Archive for March, 2020

Spring Lake Trail – Cranston

  • Spring Lake Trail
  • Laten Knight Road, Cranston, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°44’44.41″N, 71°32’25.40″W
  • Last Time Hiked: March 24, 2020
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.2 miles
  • Fairly easy, significant elevation.

 

This newly blazed trail is on an old State property. Spring Lake is part of the Curran Reservoir State Park. This State Park, however was never developed. The northern end around Curran Reservoir is open to hunting. Although the southern end is not, it is advised to wear orange during hunting season nevertheless. The trail starts at a small parking area along Laten Knight Road and descends quickly down hill. The trail at first is hard to delineate, but the wide open forest floor leaves plenty of room to get back on track. A black sign is soon visible with a white arrow below a “Spring Lake” sign. For the remainder of this hike you continue forward looking for the next sign as it makes a loop through the southern end of the property. As the trail passes the lake there is a dead end spur trail that leads along and below the dam. The engineering of the dam is quite intriguing and worth checking out if you are so inclined. Following the signs you will complete the loop, the remainder of the hike will test your stamina as you retrace your steps all uphill to the parking area.

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Trail to Spring Lake

2020
03/25
CATEGORY
Spring Lake Trail
~1 to 2 Miles~
~CRANSTON RI~
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Grills Sanctuary – Hopkinton

  • Grills Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Chase Hill Road, Hopkinton, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°24’38.75″N, 71°45’48.49″W
  • Last Time Hiked: March 22, 2020
  • Approximate distance hiked: 3.8 miles
  • Fairly easy, some elevation.

 

There are actually three separate “Grills” properties here on the Hopkinton-Westerly border. There is the Grills Preserve in Westerly, Grills Preserve in Hopkinton (also known as the Route 91 trailhead or Grills/How-Davey), and the Grills Sanctuary also in Hopkinton. This hike, starting from the Chase Hill Road trail head, is on the Grills Sanctuary. From the parking area, follow the white diamond blazed Tomaquag Trail as it first winds pass corn fields before entering the woods. The trail soon crosses over Wine Bottle Brook. Just after the brook the yellow square blazed East Loop will be on your left. Continue straight just a little further and turn right onto the orange rectangle blazed Cedar Swamp Trail. The pine needle covered trail passes under a canopy of tall trees before coming to the next intersection. Here turn right onto the yellow diamond blazed Peninsula Trail (note: this section of trail is not shown on the map) and follow it to a picnic area. Here turn right and cross the Tomaquag Brook via the bridge and boardwalk. You are now back on the white blazed Tomaquag Trail. At the end of the boardwalk the trail starts to climb and descend and again climb following ridgelines and a valley. Near the top of the second climb you can see much of the landscape around and below you. Though technically a viewing area, it might be tough to see very far when leaves are on the trees. If you were to continue ahead you would soon find yourself in the Westerly Grills. For this hike retrace your steps back to the bridge and boardwalk. After crossing the bridge stay to your right, pass the picnic area and bear to your right staying on the yellow diamond blazed Peninsula Trail. Ahead the trail makes a hard left as it reaches the river. Check out the spur trail to the right to view the Pawcatuck River before continuing along the trail. From here continue to follow the yellow blazes as the trail follows the river. It will soon come to the white blazed trail once again. Turn right here and follow the white blazes until you reach the yellow square blazed East Loop on the right. Following the yellow blazes will have you exploring the eastern reaches of the property. The loop traverses through low lying shrubs and a small grove of massive pines before returning to the white blazed trail for the last time. Turn right here and retrace your steps back to the parking area.

 

Map can be found at: Grills Sanctuary.

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Tomaquag Bridge

2020
03/25
CATEGORY
Grills Sanctuary
~3 to 5 Miles~
~HOPKINTON RI~
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Herb Hadfield – Westport

  • Herb Hadfield Conservation Area
  • Cornell Road, Westport, MA
  • Trailhead:  41°33’10.87″N, 71° 6’30.31″W
  • Last Time Hiked: March 21, 2020
  • Approximate distance hiked: 2.7 miles
  • Fairly easy, can be muddy in areas.

 

This Westport Land Conservation Trust property offers a nearly 3 mile hike through forested wetlands, meadows, and to a swiftly moving brook. Starting at the Cornell Road trail head at the southern end of the property, stay right of the kiosk and follow the grass flanked trail to the second stone wall. Just after the wall you will come to a three way intersection. The trail to the left leads to private property and the red blazed trail ahead you will return on. Turn right here onto the yellow blazed trail. This trail will cross a small stream and some small boulders before coming to a split. You will want to turn left here and continue along the yellow blazed trail, but first continue ahead and follow the red trail to its end to see the swiftly moving and fairly wide brook. Conveniently there is a large tree down here to serve as a bench. Take a moment to relax and enjoy the sound of the trickling water cascading over some rocks. From here retrace your steps and turn right back onto the yellow trail. This trail heads north passing hollies, pines, and a stone wall. At the next intersection turn right onto the blue trail. This trail follows the eastern border of the property. There is a stone wall for a good part of this stretch on your right. There is also a couple of boardwalks with the second crossing Angeline Brook. At the end of the boardwalk turn right onto the green trail as it hugs the northeastern corner of the property. The green trail ends where the northern trail head entrance from Adamsville Road comes into the property. Continue straight here onto the red trail. It soon turns south. Passing the blue trail on the left continue ahead and you will find yourself entering a large field. Stay to the right here and follow the trail that follows the stone wall. It soon veers left across the field to the opposite tree line where it bears to the right. You will once again see the blue trail to the left by some large boulders. Continue ahead passing the rather impressive stone walls to your right and back into the woods. From here, continue straight the remainder of the hike. You will come back to the grass flanked trail you started on by the parking area.

