Archive for the ‘ ~SCITUATE RI~ ’ Category

Manning Field – Scituate

 

On property owned by the Town of Scituate, the High School cross country course makes for a nice short walk when either the course or the ball fields are not in use. Starting from the concession stand by the parking area follow the inside of the fence line of outer field of both baseball fields toward Rockland Road. Just after the field the entrance to the “Upper Loop” is visible. This loop winds through the woods for a bit and returns to this point. For this walk stay to the right as the path follows Rockland Road before turning into the woods. After completing the loop stay to your right and follow the tree line passing the backside of the baseball fields and the side of the soccer field. At the end of the soccer field turn left (still following the tree line). Then you will turn slightly right back into the woods. There will be a concrete structure and large block at the trail intersection. Stay to the right here and follow the path into the “Lower Loop”. This loop meanders up and down several small hills and above Dexter Pond before returning to the concrete structure. After passing the structure stay to your right to return to the parking area.

 

Map can be found at: Manning Field.

TWRI-Manning

Along the Lower Loop

2019
08/12
CATEGORY
Manning Field
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SCITUATE RI~
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Esek Hopkins – Scituate

  • Esek Hopkins
  • Battery Meetinghouse Road, Scituate, RI
  • Trailhead: 41°49’44.76″N, 71°36’19.17″W
  • Last Time Hiked: September 4, 2016
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.2 miles
  • Fairly easy with slight elevation.

 

The Scituate Land Trust has just completed blazing and clearing at their newest trail system. Another beautiful property at that!! The trails are behind the newly renovated women’s softball field at Esek Hopkins. There are two main loop trails here blazed blue and white with a yellow blazed crossover trail. The trails wander through the thick fern covered forest predominant with tall pines and oaks. There are old fire roads and stone walls that crisscross the property as well. The blue loop climbs over the aptly named “Huckleberry Hill” and the white trail traverses through low lying areas offering glimpses of mushrooms, mosses, and a seasonal stream. There is also an old quarry along the yellow blazed crossover trail worth checking out. The property owned by the State is leased to and maintained by the Scituate Land Trust. There are also several spur trails that lead to private property. Be sure to follow the blazed trails. A trail map should be available soon.

TWRI-Esek1

Stone Walls Along The White Trail

2016
09/04
CATEGORY
Esek Hopkins
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SCITUATE RI~
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Trott-Perry Preserve – Scituate

I took a drive out to Scituate for a short and very wet Christmas morning hike. This property has been on my radar the last few weeks after talking to someone from the Rhode Island Land Trust Council about it. The property is maintained by the Hope Associates and was acquired in the 1990’s from two local doctors for which the property is named for. Much like Westconnaug Meadows, many of the trees on the property have been labeled. The property is dominated mostly by various pines and cedars. The trail starts at a large parking area. The red blazed loop trail starts by following a cart path into the property. There are several boulders in the woods along this stretch. Soon I came to an intersection with a white blazed cut through to the left. I continued straight following the red blazed trail slightly uphill before coming to the Pawtuxet River. The trail then turns to the left and again slightly uphill then slight left again. The white blazed trail again intersects on the left here. I choose to continue following the red trail through a grove of tall pines, then passing a stone wall. The trail soon exits onto a paved road. Turning left here, I followed the road about a hundred feet, turning left again onto Doctors Lane back to the parking lot.

I did not find a trail map on-line.

Rain On The Pawtuxet River

Rain On The Pawtuxet River

2014
12/25
CATEGORY
Trott-Perry Preserve
~1 Mile or Less~
~SCITUATE RI~
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Lawton Farm – Scituate

 

Lawton Farm is a Scituate Conservation Commission property on the Scituate/Cranston border. It comprises of a couple large fields with mowed paths. I started the hike from a small parking area at the end of the dirt entrance road. I followed the path a few hundred feet, listening to the sounds of crickets, before turning left. From here I followed the path straight slightly downhill to a stream crossing leaving the front field. After crossing the stream and walking through a short wooded area I choose to follow the path to the left following the tree line. To my right was a field of gold full of blooming wildflowers. At the next intersection I merged right as the path climbed uphill slightly. I saw several grasshoppers along this stretch. At the end of the path I turned right after exploring a tree swing. I continued the walk again following the tree line. I then turned right, quickly followed by a left, and another left again. I followed this path which came to a second stream crossing and back into the front field. At the next intersection I choose to go to the left following the path that led to the front of the field. It then bears right following the stone wall by the road back to the entrance road. I saw a rabbit along this stretch. From here I turned right and made my way to the car. Besides the described route, I also did some slight exploration of side paths. I saw several birds including a red tail hawk here. It is highly advisable to stay away the edges of the paths as there is a lot of poison ivy here. Dogs are not allowed here from April 1 to August 31 during nesting season. The rest of the year they are welcomed on a leash.

I did not find a trail map on-line.

Field Of Gold

Field Of Gold

2014
08/12
CATEGORY
Lawton Farm
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SCITUATE RI~
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Westconnaug Meadows – Scituate

  • Westconnaug Meadows
  • George Washington Highway, Scituate, RI
  • Trailhead: 41°46’0.18″N, 71°40’18.46″W
  • First Time Hiked: May 18, 2014
  • Last Time Hiked: January 1, 2020
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.3 miles
  • Easy with slight elevation.
 

