Appalachian Mountain Club Worcester Chapter

We may know the Blackstone River Valley mainly for its hiking, paddling, cycling venues. But this nearly fifty-mile long corridor also holds geological, cultural, historical significance … right here in the heart of our greater Worcester home region. The Blackstone Heritage Corridor organization was chartered as the primary caretakers of this significant resource. Members of the BHC team--Anya Wilczynski, Executive Director; Lee Adams, Board Member; and others on their team--will tell us about this national treasure, their conservation work, recreational activities in the corridor, and more.

Bring a dish to share - appetizer, entree, dessert, beverage. Doors open at 6:30, dinner at 7:00, speaker shortly after.

Location: Northboro Historical Society, 52 Main St. (Rt. 20) - parking lot on School Street.

Join the Relay 150 TrailsFest Celebration at Institute Park in Worcester.

TrailsFest, which has been held annually since 2018, coincides with National Trails Day and is co-hosted by a group of organizations including the Appalachian Mountain Club and Park Spirit.

At this event, we celebrate trails in all their forms, including hiking trails, bike paths, waterways, and climbing routes. Here is what the day will look like:

Please use the link to register:
https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UVX0000018FPV2A2/act00020936

The Blackstone River Bikeway ride to Slater Mill Historic Site (24 miles round trip) offers a scenic bike ride along the river, with views of historic mill buildings, dams, ponds, and shaded wooded stretches. We’ll begin our 12 mile ride in Pawtucket and bike to the Old Slater Mill (1793), the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and the first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill in North America. At 10:30 AM, we will join a group tour of the museum about how Sam Slater cotton mill started the profound economic and social change.

After the 30 minute tour, we will bike the rail trail and we will be passing through Central Falls, Lincoln, Cumberland, Manville and Woonsocket. Along the way, we will pass by Captain Wilbur Kelly House who was a 19th century riverboat captain and operating boats to transports textiles and raw materials between the mills along the Blackstone River Canal before the railroads became dominant. The route is mostly paved, with a couple of short dirt and on the street sections leading to the Old Slater Mill (1793).

The event will be longer so please plan accordingly, as it is a relaxed pace of 10-12 mph so we can enjoy the scenery with the opportunity to look inside the Slater Mill Museum (free admission). After our snack break, we’ll head back the same way to our starting point.
All participants must register for this event and no drop ins.

All participants must register for this event and no drop ins.
Please use the link to register:
https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UVX0000014q2f/act00020095

East Bay Bike Path (24-Mile Round Trip) & Bristol’s Historic July 4th Parade — Nation’s Oldest (Since 1785)

The East Bay Bike Path is one of Rhode Island’s most popular scenic rides with roughly 13 mile one-way (about 26 miles roundtrip), mostly paved trail from East Providence to Independence Park in Bristol. The route passes through Barrington and Warren, salt marshes, wooded stretches and state parks such as Haines Memorial State Park and Colt State Park, with views of Narragansett Bay.

The path ends in historic town of Bristol, home to the nation’s oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration. As the nation marks its 250th year, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade which was first held in 1785 continues its long tradition with patriotic festivities, floats, high school marching bands and a large civic parade while brings the community together.

We’ll ride at a relaxed pace of 10–12 mph to enjoy the scenery along the way. Once we arrive in Bristol, we’ll lock up our bikes and
stop at Sip-N-Dip Donuts for coffee and a bite to eat. They offer a wide variety of donuts, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches and other drinks. Then, watch the parade until 1:00 pm before heading back to our starting point.

Please plan accordingly, as this will be a longer day due to time spent enjoying the historic parade.

Wear your red, white and blue! Let's celebrate America's Birthday together!

Highly recommended you arrive (30 mins) early because the parking lot fills up quickly.

All participants must register for this event and no drop ins.
Please use the link to register:
https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UVX0000014q2f/act00020095

Requirements:
· Bike in good working condition
· Properly fitting helmet
· Water and snacks or lunch
· Tire repair kit
· Bike Lock is a must for this event!