Uxbridge, Massachusetts

went for a exciting mid-morning hike with the lady here. There is a lot of DOG POOP everywhere so keep a watchful eye. I wish people would pick up their dogs droppings so that other do not have to look at it, step in it, and smell it. This place had easy trails and nice views. We saw many turtles on our walk this morning. The trails were well maintained and there was no trash anywhere besides all the animal excrement. read more

The visitor center is clean and well maintained. The trail we walked on was totally straight, so not that interesting walking. Everyone was very friendly. There were no trash cans on the trail or at the trailhead. This is a nice place but not a destination. It concerned me that there were so many warnings about hunting season. read more

beautiful place to go and walk but the amount of people who don't pick up after their dogs is disgusting. every time i've gone here to walk with my dog both of us leave with dog poop on our feet. do not wear nice shoes when coming here and pay close attention to where you are stepping. if you come here with your dog PLEASE clean up after yourself and your dog and take the poop with you when you go. there are so many bags of poo thrown on the side of the trail which is just as gross and disrespectful. read more

I absolutely love this place. It is an easy and relaxing walk along a historic old canal some days it can be busy but overall that doesn't really matter. Multiple trails are available if you go into the field onsite and if you are looking for a more tame walk/hike you can just follow the canal. On one side is a amazing visitor center with great info on the area and educational programs and on the other is and old mill that now houses an antique shop. Good fishing but be warned catch and release only barbless hooks required. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this trail to anyone. read more

If your looking for somewhere to go with your family for a Saturday, entertain the kids during the week, or even go for a walk by yourself, this is the place to go! The walking trails are great along the canal and the inside is so well-kept. You can go fishing boating or just for a walk. There is wildlife everywhere you look. Make sure you go into the barn the visitor's center is. There's tons of info on the Blackstone Valley inside. If you go upstairs, there is a mini museum that is free. There are activities for children up there. I was able to entertain the kids I was watching in the museum upstairs for an hour and a half. There are dress up clothes, activities, and cool things to learn about. If you like photography, this is one of the best places for pictures in the area. A lot of people take their family pictures, wedding pictures, and senior pictures here. There are tons of locations to work with. There are restrooms inside and picnic tables scattered around. There is a dock we can get rid up to the water and people often fish off the bridge. there is a paved parking lot with overflow parking in the field. There are some roots that stick up into the path but are easy enough to navigate around even with a stroller. There are bubblers inside but you probably still want to bring water bottles and snacks. You definitely want to check this out! read more