If you’re a New Englander, then there’s a good chance that when you hear the word “gorge,” you think of the northern New England states or western Massachusetts. Rhode Island probably didn’t come to mind. However, tucked away in North Smithfield, RI right near the Massachusetts border is the Blackstone Gorge.
At first, we thought it was just a waterfall. But come to find out, it’s more than that. This park area crosses the Rhode Island/Massachusetts line, and the area is managed by both states. I thought it was nice seeing both states getting along and working together, especially after how Massachusetts treated Roger Williams.
Turns out that what we thought was a waterfall was really a dam. The Rolling Dam was created in in 1886 so that the Blackstone Manufacturing Company could have water power for the mills. The nearby Blackstone Gorge made it difficult to build anything near the dam, so the company built their mills about a half mile downstream.
Entering the Blackstone Gorge
You really have to look for the entrance to the Blackstone Gorge. It’s well-hidden at the corner of two side streets. There’s a parking lot that has room for about 20 cars. As we left the car, we could already hear the dam, which was only a short walk away.
On the way, Benny noticed this colorful sign. What a great idea! We’ve seen other people posting pictures of colored rocks on social media, but this was the first time we saw a setup like this in person. He wanted to take all of the blue rocks. I know he can read the sign and knew he was only supposed to take one; he was just seeing what he could get away with. I made sure he ended up taking only one.
An older woman holding paddles passed us. “I’m going to die today!” she said exasperatedly, whose sentiment was the exact opposite of the Kindness Rocks Project.
“Why?” I asked, not sure if I really wanted to get into this type of conversation at the moment.
“Look!” she said, pointing to two kayaks and an older man. “Look how close we’re going to be to the falls!”
I could see why she was a bit nervous. The boat launch was literally right next to the falls. And when I say literally, I mean within thirty feet. With the roaring of the powerful water dropping over hard, unforgiving rocks, I would have been a bit hesitant to go kayaking there too. But there was someone else further down kayaking, and it looked like he was fine. I pointed him out to her, and told her so. It did little to alleviate her fears. She continued walking to two kayaks near the boat ramp.
If you’re interested in kayaking up the Blackstone River from this spot, you should check out the Blackstone River and Canal Guide.
Views of the dam
It’s easy to get a good, close look at the dam. The best way is to go to the left of the park area, or wrap around a short path and view the falls from a few yards downstream. If you choose to go on the rocks, be aware that they can be a bit slippery when wet. The water’s roar is loud enough to drown out your voice, so keep that in mind if you have inquisitive family members or pets.
The trail down the river to the gorge
At this point, you may be wondering, “Where’s the gorge? You were supposed to tell me where the Blackstone Gorge is!”
You’re right. After admiring the dam, you can take trail that follows the river. A few yards down the path, you’ll cross state lines and enter Rhode Island. There are no signs that you’re crossing state lines; you’ll have to trust me (and Google Maps). The trail isn’t too wide; you’ll have to walk one-by-one. Parts of it are a bit rocky and there are roots in some places, so be careful.
These precautions are a small price to pay for the beauty and seclusion that you’ll experience. Within a few minutes, you’ll forget that you’re in southern New England; you’ll think you’re somewhere in New Hampshire or Vermont.
Parents beware: If you’re hiking with the young ones, keep an eye on them. It’s a cool and interesting place to explore, but at places there’s a steep drop of at least 50, 60, or 70 feet. (I’m guesstimating. It’s high. Very high.)
The one-mile trail loops back, but we went back the way we came. We walked to the bend in the river where the Branch River flows out of the Blackstone River.
Overall, we were glad that we stopped to explore the Blackstone Gorge. While the path is short, if you’d like a map, you can get it here. The gorge area is in the lower left section.
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