Archive for the ‘ ~SMITHFIELD RI~ ’ Category

Latham Brook Preserve – Smithfield

  • Latham Brook Preserve
  • Burlingame Road, Smithfield, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°55’29.44″N, 71°33’33.28″W
  • Last Time Hiked: August 30, 2020
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.2 miles
  • Fairly easy with some elevation.

 

Bold prediction! When the Smithfield Land Trust is done developing this property it will stand out as one of their best properties. With that said, the natural beauty of this property is spectacular. The trail system is still primitive however, but easy enough to follow. Starting from the cul-de-sac at the end of Burlingame Road (the section off of Latham Farm Road) you will follow a narrow unmarked trail into the property, first through a tunnel of knotweed and grapevines, then you will pass trees with berries before coming to a trail split. Stay to the right here and follow the more inviting trail as it starts its long steady climb uphill. (The trail to the left dead ends at a small pond). Soon you will have a stone wall to your right. Just ahead is another trail intersection. The trail to your left is where you will complete your loop. Continue straight ahead still slightly climbing uphill. The trail splits once again. Stay to your left here following the wider and more defined trail. The climb uphill becomes more significant as the trail climbs to the crest of the hill. You will be under a canopy of beech, maple, and a sporadic pine tree at the top of the hill. Continuing ahead a trail comes in from the right before the trail splits yet again. Continue straight ahead here ignoring the trail to the right. Start looking for a narrow trail to the left marked with a three stone cairn. This will be just before the main trail dead ends at a residential neighborhood. Turning left onto the much narrower and primitive trail, you will decline slightly before coming to a stone wall. Crossing this wall is a little tricky. The trail continues to descend then turns left in a southerly direction before crossing another stonewall. From here the trail winds gently up and down along the slope of a hill. To the right the hill turns to steep ledges where you have a sweeping view of the valley below. At the next trail intersection is a cluster of boulders and a fire pit. Continue straight ahead as the trail starts to descend once again. Ahead is a ledge to the left as the trail turns sharply to the right and downhill. It then veers left and wanders through a floor of ferns before arcing to the left. The trail soon ends at an intersection. Turn right here onto the trail you came in on and retrace your steps back to the cul-de-sac.

TWRI-Latham10

Ledge Along The Trail

2020
08/30
CATEGORY
Latham Brook Preserve
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
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Jim Russell Preserve – Smithfield

  • Jim Russell Preserve
  • Burlingame Road, Smithfield, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°54’40.87″N, 71°33’53.27″W
  • Last Time Hiked: June 16, 2019
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.1 miles
  • Fairly easy with some significant elevation.

 

On the back side of Connors Farm and from a lesser known access on Burlingame Road is the Jim Russell Preserve. The yellow blazed access path and loop winds through the highest points of the property offering stone walls and seasonal brooks. From the one car (maybe two at most) parking lot, follow the yellow blazed trail downhill to the first trail intersection. Stay to the left here and follow the trail downhill a little further. The trail suddenly turns to the right at a stream crossing. Be sure to keep on eye out for the blazes here. You will pass boulders and stone walls along the next stretch that follows a rather impressive ridge. Ahead the blue blazed Cave Trail of Connors Farm appears on the left. Continue ahead following the yellow blazes to the next intersection. Turning right here you will find a rather large boulder followed by an interesting outcrop both on the right before winding through the ups and downs of the northern part of the property. At the next intersection turn left and retrace your steps uphill back to the parking area.

TWRI-JRP01

Along the Yellow Blazed Trail

Connors Trail Map

Jim Russell Map

2019
06/17
CATEGORY
Jim Russell Preserve
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
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Caroline E. Judson – Smithfield

  • Caroline E. Judson Trust Property
  • Williams Road, Smithfield, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°54’34.26″N, 71°33’24.73″W
  • Last Time Hiked: January 15, 2018
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.5 miles
  • Fairly easy with some significant elevation.

