Archive for June, 2019

Big Lakes Trail – Providence

  • Big Lakes Trail – Roger Williams Park
  • Cladrashs Avenue, Providence, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°47’3.52″N, 71°24’44.76″W
  • Last Time Hiked: June 24, 2019
  • Approximate distance hiked: 3.6 miles
  • Easy.

 

The longest of the five marked trails at Roger Williams Park winds around the parks large lakes offering several nice views and plenty of opportunities to see birds. Being a loop you can start almost anywhere, but for this walk we started at the boathouse. The trail is well marked with white diamonds painted on sidewalks where posts are not available. From the boathouse, head east (away from the carousel), and cross the street at a crosswalk. The trail enters a wooded section along Cunliff Lake winding up and over a small hill before coming to the Temple to Music. This structure was built in 1924 and hosts concerts as well as other events. Continuing to follow the white blazes leads to a 600 foot section of road walking before the trail turns left into the woods and joins the yellow blazed Temple View Trail. The white blazed trail soon bears to the right and up hill coming to the back side of a baseball field, then left into the woods again before re-emerging to a grassy area at the southern end of the park. From here the trail swings around Elm Lake and begins to head north. This long stretch now follows the shores of Elm Lake, Cunliff Lake once again, and Edgewood Lake before coming to another road crossing.  After crossing the road the trail then hugs the shore of Pleasure Lake before coming to a pedestrian bridge that leads you back to the boathouse. The lakes are home to swans, geese, herons, egrets, and ducks. Several songbirds also dwell in the shrubs and bushes nearby. Turtles can be seen here as well, likely sunbathing on small fallen trees and branches stretching into the lakes. The shores are also usually occupied by people fishing for bass and sunfish. The park is also home to the Carousel Village and the Roger Williams Park Zoo. One could plan an entire day at the park!

 

Map can be found at: Big Lakes Trail.

TWRI-RWP-X05

Temple To Music From The Opposite Shore.

2019
06/26
CATEGORY
**BEST OF TRAILS AND WALKS**
Big Lakes Trail
~3 to 5 Miles~
~PROVIDENCE RI~
TAGS






Leave a comment

Taylor Point – Jamestown

 

Taylor Point is a work in progress and offers some great views of Narragansett Bay. The Taylor Point Restoration Association has been improving shoreline access and trails on the property. Some of the trails are narrow and others are wide and well mowed. Others have not been developed yet. There is two parking areas and public restroom. The rocks and edges can be clustered with fishermen. Do exercise caution along the edges. A hike just over a mile was done by doing several “anticipated” (see trail map) “in and out” trails and the roads that connect them.

 

Map can be found at: Taylor Point.

TWRI-Tay01

The Iconic Newport Bridge From Taylor Point.

2019
06/23
CATEGORY
Taylor Point
~1 to 2 Miles~
~JAMESTOWN RI~
TAGS




Leave a comment

Demery Park – Middletown

 

This small park offers a large open mowed field with views of the Sakonnet River. There are several benches here to sit, relax, and enjoy a beautiful summer day. Following the perimeter of the park, you can get just under a half mile of a walk.

TWRI-Demerey

Demery Park on a Summer Day.

2019
06/23
CATEGORY
Demery Park
~1 Mile or Less~
~MIDDLETOWN RI~
TAGS

Leave a comment

Ocean View Farm – Dartmouth

 

A long grass mowed path along the fence line of Round The Bend Farm leads you to a stunningly beautiful and sweeping view. Starting from a parking area at Allens Neck Road, the grass mowed pathway is flanked on the right by the active farm with chickens and cows and to the left by shrubs and trees the serve as a natural barrier to the abutting property. Following the path to the end of the fence, to the right, and then left once again will take you by a wildflower habitat as well. This property is a haven to birds. Warblers and red winged blackbirds were abundant along the path. Also a interesting observation, several groundhogs crossing the path as they scurried from shrubs to rock piles and back. At the end of the pathway is a raised observation deck that offers views of the fields, wetlands, pond, beaches, bluffs, Buzzards Bay, and Cuttyhunk on a clear day. Bring your binoculars!! The out and back walk is just over a mile and a half.

 

Map can be found at: Ocean View Farm.

TWRI-D4-OV05

View From the Observation Deck.

2019
06/23
CATEGORY
Ocean View Farm
~1 to 2 Miles~
~DARTMOUTH MA~
TAGS






Leave a comment

New Bedford Garden Club Reserve – Dartmouth

 

Mileage is not going to be achieved on this hike. However, if you are in the area, especially in late June, this small property is a must stop. The short two tenths of a mile loop wraps around a small kettle hole pond. Both mountain laurel and rhododendrons bloom here in late June making for a short but beautiful stroll. Also, just at the end of the road is the Town Landing which offers a sweeping view of Slocum’s River.

 

Map can be found at: New Bedford Garden Club Reserve.

TWRI-D3-NB01

Loop Trail Under Mountain Laurel.

2019
06/23
CATEGORY
New Bedford Garden Club Reserve
~1 Mile or Less~
~DARTMOUTH MA~
TAGS



Leave a comment

Dodge Reserve – Dartmouth

 

This is the newest of the Dartmouth Natural Resource Trust properties opening just a few days ago. The property offers two blazed trails along each side of Buttonwood Brook. The yellow blazed trail follows the brook to an old, collapsed dam and the orange blazed trail crosses the stream (can be a bit tricky when the brook is flowing heavily after rain) and dead ends about a quarter mile after.

 

Map can be found at: Dodge Reserve.

TWRI-D2-Dodge1

Buttonwood Brook and the Orange Blazed Trail.

