Posts Tagged ‘ Hiking ’

Beaver River East – Richmond

  • Beaver River East
  • Hillsdale Road, Richmond, RI
  • Trailhead: 41°32’46.7″N 71°38’05.8″W
  • Last Time Hiked: April 18, 2024
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.6 miles
  • Fairly easy with some slight elevation.

 

The newest Nature Conservancy trail system to open in Rhode Island is a great addition the well established Beaver River Preserve. Though (currently) discontinuous from the rest of the preserve, Beaver River East offers a unique view of Beaver River from the “other side”. The lollipop loop starts from a parking area opposite 345 Hillsdale Road. The trail, blazed blue, first winds through a couple small fields before entering the woods. From there it follows an old cart path downhill before coming to the loop trail. Staying to the right the trail becomes covered in pine needles for a good portion of the hike which offers a pleasant silence. You will come across stone walls and various sized boulders before getting the first glimpse of the cascading Beaver River. A footbridge crosses a small stream and the trail leads away from the river briefly before revisiting it. This wider section of the river looks vastly different from the previous section. Evidence of beaver activity was visible here. There is a bench to sit and take in the scene. The trail then winds away from the river and climbs uphill and through the forest before coming to the trail entrance. Turn right here and retrace your steps along the cart path and through the fields to the parking area. Hunting is available here, be sure to wear orange.

 

Trail Map: Beaver River East

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Cascading Beaver River

2024
04/21
CATEGORY
Beaver River East
~1 to 2 Miles~
~RICHMOND RI~
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Mussachuck Grove & Beach – Barrington

This Barrington Land Conservation Trust property is quite a hidden secret and a gem. The walk itself is short unless you want to follow the beach beyond the property. There is parking for a couple cars at the intersection of Appian Way and Grove Street. From here walk up Grove Street a few feet to the entrance of the grove. The small grove offers a loop trail through the predominantly oak tree canopy. At the opposite end of the loop is a spur that leads to the end of Appian Way. Here you will find the beach access in which you can follow the path to the beach. Low tide is particularly good time to visit as nature makes some interesting artwork of the beach sand as the tide recedes. Once at the beach you will notice the nesting area for purple martins as well as several birdboxes on the landward side. The view from the beach stretches from the Port of Providence to Conimicut Point. The view of the lighthouse from here is also quite impressive. There is a small creek that can be easily forded at low tide if you wanted to continue further down the beach for further distance. Just be sure to stay below the high water mark beyond the creek.

TWRI-Mussachuck

Looking Toward The Conimicut Point Lighthouse

2024
03/13
CATEGORY
Mussachuck Beach
~1 Mile or Less~
~BARRINGTON RI~
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Pine Swamp Wildlife Corridor – Ledyard

  • Pine Swamp Wildlife Corridor
  • Whalehead Road, Ledyard, CT
  • Trailhead: 41°26’32.7″N 72°03’10.7″W
  • Last Time Hiked: December 30, 2023
  • Approximate distance hiked: 3.0 miles
  • Moderate, can be difficult in areas.

Most of southeastern Connecticut is within a glacial moraine. This Avalonia Land Conservancy property is a great spot to see the evidence of that. Here at Pine Swamp there are several areas of small boulder fields and glacial erratic. Starting from a small parking area on Whalehead Road, follow the blue blazed trail into the property. The trail swings to the left keeping a stone wall to the left before coming to a service road for power line access. Ignoring the trail ahead and slightly to the left, turn right here and follow the service road. After a heavy rain there may be some ponding along this road. you will pass some ponds along the service road before coming to a bridge. After the bridge, start looking for the blue blazed loop trail to the right. The trail narrow at first, passes an area of boulders and a stretch of mountain laurel while hugging the northern property line of the preserve. You will soon cross a stream and approach a neighborhood. The trail gets substantially muddy in this area as you will find yourself hopping from rock to rock. There are also conveniently placed cinder blocks along this stretch to help cross this area. The trail then approaches Whalehead Road at the western end of the property before turning left onto the most challenging part of the hike (especially after heavy rains). There is a rather wide stream crossing. Though there are plenty of stones to help cross you may find yourself getting your feet wet if the width of the stream exceeds its banks. At the time of this hike, after a day of rain, I found myself crossing successfully. Continuing ahead, you will come to a short boardwalk before entering a boulder field with low lying mountain laurel. This stretch of the trail can be a bit challenging as you will be jumping from rock to rock. The trail soon comes to the powerlines once again before traversing back into the woods. The trail narrows and becomes very rocky once again while climbing uphill. Soon you will be back out to the service road at the powerlines. From here you could follow the service road back to where you came in from, however, for this hike make your way to pole LN1911. Turn right here and you will find a narrow trail that leads back into the woods. Soon you will come to the yellow blazed trail. Turn left here. The trail straddles the southern property line as you pass stone walls, ponds, and ditches with small boardwalk bridges. Along this stretch there were several woodpeckers and songbirds. The yellow trail then comes to the service road. Continue straight ahead onto the blue trail that first led you into the preserve. Follow it back to the parking area