 

At the end of Williams Road is a small parking area for a couple of cars. The trail head is just to the right of the Land Trust sign. The trail winds downhill flanked by stone walls and old barbed wire fencing. Along this strip of wooded land on each side are large fields. At the end of the trail you can catch a glimpse of Stillwater Reservoir through the woods. The trail to the right leads into one of the large fields before dead ending near the property line with Hebert Health Center. The field is a good spot to watch birds circling above. The trail to the left leads further into the woods slowly winding down to a wooden bridge that crosses a beautiful cascading stream. The stream at the time of this hike was particularly high in velocity due to a recent snow melt. The trail then continues, following above the stream, into the Connors Farm Conservation Area at the blue blazed trail. A loop through Connors Farm, itself a beautiful hike, would add distance to the hike. From here retrace your steps back to the parking area at the end of Williams Road. A deer was spotted here at the property as well as chipmunks and a pair of red tailed hawks.

TWRI-CEJTP

Cascading Stream From the Footbridge.

2018
01/15
CATEGORY
Caroline E. Judson
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
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Stump Pond – Smithfield

 

Stump Pond is known mostly to be a fishing spot. The state owned property however has a short out and back trail that follows the shore of the pond. Starting from the parking area, you can first walk along the dam to the left to catch a sweeping view of the pond. At the end of the walkway is the spillway where Stump Pond (also called Stillwater Reservoir) flows into the Woonasquatucket River. From here retrace your steps and continue to follow the dam towards the woods. A well defined trail then follows the shore winding gently up and down small hills. The trail comes to a small peninsula where there is a cluster of trees leaning over the ponds edge. A trail ahead continues onto private property. For this hike, stop at the small peninsula and enjoy the view before returning back to the parking area.

twri-stump

A wintry Stump Pond.

2017
02/19
CATEGORY
Stump Pond
~1 Mile or Less~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
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Hanton City – Smithfield

  • Hanton City
  • Smithfield, RI
  • Trailhead: Undisclosed
  • Last Time Hiked: September 17, 2016
  • Approximate distance hiked: 3.3 miles
  • Fairly easy, slight elevation.

 

Yesteryear there existed a cluster of buildings in the woods of what is now Smithfield. This town was in an extremely remote area miles from any other towns or villages. The town was eventually abandoned and all that remains are several cellar holes, wells, and stone walls. It is known as Hanton City and there are several theories of why the town existed in the first place. Some believe that maybe the occupants were loyalists to the British throne during the American Revolution, others believe that maybe these occupants were diseased and forced to live away from the general public. Regardless, they had a small but fully functioning village in the remote woods of Northern Rhode Island. The properties in the area are owned by several different groups. Some of it is privately owned, some owned by nearby Fidelity. The rest is owned by the Audubon Society and the Smithfield Land Trust. The area is not open to the public and access is available occasionally when the Smithfield Land Trust leads guided group tours of the property.

twri-hanton04

Cellar Hole With Shelves

 

2016
09/18
CATEGORY
Hanton City
~3 to 5 Miles~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
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Mowry Farm – Smithfield

A short trail system indeed, Mowry Farm offers quite a bit variety and is a nice supplement to the nearby Mowry Conservation Area. Parking is available at the community gardens along Farnum Pike. The trail (red trail on the map) at the extreme right end of the parking lot passes a fenced in garden and greenhouse before coming to a sign indicating the trails are to the left. First you will pass an open grass area with some scattered art work including the roundhouse and cob oven. It looks like “Stickhenge”. Just beyond that the trail leads into the woods. For this hike continue straight onto the yellow blazed trail. Here some very large trees have been cut down. Their trunks are being carved into unique chairs and benches. The next feature along the yellow trail is the tree fort type of structure overlooks the land below. Continuing downhill the trail crosses the red blazed trail then crosses the upper reaches of the Woonasquatucket River via a footbridge. The yellow trail ends at a large rock that overlooks the northern end of Stump Pond. From here retrace your steps back over the bridge then turn left onto the red trail. At the next intersection turn right and follow the mowed path pass the chicken coups. Soon you will reach the trail that you entered the property on. Retrace your steps back to the parking area.

