• Big River Quarry _ Big River Management Area
• Division Road, West Greenwich, RI
• Trailhead:  41°38’56.62″N, 71°34’27.20″W
• Last Time Hiked: May 9, 2020
• Approximate distance hiked: 2.2 miles
• Fairly easy.

This hike follows the perimeter of Rhode Islands Desert. Yes! Desert! This part of Big River is actually an abandoned quarry and gravel pit with large areas of sand, dunes, and pine trees. With all of Big River, there are no blazed trails here and there are plenty of side trails. For this hike, I followed the “trail” that currently appears on Google Maps and the Map My Hike app. To access it follow the gravel road into Big River from Division Road. There will be three paths to the right. The first is quite narrow, the second much more defined, and the third is just as defined. Ignore the first two and turn right at the third. This will lead you to the “trail” on the app. For almost the remainder of this hike you will follow the trail on the app. If you are not using an app, this is a great place to wander around, keeping tree lines of  the perimeter as a basic guide to the hike. Following the trail, you will first come upon a pond before winding through areas of pine trees. You will catch glimpses of the dunes along the way. As the trail reaches its western extent it turns to the south and then through an area of low shrubs and grass. Back and forth through the pines, the trail then turns and follows the eastern edge of the desert. Near the end of the trail just before it turns onto Hopkins Hill Road turn left and follow the path downhill to the gravel road you entered on. Turn right here and follow back to the parking area.

Rhode Island’s Desert