 

Trail map: Pine Swamp

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Boulder Field with Low Laying Mountain Laurel

2024
01/06
CATEGORY
Pine Swamp
~3 to 5 Miles~
~LEDYARD CT~
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Crystal Spring Preserve – Plainville

Newly opened to the public, Crystal Spring Preserve provides a fairly easy hike through the woods less than a half mile from the bustling Route 1. There is a small parking area along the side of School Street opposite house 91 big enough for 2 cars. The access trail to the loop is short with a small patch of wetlands on left. A few hundred feet in you will come to the split at the loop. For this hike I decided to go right where I immediately started to come across some pines mixed in with the prominent deciduous trees. The trail soon comes to an open field with sporadic pines. Follow the treeline to the right for a bit and start looking for the red blaze on a tree at the far end of the field.  Back into woods you will cross stone wall, then the trail climbs slightly uphill. You will pass unmarked connector trails on the left before coming to Grandfather Rock. The trail then loops back around, coming again to a connector trail, stay right here and follow red blazes. After a cairn trail turns sharp left and uphill. At next intersection turn left. Trail to right leads to town property and the Eagle Scout Nature Trails. Following the red blazes the trail winds gently to a meditation circle. The unique stone formation is quite interesting. Continuing ahead, keep an eye out for your turn on the right to continue following red blazes. The trail straight ahead is the first connector trail you passed earlier. The trail again winds gently for a bit coming to a stone wall. The trail turns left here and follows the stone wall. Near the end of wall is small mound of stone. Start looking for the intersection for the access trail you came in on, turn right and follow red blazes back to street.

Trail map: Crystal Spring Preserve

TWRI-Crystal23

Field With Pines

2023
12/27
CATEGORY
Crystal Spring Preserve
~1 to 2 Miles~
~PLAINVILLE MA~
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Catamint Brook Preserve – Cumberland

Newly opened to the public, Catamint Brook Preserve provides a nice moderate hike through the hills of Northern Cumberland passing remnants of yesteryear. The yellow blaze loop is 1.7 miles in length and starts at the small parking area on Tower Hill Road. For this hike, stay to the right and follow the trail slightly downhill. Almost immediately, you are at an intersection with green blazes. Take a right here to see the schoolhouse site. Nothing remains other than the perimeter stone wall. Returning to the yellow trail, it winds downhill steadily for a bit while traversing the eastern portion of the property. Along the way there is a cairn (pile of stones), likely a left over from the stone wall construction during the farming days. You will pass some red blazes (not currently on the map). With that being said, it is obvious there are plans for more trails on this property in the future. For now follow the yellow blazes. Soon you will come to a fairly impressive glacial boulder before coming to the “Farmers Dam”. This dam, built in the 1750s, crosses over Catamint Brook. The trail then climbs a bit and onto the Diamond Hill State Management Area before turning sharply to the left. The unmarked trail ahead leads into a web of unmarked trails. Be sure to wear orange for this hike as hunting is allowed on the Management Area. The trail soon leaves State property and back into the preserve. Stone walls and ledges flank the trail before crossing the brook once again. Just after the brook on the left (green blazed) is a short spur trail to the “Farmers Quarry”. There are some large cut stones here. It is also a good spot to sit for a moment. Continuing along the loop trail, you will pass some more ledges and wind out to Tower Hill Road. Here turn left and almost immediately left again back onto the trail. The trail soon crosses a driveway, narrows, then climbs up a hill with an outcrop at its peak. From here it winds through a grove of pitch pines before coming to a cart path. Turning right here will lead you back to the parking area. The acquisition of this property by the Cumberland Land Trust has made it possible for a trail greenway from the Middle School on Route 120 to Mercy Woods via Ash Swamp, unmarked trails on Town property north of Ash Swamp, Catamint Brook, Diamond Hill State Management Area, Diamond Hill Town Park, and the Warner Trail to Mercy Woods.