 

Map can be found at: Herb Hadfield.

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Blue Trail Crossing Angeline Brook

2020
03/25
CATEGORY
Herb Hadfield
~2 to 3 Miles~
~WESTPORT MA~
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Central Coventry Park – Coventry

 

This town park has two very distinct offerings. The first is recreation, with tennis courts, ball fields, picnic sites, and a perimeter walk. The second is Cold War history. This park was once the launch location (PR-69 L) for Nike missiles that defended the city of Providence from Soviet bombers. The walk here is short, but for any history enthusiast it is worth the stop. From the parking area follow the chain link fence of the ball field to the southern tree line and turn left following the grass strip between the fence and trees. Follow the fence line to its end and ahead and to the right is a pine needle covered path. A little further up on the left are the old military buildings. From here follow the road back a few feet and turn right onto the access road. Follow the road pass the cell tower. Soon there is grass on the right. Stay to the right here and a short trail follows the fence along the southwest end of the property returning you to where you began.

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Cold War Ruins (?) Just Off The Trail

2020
03/18
CATEGORY
Central Coventry Park
~1 Mile or Less~
~COVENTRY RI~
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Dexter Training Ground – Providence

 

In the West End of Providence is the Dexter Training Ground. Situated behind the iconic Cranston Street Armory, this city park offers a playground, dog park, and walkways. The property has some history as it served as a training ground during the Civil War and camp site during World War I for troops waiting to be deployed. The perimeter of the park offers a half mile walk. Note also the architecture of the old houses in the neighborhood.

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Cranston Street Armory.

2020
03/15
CATEGORY
Dexter Training Ground
~1 Mile or Less~
~PROVIDENCE RI~
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Allens Pond East – Dartmouth

 

Allens Pond is a Masachusetts Audubon property along Buzzards Bay. The property offers 6 to 7 miles of trails. It is a diverse and beautiful property offering several types of features from beaches to fields to woodlands. With that being said, I have decided to break the property into three separate hikes to maximize visiting all of the trails without having an overwhelming hike distance. For the first hike, I started at the easterly trailhead along Allen Neck Road and followed the mowed path to a stone wall and gate. This is the beginning of the Woodland Loop. Continuing straight ahead I followed the path over some boardwalks that went over several small streams. The loop passes a few ledges and glacial outcrops as well. The trail soon comes to a dirt road. You may catch a glimpse of the cows in the field in front of you. Turn right here onto the road and immediately turn left after the stone wall and again immediately right onto the Boulder Trail. This will put you on a small loop path that will bring you by two massive boulders. At the next intersection turn right. You will soon come to another intersection. Here continue straight. The trail winds through thick shrubs and you will come to another significant boulder before coming to the end of the trail. Turn right now onto the Grassland Trail. It will descend slightly downhill before coming to a farm road. Turn left here and follow the road to the large open field. Stay to the left and follow the perimeter of the field. You will see a sign for the Quansett Trail. On your left here is a path that leads to a loop trail that follows the perimeter of a field. It will add a half mile to your hike if you so choose to do it. For this hike continue straight along the Quansett Trail. Look for a post on the left by a narrow trail. When you find it follow the narrow path to a scenic viewing area. From here you can view the salt marsh and Buzzards Bay beyond. From here retrace your steps back along the narrow path, turn right onto the Quansett Trail, continue around the field, following the Grassland Trail back to the Boulder Loop. Instead of turning left where you came in, continue straight briefly before taking the next left. Follow this trail back to farm road by the cows. Be sure to check out the stone wall on your right along the way as you are very likely to find frolicking chipmunks. Also look for a vernal pool on your left along this stretch. After turning right onto the farm road, pass the trail on the left (the one you came in on) and then veer to the left onto the next trail. This will lead you back into the woods and over another boardwalk before ending at the stonewall and gate by the entrance trail. Turn right here to get to the parking area.

 

Map can be found at: Allens Pond East.

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Woodland Loop Return by the Farm Road

2020
03/15
CATEGORY
**BEST OF TRAILS AND WALKS**
Allens Pond East
~2 to 3 Miles~
~DARTMOUTH MA~
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Demarest Lloyd State Park – Dartmouth

  • Demarest Lloyd State Park/Wylde Reserve
  • Barneys Joy Road, Dartmouth, MA
  • Trailhead:  41°31’21.26″N, 70°59’18.08″W
  • Last Time Hiked: March 1, 2020
  • Approximate distance hiked: 2.8 miles
  • Fairly easy with a beach walk.

A little research will go a long way. Demarest Lloyd State Park is essentially a beach on the shores of Buzzards Bay with a few trails. There is an entrance fee in the summer months and in the winter months the gates are closed adding a half mile walk down the entrance road. With that being said, at the very end of Barneys Joy Road on the left is the Wylde Reserve, a Dartmouth Natural Resource Trust property. There is just enough room to park one maybe two vehicles at most here. The trail starts at the chained gated. About fifty feet into the property you will find a kiosk. What is nice about this reserve is that its an out and back trail that starts right at the road and leads into the State Park while passing Georges Pond and carpet of thick shrubs. No need to pay an entrance fee or walk along a long paved road. After crossing the boundary between the two properties (which you likely won’t notice) continue straight at all the narrow trail intersections until you reach a wider sandy cart path. Turn left here and follow the path to the parks parking area by the restrooms. Here turn right to reach the beach and then turn to the left (north) and follow the beach to the point. The rocky beach does become sandy near the point. From here retrace your steps back to the entrance of the Wylde Reserve.

Map can be found at: Wylde Reserve.

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Sandy Cart Path and Pitch Pines

2020
03/01
CATEGORY
Demarest Lloyd State Park
Wylde Reserve
~2 to 3 Miles~
~DARTMOUTH MA~
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