• Nipmuc River Trail/Joseph O. “Brock” Blanchard Memorial Management Area
• Round Top Road, Burrillville, RI
• Trailhead: 41°58’59.12″N, 71°41’44.95″W
• Last Time Hiked: October 7, 2016
• Approximate distance hiked: 1.5 miles
• Fairly easy with slight elevation.

Tucked away in the quiet northwestern corner of the state, the Nipmuc River Trail is truly a lesser known gem. The trail starts at Round Top Road by a mail box for house number 562. There is a sign here that you can’t miss. Parking however is not allowed here. You must park a couple hundred feet north on the opposite of the road. There is a sign there as well to indicate where to park. The first part of the trail follows the edge of a field. This is actually on private property and is part of a right of way agreement. Please stay on the trail. Soon the trail turns slightly right and downhill into the woods. You will notice white blazes on the trees. For the most part the trail is well blazed as it makes a loop through the woods. The property has oaks and beech trees, but the most noticeable tree here is the hemlock. I don’t recall seeing such a concentration of them anywhere else. Soon you will pass an outdoor classroom. Here there are several benches and a table. Stay to the left here and follow the white blazed trail. I soon noticed several species of birds along the trail. I stopped a few times to listen and noticed how quiet it in fact was. Not a sound other than nature! The trail continues up and down small hills as it winds through the woods. Be sure to look for the blazes as the forest floor is covered in the same hemlock needles as the trail. As you approach the lower part of the trail it gets a little wet. The trail becomes a little less worn and the blazes are further apart. Continue ahead slowly as you find small wooden bridges along the trail. Soon the trail becomes more defined once again. At the intersection there is a small sign with a “R” on it and arrow pointing left. Follow that trail to the river. The water trickles over the rocks here making for soothing spot to relax for a bit. Here I came across a great blue heron and several ducks. Retrace your steps back to the intersection and continue straight following the white blazes again. At the next intersection turn right and follow the trail up and over a hill as it leads back to the outdoor classroom. Stay to the left here and retrace your steps back to the trail head. Hunting is allowed here in November and December only and by permission only from the Town of Burrillville, therefore this property is closed to the public in November and December.

Nipmuc River