TWRI-Cat01

Between Stone Walls and Ledges

2023
11/12
CATEGORY
Catamint Brook Preserve
~1 to 2 Miles~
~CUMBERLAND RI~
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McCourt Trails – Cumberland

Behind the McCourt Middle School in Cumberland is a series of short stone dust trails. The loop trail (blue on the map, marked sporadically with yellow blazes) is about three quarters of a mile long with some small hills. The trails connect the school property with the High Street ball field by the fire station. The easiest entrance is at the ball field. Follow the first base line fence into the woods.

Trail map can be found at: McCourt Trails (Page 4)

TWRI-McCourt

Trails at McCourt Middle School

2023
09/10
CATEGORY
McCourt Trails
~1 Mile or Less~
~CUMBERLAND RI~
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Shell Path – Bristol

On the campus of Roger Williams University is a short loop trail that partially follows the shore of Mount Hope Bay. The aptly named Shell Path starts behind the Sea Breeze dormitories. The gravel road descends quickly leading you to an area by the pier below the Boating Center. From here the trail turns north onto the crushed shell path following the shore of Mount Hope Bay. Along the way you will be passing through a disc course. Be sure to keep an eye out for woodchucks, rabbits, and deer along this stretch. There are a few spots along the way to take in the sweeping views of the bay, notably, Mount Hope to the north, where a Wampanoag village once was located. After the stone wall the path turns to the left and slowly climbs up hill back towards the dormitories before turning left once again following along side a road finally ending where you had started. There are several species of trees of note along this walk including junipers, lindens, black oaks, and black cherries. The path is open to the public, however parking can be a bit difficult while classes are in session. Lot 11 is likely the best place to park.

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Shell Path with the Mount Hope Bridge behind it.

2023
08/02
CATEGORY
Shell Path
~1 Mile or Less~
~BRISTOL RI~
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Stella Hall Conservation Area – Coventry

Opened in September of 2022, this Coventry Land Trust property offers a nice stroll to and along the shores of Stump Pond. From the trailhead along Phillips Hill Road follow the yellow blazes into the property. After heading west for a short distance you will soon be following the shore of the pond. There are several spots along way to view the pond. The yellow trail does dead end near a peninsula. The side trails (blue, orange, and white) do exist, they just not have been blazed as of yet. At the time of this hike hawks could be heard. There are also many species of trees on the property ranging from maples, oaks, pitch pine, juniper, hemlock, and beech.

Trail map can be found at: Stella Hall

TWRI-Stella09

Stump Pond

2023
07/16
CATEGORY
Stella Hall Conservation Area
~1 to 2 Miles~
~COVENTRY RI~
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Harbour Island – Narragansett

The out and back blue blazed “Main Trail” runs from Brush Hill Road to Beach Plum Road. Along the way you will pass a vernal pool and climb up and over a rather significant hill. At the top of the hill you will find a swing and also sweeping views of Long Cove. On the way back be sure to check out the two “Scenic Side Trails”, both blazed white. They offer more views of Long Cove. The entire hike in total is just under three quarters of a mile.

Trail map can be found at: Harbour Island

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The “Welcoming” Tree near the Brush Hill Entrance

2023
03/06
CATEGORY
Harbour Island
~1 Mile or Less~
~NARRAGANSETT RI~
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Wheeler School – Seekonk

  • Wheeler School Farm Campus – Juniper Hill Loop
  • Woodward Avenue, Seekonk, MA
  • Trailhead:  41°51’7.12″N, 71°18’57.31″W
  • Last Time Hiked: February 12, 2023
  • Approximate distance hiked: 0.7 miles
  • Easy with slight elevation.

This lollipop loop hike is on the Wheeler School Farm Campus in Seekonk. The hike described here is short, but on the more secluded section of the property along the Runnins River. Starting from the trailhead on Woodward Avenue by utility pole 3245 (by the hydrant), you will first climb up a set of stone steps. The trail rises above the river to the left. To your right is a young grove of pines on what is called Juniper Hill. The trail soon splits. For this hike turn left and cross the river via a wooden bridge. Continue ahead keeping the pond and river to your right until you reach the next wooden bridge. There will be a few trails to the left that lead to the soccer fields, ignore them. After crossing the second bridge, stay to your right. The trail to the left leads to Prospect Street. Following the trail to the right will complete the loop around the pond. When you reach the next intersection, stay to the left. This will lead you back over Juniper Hill and to Woodward Avenue where you started the hike.

Trail map can be found at: Wheeler School

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Bridge Crossing The Runnins River

2023
02/12
CATEGORY
Wheeler School
~1 Mile or Less~
~SEEKONK MA~
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