• Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge
• Victory Highway, Coventry, RI
• Trailhead: 41°40’14.40″N, 71°41’39.94″W
• Last Time Hiked: May 18, 2013
• Approximate distance hiked: 3.2 miles
• Easy with slight elevation

Yet another beautiful Audubon property, Maxwell Mays made for a great Saturday spring morning walk. Starting from the parking area I followed the trail in past a couple of meadows before the trail splits. Taking the white blazed Carr Pond Trail to the left, I immediately entered the woods. The trail meandered up and down slight hills through the now very green spring trees and shrubs. At the next trail intersection the Carr Pond Trail bears to the right. I opted to take the yellow blazed Hammitt Hill Trail at this point. This trail crossed a small stream, then passes the Crossover Trail to the right, before starting gradually upward for a short distance. Coming around a bend I encountered a rather massive boulder. Its size was rather impressive and it is undoubtedly the largest  on the property. Just further ahead would be the most unique boulder. The “Smoking Frog” is obviously the work of some creative “artists” that made good use of a large boulder with a crack in it. The yellow trail then continues passing the Crossover Trail again, a cellar hole and crossing a couple of streams with brief views of Carr Pond before ending at an intersection with an outdoor hearth. At this point turn left back onto the white blazed Carr Pond Trail. Along the way there will be a cemetery on the left with graves dating back to the 19th century. Some may be older, but are difficult to read. This cemetery is the family burial ground of the Carr family who had owned and farmed this property for over 200 years. I then returned back to the white trail, crossing a private road, and back into the meadows to the first trail intersection. I then retraced my steps back to the car along the trail by the meadows. The meadows were extremely active with grasshoppers and crickets as the morning sun made for a great photo opportunity.

More info & trail map can be found at: Maxwell Mays

The Meadow At Maxwell Mays

Yellow Blazed Hammit Hill Trail