Walk the PVD Crosstown Trail: A 13-Mile Urban Hike!

Join us Saturday, May 23 from 9am to 4pm for a 13-mile hike across Providence! Inspired by the San Francisco Crosstown Trail, this walking route traverses both quiet neighborhoods and a variety of parks across the city of Providence. The first half of the trail (7.5 miles, 2.5 hours) starts at Neutaconkanut Hill and proceeds through Merino Park, the Woonasquatucket River Greenway, and Pleasant Valley Parkway to the downtown River Walk.

We’ll stop for lunch at the Van Leesten Pedestrian Bridge (bring your own lunch!). You can peel off there, or continue for the second half of the trail (5.5 miles, 2 hours), a surprisingly easy walk from downtown to Roger Williams Park, Columbia Park, and the gorgeous Urban Coastal Greenway at Fields Point. Cross the city by foot for a whole new perspective on PVD! This is the third Crosstown Trail walk organized by a stellar team that includes Justin Boyan, Providence dad and co-founder of Climate Action Rhode Island; Traci Picard, Public Historian, and Sarah Zurier, an Architectural Historian for the R.I. Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission. Check out the walking routes of our first two walks here!

Note: this is a rigorous urban hike. Please bring water and wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes, and be prepared to be flexible with restroom stops as we will rely on using restrooms en route as needed in coffee shops and restaurants.

Parking and Transportation

Please meet in the parking lot of the Vincent Igliozzi Recreation Center, 675 Plainfield Street at 8:45am on the morning of the hike. The Center has ample public parking. We will begin our hike from Neutaconkanut Hill and proceed to the Van Leesten Pedestrian Bridge for our lunch stop (lunch is not provided!).

Those doing the half-day hike who parked on Plainfield Street who would like to get back to their cars after lunch have two options: take a bus from Kennedy Plaza or take an Uber. Bus lines have different Saturday schedules; options include Bus 19, which lets off across the street from the Igliozzi parking lot or Bus 17, which lets off a 10-min walk from the parking lot (20-24 min bus ride). Those doing the full-day hike who parked on Plainfield Street can take an Uber back to the Igliozzi parking lot with PPS staff and the hike guides at no cost (20-min drive).

Saturday, May 23 // 9am to 4pm.
Rain date: Sunday, May 24
Parking/Meet-up Location: 675 Plainfield Street.
End Point: Save the Bay Center, Save the Bay Drive.

Tickets: $20 General, $15 PPS Members.

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Host or Publisher Providence Preservation Society