Just outside of the village of Clayville is Westconnaug Meadows. This property, owned by the Scituate Land Trust, offers a short trail that is just over a mile long. It is a good hike for beginners and children. The trail head is at the parking area for the ball fields on George Washington Highway. The trail enters the woods by the stone wall. There is a sign here at the trailhead. The trail first crosses two small boardwalks before turning right into the thick of the woods and slightly uphill. This first section can tend to be a little muddy in wet conditions. Along the way there are several signs describing the types of trees such as the black oaks, red oaks, white pines and sassafras, to name a few. The trail then comes to a fork. Stay to the left here and follow the trail downhill a bit. The trail soon starts bearing right and slightly uphill. This part of the trail is a loop. You will soon see yellow blazes on trees to your left. This marks the property of the Scituate Reservoir – you are not allowed to cross onto that property. There is small overlook along this stretch that gives you a view of the property to the west. If you look closely you will see a small stream below. The trail slowly takes a series of small right turns passing some boulders left behind from the days of glaciers. Soon the trail returns to the fork. Here, you turn left retracing your steps back to the parking area. The entire trail is marked with brown plastic trail markers and is very easy to navigate. The property is well-preserved and well-maintained by both the Land Trust and the Conservation Commission. I was tremendously surprised by this hike – I may chalk this one up as one of the most peaceful, serene and quiet hikes I’ve enjoyed yet. About midway into the hike, I found myself in complete silence – other than the sounds of the chirping birds and the breeze blowing through the various types of trees. Without any doubt, I would consider this one of Rhode Island’s best kept secrets.

I did not find a trail map on-line for this site.

At Westconnaug Meadows

At Westconnaug Meadows

This trail was featured in Rhode Island Monthly Magazine – October 2014

This trail was featured in RI Local Magazine – April 2015

2014
05/21
CATEGORY
**BEST OF TRAILS AND WALKS**
**Featured in Rhode Island Monthly**
**Featured in RI Local Magazine**
Westconnaug Meadows
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SCITUATE RI~
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Gainer Dam – Scituate

I came across this location for a walk in Ken Weber’s second edition of “Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island”. The book was printed in 1993 and described a walk that was nearly 3 miles long. Times have changed since then and it seems that most of the areas described in his book may be off limits now. With that said, the walk I’m going to describe is more of a walk for exercise and a chance to get a great photo of the Scituate Reservoir. Just west of where Routes 116 and 12 meet there is a former intersection on the right. There is a road that is now closed and barricaded but there is just enough room to park a few cars. If you park your car here and walk west to the opposite end of the dam, it is 0.7 miles. To your right before the actual dam is a monument to the person the dam was named for. After the monument and to the right is the reservoir. To the left is the earthen dam and access roads below. The spillway is at the end of the dam on the left. This is where the north branch of the Pawtuxet River begins. Use caution though, as there is no actual sidewalk and only a narrow grass strip. Cars and trucks do pass rather fast along this stretch.

Scituate Reservoir From The Gainer Dam

Scituate Reservoir From The Gainer Dam

2013
07/14
CATEGORY
Gainer Dam
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SCITUATE RI~
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Barden Reservoir – Foster/Scituate

 

Barden Reservoir is part of the Scituate Reservoir system which is the public drinking water for the metropolitan Providence area, therefore, it is off limit to hiking among several other things. The country roads that surround the reservoir however make for a beautiful and peaceful walk. Starting in Foster from a small pullover across from a historical cemetery just west of the Barden Reservoir Bridge on Central Pike I started walking west and then turned onto Kate Randall Road. This was a long dirt road with a fairly steady incline that was surrounded by woods and stone walls. This is where you first notice the several “No Trespassing” signs along this walk. At the next intersection I then turned left onto Hemlock Road. There were two signs of slight concerned. One being “Dead End” and the other being “Road Work Ahead”. At the current time the road is completely passable for pedestrians. About halfway down this road there is a gate that prohibits vehicle traffic to go any further. I continued past the gate going downhill until I came to a wooden bridge. Here were the first sweeping views of the reservoir. After crossing the bridge and a little further down the road you cross into Scituate. At the next clearing to the left there is a dam. The man made waterfall cascades down to some rather large boulders below making for a beautiful scene. Here I found a biker taking some time to soak up some sun. After checking out the falls, I then turned north onto Ponagansett Road. Along this stretch that runs along the reservoir for a while are some more historic cemeteries. As the road starts turning inland and away from the reservoir you cross back into Foster. The road starts going uphill for a bit. Along this stretch I was greeted by a few friendly border collies that apparently reside at a farm on the right. There was a pasture to the left with sheep. A little further up the road on the left there was a field with horses. At the next intersection I turned left and downhill onto Central Pike back to the car. I advise walking facing traffic along this stretch as this is a main road.

Barden Reservoir

Barden Reservoir

2013
05/08
CATEGORY
Barden Reservoir
~3 to 5 Miles~
~FOSTER RI~
~SCITUATE RI~
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