Colt State Park

Haven’t been here in years, but how beautiful it is, especially at this time of year. Gorgeous foliage and water views. Ran the community string project 5K. My first run and couldn’t have been at a better place. Ample parking and facilities. A couple taking engagement photos here today too!

Had a really great walk here from downtown Bristol. Beautiful, water view, bike/​pedestrian path, bathrooms, rent-​able areas, boat ramp, baseball diamonds and that’s only what I noticed on one visit.

it’s good

Very nice scenic huge park. Lot of grills are available around the park. It has a very nice water front with a walking trail and biking path. This park is a good spot to have weekend barbecue parties. Boat can be brought in here
It is 10 –15 minutes off the highway, mostly summer weekends are crowded

Lots of picnics here! It wasn’t really a secret of rhode island since there were tons of people here on a Saturday and everyone picnicing. Parking was terrible and not enough spots. This park is mostly good for walking but lots of nothing to see. There’s a nice walk near the water but uncomfortable in hot weather since there’s no shade along the walk. Overall, I’ll go to another park, especially to play sports.

Colt State Park is a gem that sits by the ocean. Everywhere around you is an amazing view. We brought our city dog to experience a whole new side to life and she loved it. I will certainly come back here to explore some more.

Every year, it seems to get better and better. They are not slacking on updates and renovations. There is something for everyone — from sports courts and fields to a beach for swimming to a playground to picnic sites. You can hold any event, big or small, here. Many weddings are held in the chapel and the opportunities for taking pictures are endless. It’s just lovely!

This park was a gorgeous place to walk the dogs! Very peaceful and quiet. They loved walking through the leaves in early November, and it was so beautiful walking along the path and seeing all the fall foliage. The view of the water is lovely as well. It’s an easy walk and would be great for a picnic as well. I just wish they had some trash cans on-​site– this would be helpful for people who have to pick up after their dogs!

This is a gorgeous park with plenty of ocean view. I have been here for a wedding and for a ½ marathon and have been impressed with the park for both occassions. There are onsite bathrooms, plenty of open field space, nice grounds for walking, and the East Bay Bike path joins up with it.
Great place for a family outing, they even have a large covered space with picnic tables that you can rent out that is located close the the bathrooms.

I have been to this park many many times… most of the times, as I ride my bike to Bristol. Very clean and well laid out. There are many picnic areas, restrooms, walking trails, biking trails (some of these right along the water).
The water views are peaceful and beautiful. You can find acres and acres of grass, tress and trials to enjoy. Many people go for picnics, fishing, rollerblading, walking, biking, chilling, etc.
Check it out !

This park is a beautiful location for a picnic, a barbecue, or a walk with friends. There are wide open areas where kids can run and the views from the paths are beautiful. The park seems to be well-​maintained. However, for runners like me, this place was a bit of a disappointment. The park has many open fields instead of wooded areas, and paths are mostly in the sun without any shade. However, with the East Bay Bike Path right at the entrance to the park, you can easily extend your run or bike outing.

I feel like everyone in Rhode island knows of Colt State Park, but few of us actually make it here, and that’s a shame!
I myself came here for the first time this summer and it was great! I attended the TGI Network annual picnic here and highly recommended it for family and group outings. The lots are large enough that you don’t feel like you are on top of each other and there is a path through the woods to the water and a nice wall you can sit on by the water if you need a break from your group. Bathrooms were well maintained.
Only downsides where the number of cops (3 different cop cars) clocking peoples speeds, which just seemed excessive and made me feel uncomfortable and the fact that the lot are not numbered.
For anyone that might be having trouble finding the park, you turn in at the gates that have a large bull statute on either side.

Oh Colt State Park, how I love thee.
Want to talk about a massive and beautiful park? This is the one to talk about.
I’ve been here many times in the 12 years I’ve been living in RI and each time, I’ve quite enjoyed myself. A good friend of mine held her baby shower here on a gorgeous spring Sunday; she was able to reserve a pavilion with picnic tables and a grill right near the water.
This park is so expansive and I’ll admit that I probably haven’t explored a good 50% of it; I stick to the places I know for fear of getting lost. Obviously down by the water is my most favorite as you are able to see water and boats for miles out as well as the Providence skyline.
Colt State Park is a wonderful place to take your dog for a walk, to take your significant other for a walk, go for a bike ride, a run, read a book under a tree, soak in some rays, lay on a blanket, to have a picnic, to have a party or just a plain ol’ get together with friends and enjoy the beautiful trees, flowers and Mother Nature at her finest.
Beware that this place CAN and WILL become packed on a weekend day if the sun is out. Also, if you want to take advantage of the picnic areas, you should get there early to claim your spot!

