If you’re looking to get your family out for a summer bike ride that practically guarantees success, give the Washington Secondary Bike Path in Rhode Island a try. The section I recommend is an approximately 11-mile, one-way ride on a nicely paved part of what locals call the West Bay trail. About a 90-minute drive from Wellesley Square, the rail-trail, Rhode Island’s longest, follows the former Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad. This ride is good for kids eight years old and up, I’d conservatively say.

My advice is to start at the west end of the trail at The Summit General Store (for your GPS, plug in 25 Old Summit Road, Greene, Rhode Island 02827). The store offers sandwiches, snacks and drinks, but unfortunately there are no public restrooms. According to an employee the local Health Department shut that down a while back. He didn’t know why, and his job working the register and the post-office counter section of the store didn’t exactly leave him time to chat about it.

The bike trail parking lot across from the store holds about 10 vehicles. You’ll notice that the trail abruptly ends at a wall of trees and underbrush, and to the right is an undeveloped trail. If you explored in that direction, in five miles you’d find yourself at the  Connecticut border, where a connection to the Moosup Valley State Park Trail awaits. Plenty of adventure-seekers ride that rough-and-tumble gravel/dirt/sand trail in its currently unimproved state. For now, however, it’s mostly a well-kept secret used by ATV lovers who will mourn the wild nature of that section once it’s tamed. Trails advocates hope that it will eventually be paved as part of a bike path that will run from Maine to Florida.

But never mind the wilds of Connecticut. There’s enough to keep you happy in Rhode Island as you head east on the trail going toward Warwick. Starting here allows you to take advantage of the slight downhill slope and enjoy the pretty, rural feel to this part of the trail. That mostly downhill part is key. I’m trying to set your family up for biking success here, people. We don’t want any young ones declaring “I don’t like biking” as they sweat and struggle along on a bike that might be a 5-year old hand-me-down with stripped gears. I’m not judging you about that, and neither will this trail that forgives such make-do equipment. This is the kind of ride that will have kids puffed up with pride about the long distance they just covered with ease.

There are no huge hills to cause worry as your kids pedal along ahead of you, but know that there are several street-crossing points, mostly across quiet, secondary roads. These crossings provide a convenient way to step off the trail and grab a bite to eat or hit a restroom, because except for the general store I didn’t see any amenities on the trail itself. Not even a lemonade stand.

The trail is paved and well maintained with no sudden branches to dodge or high-grass tick farms to coast through. It’s nicely shaded and you’ll cross the winding Pawtuxet River a couple of times on your ride. Stop off on the beautiful bridges and take in the views. There are also views of Flat River Reservoir, a recreational hot spot for fishing and boating. You’ll also pass through woods and swamp lands and see occasional homes, recreation areas, and a campground.

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