• Bald Hill – Arcadia Wildlife Management Area
• Summit Road, Exeter, RI
• Trailhead: 41°33’29.73″N, 71°42’19.13″W
• Last Time Hiked: September 7, 2014
• Approximate distance hiked: 3.1 miles
• Fairly easy with some elevation.

This hike in the south central part of Arcadia is a loop consisting of parts of three main trails in the area. I went into the area with a copy of the Great Swamp Press map (highly suggestible). From a very small parking area a couple hundred feet after the bend and to the left along Summit Road, we passed the gate and started following the unblazed Sandy Brook Trail. Soon we came to our first intersection. A small trail ascends quickly uphill directly ahead. The Sandy Brook Trail, which we continued to follow, curves slightly to the left here and begins its climb up Bald Hill. Another trail soon appears to the left. We would return on that trail. We continued straight and further uphill. Soon the trail levels out after climbing approximately 150 feet in elevation from where we started. The summit of Bald Hill is to the left and in the woods from this point. After passing a narrow trail on the right, we started looking a trail on the left. When we came to it we turned onto it. The trail, wide like the Sandy Brook Trail, is unnamed and unblazed. It heads in a northerly direction passing two narrow paths, one on each side, before passing the beginning of the Loop Trail. We would later pass the other end of it. After passing the Loop Trail, the trail we were on splits. We followed the short connector trail to the blue blazed Bald Hill Trail which also serves as a segment of the North South Trail. Here we turned left following the trail downhill for a while before passing of cellar hole on the left. We then passed the other end of the Loop Trail and continued further downhill continuing to follow the blue blazes until we reached the “Seven Trail Intersection”. At this intersection the white blazed Mount Tom Trail and an unblazed trail cross here. The Dove Crest Trail also begins here. There is also a bronze survey marker here. We turned left here onto the unblazed Dove Crest Trail. There is a stone wall on the left side of the trail (to be sure you are on the correct trail). The Dove Crest Trail is much narrower than the previous trails and climbs back up Bald Hill. This trail is just over a mile long and concludes back at the Sandy Brook Trail. Here we turned right and retraced our steps back to the car. Other than toads and the sounds of insects there were no signs of wildlife. The forest was eerily quiet of birds as well. As with most of Arcadia, the area is heavily wooded with pines and oaks. This area is open to hunting and orange is required during hunting season.

Trail map can be found at: Bald Hill

Along The Bald Hill Trail