2019
06/23
CATEGORY
Dodge Reserve
~1 Mile or Less~
~DARTMOUTH MA~
TAGS


Leave a comment

Wernick Farm – Dartmouth

 

Set off of North Hixville Road down a long dirt road in northern Dartmouth is a beautiful property for a stroll. This property offers pine needle covered trails, stone walls, cellar holes, and a pond. Starting from the parking area at the kiosk we followed the orange blazed trail through the northern part of the reserve bordering the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve. We could hear the rustling of maybe a deer in the woods and an occasional hoot of a nearby owl. From here we followed the yellow blazed trail along the western edge of the property passing a large boulder of puddingstone before coming to an open area with a rather impressive cellar hole. From here we followed the green blazed loop trail around a small pond occupied by an abundance of frogs. From the pond we followed the green trail back to the cellar hole and then followed the red blazed trail back out to the parking area. Along the way on the right and slightly in the woods are the remains of a barns foundations.

 

Map can be found at: Wernick Farm.

TWRI-D1-Wer01

Along the Orange Blazed Trail

2019
06/23
CATEGORY
Wernick Farm
~1 to 2 Miles~
~DARTMOUTH MA~
TAGS





Leave a comment

Squantum Woods – East Providence

 

Once a State Park, now owned by the City of East Providence, Squantum Woods Park has gone through a renaissance over the last couple years and has become a suburban gem. For this walk starting at a parking area off of Veterans Memorial Parkway make your way to the brick walkway at the entrance. Names are inscribed in the bricks of locals who have served in the military. At the end of the walkway is the “Garden of Flags”, a memorial to local Vietnam Veterans. Next walk on the grass toward the tree line and follow the edge of trees toward the back of the park near the back side of the pond. Here you will find a the beginning of a wood chip trail. The trail wraps around the backside of the Kettle Point neighborhood towards the East Bay Bike Path. There are spectacular views of Long Rock Cove below and the Providence River. The shrubs along this stretch are a haven for smaller birds. Yellow warblers, red-winged blackbirds, and finches were observed here at the time of this walk. The trail ends at the bike path. From here you can add as much distance to a walk as you would like. For this walk turn right and follow the bike path a little over a tenth of a mile. On the left there is an “Urban Coastal Greenway – Public Access” sign at a clearing. The clearing leads to a small beach (at low tide) that offers great views of the Port of Providence and the base of the Fuller Rocks Lighthouse (destroyed by an explosion in 1923). From here retrace you steps back to the pond at Squantum Woods and stay to the left of the pond to get to the parking area. Be sure to look for birds in and around the pond. The park also offers picnic benches. Do carry out what you carry in if you so choose to have a picnic before or after your walk.

SQ-02

A Summer View of Long Rock Cove

2019
06/17
CATEGORY
Squantum Woods
~1 to 2 Miles~
~EAST PROVIDENCE RI~
TAGS






Leave a comment

Jim Russell Preserve – Smithfield

  • Jim Russell Preserve
  • Burlingame Road, Smithfield, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°54’40.87″N, 71°33’53.27″W
  • Last Time Hiked: June 16, 2019
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.1 miles
  • Fairly easy with some significant elevation.

 

On the back side of Connors Farm and from a lesser known access on Burlingame Road is the Jim Russell Preserve. The yellow blazed access path and loop winds through the highest points of the property offering stone walls and seasonal brooks. From the one car (maybe two at most) parking lot, follow the yellow blazed trail downhill to the first trail intersection. Stay to the left here and follow the trail downhill a little further. The trail suddenly turns to the right at a stream crossing. Be sure to keep on eye out for the blazes here. You will pass boulders and stone walls along the next stretch that follows a rather impressive ridge. Ahead the blue blazed Cave Trail of Connors Farm appears on the left. Continue ahead following the yellow blazes to the next intersection. Turning right here you will find a rather large boulder followed by an interesting outcrop both on the right before winding through the ups and downs of the northern part of the property. At the next intersection turn left and retrace your steps uphill back to the parking area.

TWRI-JRP01

Along the Yellow Blazed Trail

Connors Trail Map

Jim Russell Map

2019
06/17
CATEGORY
Jim Russell Preserve
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
TAGS



Leave a comment

Bluff To Bluff Trail – Providence

  • Bluff To Bluff Trail – Roger Williams Park
  • F.C. Greene Memorial Boulevard, Providence, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°47’12.91″N, 71°24’49.34″W
  • Last Time Hiked: June 2, 2019
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.0 miles
  • Fairly easy with some slight elevation.

 

The aptly named Bluff To Bluff Trail spans from the Natural History Museum to the Casino and includes the valley below. The red blazed walking path, almost entirely of paved or concrete walkways, winds downhill from across the Natural History Museum toward Willow Lake. After crossing the street at the Seal House, the trail follows Roosevelt Lake for a bit before climbing uphill and then it continues to the left crossing the Lovers Retreat Bridge before coming to the Casino. The trail then loops back to the Lovers Retreat Bridge and veers to the left to the Betsey Williams Cottage. After the cottage the trail winds to the right and downhill crossing the street and then follows the shore of Polo Lake. After crossing the street once again the trail meanders uphill and loops opposite the Roger Williams Park Zoo entrance. This section includes a short section of grass that follows the edge of the road. The remainder of the trail will bring you back to the opposite of the road from the Natural History Museum. Be sure to take your time enjoying the views of the lakes. They are havens for birds.

TWRI-RWP-BB07

Mountain Laurel Blooming Along The Bluff To Bluff Trail

2019
06/02
CATEGORY
Bluff To Bluff Trail
~1 to 2 Miles~
~PROVIDENCE RI~
TAGS





Leave a comment

Recent entry

Archive

Category