• Tippecansett Pond/Wildcat Spring
• Ten Rod Road, Exeter, RI
• Trailhead:  41°34’26.30″N, 71°47’9.26″W
• Last Time Hiked: April 11, 2020
• Approximate distance hiked: 4.8 miles
• Moderate.

Part unfinished business, part curiosity. A few years ago I had set out with Auntie Beak to do Tippecansett North from Stepstone Falls to Beach Pond. We ran into a trail closure at the South County Rod and Gun Club. That day we improvised and ending up hiking Escoheag Hill. After waiting a while, I decided to venture out along the Tippecansett from Beach Pond to the State Line and back making a stop at Wildcat Spring. For this hike I started from the parking area on the south side of Ten Rod Road at Beach Pond. After crossing the road I spotted the yellow and blue blazes I was looking for. The trail quickly climbs uphill into a pine grove. This short section will immediately test your stamina. Fear not, after a few ups and downs through this beautiful grove the trails level out for the most part. From the heights of this hill you can catch glimpses of Beach Pond below. Continuing along the trail you will come upon a dirt road. Turn left here and immediately right back into the woods. You are now at the split where the blue blazed Pachuag Trail veers to the left and yellow blazed Tippecansett Trail turns to the right. Follow the yellow blazes for the remainder of this hike (except for Wildcat Spring). The Tippecansett soon comes to an old dirt forest road. Turning left here, the road passes the blue blazed Pachaug Crossover trail, then climbs uphill, to the right, and then left, before coming to the intersection of the Deep Pond Trail. Staying to the left here the trail climbs to the top of a hill with stone walls and an old cemetery. From here the trail starts its descent. Start looking for a white blazed spur trail on the left. This is the trail to Wildcat Spring. The trail is not as well defined as the Tippecansett. Take your time and be sure to look for the next blaze before continuing ahead. At the end of the trail is a cluster of rocks and boulders with a natural bubbling spring. Take a few moments to linger here. Retrace your steps back to the Tippecansett Trail and turn left. The trail continues downhill to an area that is quite wide. To the right are “Posted: No Trespassing” signs. This is the property of the South County Rod & Gun Club and where the Tippecansett once turned to the right to points north such as the fire tower and Stepstone Falls. Continuing ahead an again slightly uphill a bit, you will be on Old Voluntown Road. The trail is still blazed yellow as this was to be the re-route of the trail before the closure of the Canonicus Trail (also crosses property of the Rod & Gun Club). Nonetheless, you will pass a “car wreck” on the left, then the road will turn slightly to the left as you start getting glimpses of Tippecansett Pond through the trees. The pond is entirely on Rod & Gun property as well. So you cannot access its shoreline. For this hike, I pushed forward to the State Line looking for a state line marker. It is a thousand feet plus or minus south of the road, however there is no trail to it. There are a few large boulders here. I sat for a moment, taking a short break before retracing my steps following the yellow blazes back to the parking area. I would suggest doing this hike in the spring or winter after the trees have shed their leaves or you may not be able to get a view of the ponds. Hunting is also allowed here, be sure to where orange during hunting season.

Map can be found at: Wildcat Spring & Tippecansett Pond.

Tippecansett Pond from Old Voluntown Road