• Shumunkanuc Hill – Burlingame Wildlife Management Area
• Buckeye Brook Road, Charlestown, RI
• Trailhead: 41°23’54.86″N, 71°42’5.40″W
• Last Time Hiked: July 26, 2013
• Approximate distance hiked: 4.5 miles
• Easy with slight elevation.

This hike, known in Weekend Walks in Rhode Island as Burlingame North, is mostly on closed off access roads of the Burlingame Management Area which makes for a nice and easy walk. It starts at a parking area along Buckeye Brook Road. After passing the gate, I followed the heavily wooded road into the management area. This section, known as the Clawson Trail, is blazed blue and part of the North South Trail. A little ways into the hike there is an access road that veers off to the left. I had continued straight at this point. (I would return from the other road). After passing an old stone dam on the right there is another access road, known as the Burdick Trail, to the right. I had followed this a couple hundred feet to a clearing to view a small pond that is the source of the Buckeye Brook. I then returned to the Clawson Trail and resumed walking until I reached an intersection that had a sign for the North South going to the right. This is near the top of Shumunkanuc Hill. I went to the left here following a road that had stone walls on both sides until I reached a gated road on the right. I then followed the white blazed road to the right known as the River Loop. Trouncing through small areas of tall grass along the way I came to the canoe camping area along the Pawcatuck River. After lingering for a bit I continued to follow the white blazes as the road turned into a footpath. Keep an eye out for the blazes in the next section as the trail becomes very narrow and dense with growth. (At the time of this hike there is an area with a tree down and the trail is barely passable. After making your way around the tree, make sure you locate the next blaze before wandering too far.) This trail is abundant with ferns as it skirts a swampy area. The trail is also muddy in some spots. At the end of this trail I turned right onto another access road called the Mill Trail. I followed this trail straight (ignore the road to the right up ahead) until it came back out to the blue blazed Clawson Trail. Along the way I accidently came across a geocache location. I then retraced my steps back to the car.

Trail map can be found at: Shumunkanuc Hill

Clawson Trail

Ferns And Stone Walls

Pawcatuck River