Trail maps can be found at: Mowry Farm

TWRI-Mowry3

Woonasquatucket River

2016
09/04
CATEGORY
Mowry Farm
~1 Mile or Less~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
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Deerfield Park – Smithfield

Deerfield Park has a little of everything. It is used mostly for its athletic fields. It is also where the Smithfield Senior Center is located. I started this walk from the second parking lot by the playground. Directly across the street is a walking path flanked by rail fences. It leads away from the road and into the woods. The path turns into a trail which eventually comes out to a ball field behind the Gallagher Middle School. From here I stayed to the right keeping the woods to my right and made my way to the front of the school. At the front of the school I turned right and crossed the pedestrian bridge to the Smithfield High School property. Again I turned right keeping the woods to my right and continued walking behind the High School and to another ball field. I soon found another walking path on the right that would cross the Stillwater River and lead back to Deerfield Park. The walk so far is just under a mile. From here I crossed the street again and went right following the walking path, passing the playground, and eventually coming to a side street. At the side street I turned left toward the soccer fields. Across from the soccer fields is the entrance to another short set of trails named for R. Bruce Ewart. The trail soon comes to an opening. Ahead the trail leads to a residential neighborhood. I followed the trail to the right which led me to the Senior Center. From here I followed the road to the right back towards the car passing the Smithfield Veterans Memorial.

I did not find a trail map on-line.

Walking Path Between Deerfield Park And The High School

Walking Path Between Deerfield Park And The High School

2015
04/23
CATEGORY
Deerfield Park
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
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Olivias Forest – Smithfield

 

This Smithfield Land Trust property has just been recently blazed and mapped by members of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council. The green trail starts at a small parking area along Ridge Road. We followed the green trail into the property until we reached the orange loop trail. The loop trail crosses a babbling brook twice on some new wooden bridges. After doing the loop we retraced our steps back out to the parking area. The property, small and wedged between two neighborhoods, is a rather pristine spot and a great addition to the Smithfield Land Trust trails.

 

Trail map can be found at: Olivias Forest.

Orange Trail Crossing The Brook

Orange Trail Crossing The Brook

2014
12/28
CATEGORY
Olivias Forest
~1 Mile or Less~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
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Esmond Park – Smithfield

 

Esmond Park is a combination of a short trail on a former railroad bed and a small town park. The two distinctly different parts are separated by an arch bridge that crosses the river at a small waterfall. The park itself, complete with World War I monuments, paved paths, and park benches is at the corner of Farnum Pike and Esmond Street. The parking area is a little further north along Farnum Pike at the end with the trail entrance. I came across a few people walking dogs here.

Trail map can be found at: Esmond Park.

The Bridge At Esmond

The Bridge At Esmond

2014
09/05
CATEGORY
Esmond Park
~1 Mile or Less~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
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Georgiaville Dam And Gorge – Smithfield

 

Another “Seven Scenic Walks” of Smithfield, this short walk has a little bit of everything. Starting from the parking area, you first come to the town beach. The beach at the time of this walk was quite active. Several small children were cooling off from the late summer heat. After passing the beach, the path turns into a dirt road following the top of an earthen dam. From the dam you have sweeping views of Georgiaville Pond over the banks of wildflowers. Other than swimmers there were kayaks, tubers taking advantage of the pond. At the end of the dirt road is the dam. Much like Hunts Mills, it is a combination of a manmade dam and natural waterfall. To the right there is a short trail to a small area that overlooks the gorge where the Woonasquatucket River passes. Here I saw a great blue heron traversing through the gorge. From this point you retrace your steps back to the parking area.

I did not find a trail map on-line.

Georgiaville Gorge

Georgiaville Gorge

2014
09/05
CATEGORY
Georgiaville Dam And Gorge
~1 Mile or Less~
~SMITHFIELD RI~
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