• Durfee Hill State Management Area
• Reynolds Road, Glocester, RI
• Trailhead: 41°54’8.48″N,  71°47’3.16″W
• Last Time Hiked: April 26, 2014
• Approximate distance hiked: 3.4 miles
• Moderate due to hills and unmarked trails.

This morning I ventured into the Durfee Hill Management Area with a fellow hiker. It was a very wet and rainy hike, but nonetheless, a nice little stroll. We followed the route (for the most part) described in Ken Webers book “Weekend Walks in Rhode Island”. Starting at a parking area by the checking station on Reynolds Road (Rhode Island Route 94), we made our way to the road and turned left following it downhill while looking for a trail on the right after pole number 33. Turning right onto the trail we were immediately in an area of pines with a large ledge to our right. At the next intersection we explored the path to the right to see if we would find an overlook. After a little bit we gave up on that and returned to the previous trail. Continuing on the trail we passed a marsh area on the right before it opened up to a clearing. At the clearing we followed the trail to the left to a Y intersection. We went left here and soon we could see a small pond to our right. The trail went downhill into an area of mud with a small stream crossing. Just after this point we turned left looking for and eventually finding a faint trail that climbed a rather substantial hill to its top. Stop, take a breather! At the top of the hill we followed the ridge line to the left until it met with another trail. Taking a quick left then right the trail eventually came out to Route 94. In this stretch we saw three deer. We then crossed Route 94 to the orange gate on the other side. We followed that trail passing a historical cemetery on the left. The graves here were dated from the early 1800’s. Just after the cemetery the trail splits. We followed the trail to the left and downhill. At the bottom of the hill we followed a narrow trail to the right and up a hill. The trail then turns left an downhill to an intersection. We turned left at the intersection and followed the open lane passing a small pond and brook on he right. Ahead we came to a large pond. We turned right and followed the trail away from the pond back into the woods and uphill. This trail runs through a large area of pines and hemlocks. We then came to a Y intersection. We followed the trail to the left and went downhill towards the pond. After crossing a brook we came to an opening. (The description we were using calls for a tractor road at this point. It was not very obvious to us. So we did some exploring.) After following the edge of the woods for a bit we did come to the road. It slowly climbs uphill back to the checking station where the cars were parked.

Trail map for this site can be found at: Durfee Hill. However most of the trails described are not shown.

Rain On The Pond