I had issues reaching Colt State Park using the number printed on their website and map. I was, however, successful at reaching a human being at a different number — 401−253−2247 — who was quite friendly and helpful.
We schlepped over to Colt State Park in Bristol, RI from the western part of the Boston Metro area in just over an hour or so — not bad. Oddly, my GPS wasn’t able to grasp the address of Route 114, so we went with the old fashioned paper route and watched out for signs.
If you are headed out to Colt from up north, the entrance at Route 114 is right after a cemetery on your right and is guarded by a pair of bull statues on either side. Head down that a ways, and you’ll come upon a guard house where you might be handed a plastic trash bag on your way in. This is both nice and smart of them, seeing as Colt is Carry In/​Carry Out designated — yup, there are no trash cans at Colt. Not even in the bathrooms where they offer electric hand dryers.
The road that leads around Colt is mainly one way, counterclockwise, so it is hard to get lost, with a smaller two way road that cuts through the center to the parking lot for the outdoor chapel, which is located across the ways from the largest shelter and one of the three park bathrooms.
Some areas of the park are first come first serve — those seemed to be on the right side of the main road, as well as by the fields along the stone walls inland after the office — while some sites seem to be available to be reserved for $ 2 per picnic table; my impression is that those might be the areas to the left after passing by the boat ramp area, but before the loop in the road leading to the office. But take this with a huge grain of salt — I’ve only been here once!
We noticed plenty of cars parked on the grass in an organized manner. Not sure if that’s the norm or not, but given the limited parking, I could see why folks might want to do that. When we inquired at the gate, it does sound like certain areas (like by the stone walls) allow for grass parking, but please be ready to move your vehicle if asked.
Loads of fields, a nice water view on one end, a cool looking marshy area at the other, bathrooms available with soap and running water (and really thin toilet paper, just say’n) — I can see why folks head on over here in droves, even on a on-​off drizzly day.

I absolutely love colt state park. I can’t tell you how many times I come here with the fam in the summer. My mother loves to just sit and bask in the warm sun and cool summer breeze. We always sit at the end of the rocks and put our feet in the water, but be warned some rocks have algae and you may not realize this and fall into the water (I know this from experience). I also love strolling through the paths, having a nice lunch and sometimes swimming in the beach part of the park. It’s an amazing place to forget your worries and just enjoy what’s around you. From here we always get ice cream or frozen yogurt from Eskimo King. One trip two pleasures.

What a natural jewel. Colt State Park has a little of everything — walking trails, both paved and wooded, picnic areas, bike trail, large open spaces, an outdoor chapel, expansive views of the Bay, a boat ramp… and that’s just a few. How much does this all cost? It’s free, my friends. That’s right, free. Some of the picnic areas can be reserved for a small fee, but there are others that are on a first come, first serve basis.
This park is well-​maintained. On any weekday you will see workers picking up trash, mowing, clipping branches, etc.
There are a lot of benches and picnic tables on the grounds, as well as plenty of spots to lay out a blanket. It can get crazy here on summer weekends, so you may want to get here early to claim your spot. They also have a fair amount of walkathons that they temporarily close the roads for. If you are driving a bit to get here, you may want to check first.
I took my daily walk here today and got to watch a lobster boat hauling traps while walking. What’s better than that?
If you haven’t visited yet, do yourself a favor and go explore this wonderful park.

A great park for anyone looking to walk, bike, jog, or exploring a beautifully scenic area. This is a great park for picnics and barbecues.
I love this park.

You may easily pass by this beautiful, enormous park by mistake when driving through Bristol. However, you would be missing out on a stunning, multifaceted destination to catch some rays, bicycle, walk, and picnic. The stone-​line pathways along the coast as well as the rustic, stone bridges are reminiscent of stone-​lined everything highlighted in the movie, Braveheart. You pretty much have access to the coast for the full stretch of the park!
Let’s just say I loved the natural setting of this park so much that half of my wedding photos were taken here!
This is my favorite park in all of Rhode Island. It’s got a bit of something for everyone from the woodsy, dirt paths to the stone bridges, docks, and coast! Colt State Park is a wonderful destination for getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city or tourist magnets like Newport.

Where the water meets the land is perfectly positioned; no gap what so ever.
This park is the perfect balance of land, sea and sky. You really get the feeling that this park was designed with the desires of man to reconnect with nature and in many cases you can do that without leaving the comfort of your Camry. Park your car in one of the many lots and look out upon the water and if you time it just right they host a great sunset everyday; however times vary by season so you will need to plan ahead.
If your vehicle happens to have a bike strapped to it, I hear that’s a standard feature on most Subaru’s and Minivans, then you can utilize the beautiful bike path. I don’t know where it ends; however I did see a number of short people riding along it so I think it is safe to assume it ends at the Shire.
Go enjoy this beautiful piece of nature before Dunkin’ Donuts buys it up and converts it into a giant donut recycling facility… you’ve been warned

This is the most ideal place to be on a sunny Spring, Summer, or Fall day. There are picnic areas that are shaded, there are picnic areas that are in the sun. There’s plenty of room to run, play, and enjoy the ocean air. It is the perfect place to gather all your friends for an afternoon of picnicing and tossing around a football. There is formal pavillions for this, or you can pull up a piece of grass and enjoy.
Have a dog? Great place to walk. Have a child learning to ride a bike? Safe paths for them to practice on. Just want to get out and be near the ocean? The park cannot be beat.
The public restrooms within the park have always been clean, even on busy summer afternoons.
The views are priceless. It is among the most beautiful locations in Rhode Island. Every time I go, there is a wedding party posing for their photos. It is that memorable.
It is a «leave no trace» park, so you need to take out what you bring in (i.e. trash).