Posts Tagged ‘ Hiking ’

Harbour Island – Narragansett

The out and back blue blazed “Main Trail” runs from Brush Hill Road to Beach Plum Road. Along the way you will pass a vernal pool and climb up and over a rather significant hill. At the top of the hill you will find a swing and also sweeping views of Long Cove. On the way back be sure to check out the two “Scenic Side Trails”, both blazed white. They offer more views of Long Cove. The entire hike in total is just under three quarters of a mile.

Trail map can be found at: Harbour Island

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The “Welcoming” Tree near the Brush Hill Entrance

2023
03/06
CATEGORY
Harbour Island
~1 Mile or Less~
~NARRAGANSETT RI~
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Wheeler School – Seekonk

  • Wheeler School Farm Campus – Juniper Hill Loop
  • Woodward Avenue, Seekonk, MA
  • Trailhead:  41°51’7.12″N, 71°18’57.31″W
  • Last Time Hiked: February 12, 2023
  • Approximate distance hiked: 0.7 miles
  • Easy with slight elevation.

This lollipop loop hike is on the Wheeler School Farm Campus in Seekonk. The hike described here is short, but on the more secluded section of the property along the Runnins River. Starting from the trailhead on Woodward Avenue by utility pole 3245 (by the hydrant), you will first climb up a set of stone steps. The trail rises above the river to the left. To your right is a young grove of pines on what is called Juniper Hill. The trail soon splits. For this hike turn left and cross the river via a wooden bridge. Continue ahead keeping the pond and river to your right until you reach the next wooden bridge. There will be a few trails to the left that lead to the soccer fields, ignore them. After crossing the second bridge, stay to your right. The trail to the left leads to Prospect Street. Following the trail to the right will complete the loop around the pond. When you reach the next intersection, stay to the left. This will lead you back over Juniper Hill and to Woodward Avenue where you started the hike.

Trail map can be found at: Wheeler School

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Bridge Crossing The Runnins River

2023
02/12
CATEGORY
Wheeler School
~1 Mile or Less~
~SEEKONK MA~
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Colonel Ledyard Park – Ledyard

  • Colonel Ledyard Park
  • Blonder Boulevard, Ledyard, CT
  • Trailhead:  41°26’0.58″N, 72° 0’11.74″W
  • Last Time Hiked: December 30, 2022
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.6 miles
  • Easy with slight elevation.

                                                                            

 

This recreational facility offers a mile and half loop trail behind the tennis courts. The trail first dips down into a valley crossing a stream at a wooden bridge. Shortly after the bridge the trail splits. Continue straight here and follow the trail slightly uphill. It will make a couple of left turns along the way passing boulders here and there. There will also be an old homestead to the left featuring and old foundation, well, and stone walls. The trail then crosses a stream at the “double bridge”. The trail ends shortly thereafter. Turn right here and retrace your steps back to the tennis courts.

 

 

Trail map can be found at: Colonel Ledyard Park

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Stream Crossing at Blue Blazed Trail

2023
01/16
CATEGORY
Colonel Ledyard Park
~1 to 2 Miles~
~LEDYARD CT~
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Pike Marshall Preserve – Ledyard

                                                                            

 

From a parking area alongside Lambtown Road you will find a small yellow “Nature Sanctuary” sign at the trail head. Following the trail you will start to see blue blazes. The first part of this hike follows the trail in a valley flanked to the right by a towering ledge. The trail slightly turns to the right and climbs up and over a hill. You will find several mountain laurel shrubs along the way. You will soon come to an intersection. Stay to the right here and almost immediately you will come to another intersection. Continue straight following the blue blazes. The trail then approaches a fence line. To the right is a faded trail that leads to a spring. (We did not find it at the time of this hike). Continuing ahead on the blue blazed trail, it veers to the left keeping a couple equine friend to your right. The trail then comes to a beautiful spot where a small bridge crosses a stream by a large outcrop of glacial remains. Take a moment here and enjoy before retracing your steps back to the first intersection. Here follow the blue blazes to the right. The trail descends and crosses the stream in the valley before making a significant climb uphill. The remainder of the trail towers over the valley to the left before descending sharply to the parking area.

 

 

Trail map can be found at: Pike Marshall Preserve

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Stream Crossing

2023
01/16
CATEGORY
Pike Marshall Preserve
~1 to 2 Miles~
~LEDYARD CT~
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Burton Trail – Ledyard

Behind the Ledyard High School Fields is a short trail network. The trails will lead you down into a valley with stone walls, vernal pools, and boardwalks crossing streams before climbing a hill to a historic cemetery. Here you will find graves dating back to the late 1700’s, some who served in the American Revolution. Using both the yellow and blue blazed trails will enable you to complete a loop.

Trail map can be found at: Burton Trail

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Winding Boardwalk

2023
01/16
CATEGORY
Burton Trail
~1 to 2 Miles~
~LEDYARD CT~
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Crooked Brook – Narragansett

This three mile out and back trail, recently marked with signs by the Narragansett Land Conservancy Trust, winds through the thick woods that surround Crooked Brook. Parking is available at the Narragansett Pier Middle School and the trail head is across the street. The first half of this hike traverses in a southerly direction between South Pier Road and Kinney Avenue under a canopy of tall trees while passing stone walls. The trail is blazed in a light green. The blue blazed Westmoreland Trail intersects about halfway through the first section. Just before the end of this first section you will come upon a long abandoned automobile. At Kinney Avenue turn left and follow the paved road a few feet to the trail head on the other side of the road. The remainder of the trail is a long straight section that seems to be an old cart path. You will cross Crooked Brook before coming to the granite fence post and the Kendal Green Stone. At the end of the trail turn left to check out the Historical Cemetery. This so called cemetery is one of the more interesting ones I have stumbled upon. There are eight pillars in a circular pattern surrounding a center stone. Records indicate that no one is actually buried here which brings into question its origins. You are now a mile and a half from the parking area. From here retrace your steps back.

Trail map can be found at: Crooked Brook

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Wide Path and Tall Trees

2023
01/16
CATEGORY
Crooked Brook
~3 to 5 Miles~
~NARRAGANSETT RI~
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North Attleboro Town Forest – North Attleboro

  • North Attleboro Town Forest/Bragg And MacDonald Memorial Forest
  • Plain Street, North Attleborough, MA
  • Trailhead:  42° 0’27.05″N, 71°17’42.07″W
  • Last Time Hiked: October 21, 2022
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.7 miles
  • Easy.

The North Attleboro Town Forest is known for its dog parks more so than its trails, however, the trails here are quite nice (and used mostly by dog walkers). Coming in from the main entrance just to the left of the dog parks you will come to a trail intersection. For this hike, I decided to do the green blazed perimeter trail to see the most of the property. Turning left onto the loop trail you will find yourself in a tunnel of towering pines. The trail is soft from fallen pine needles. The trail turns to the north and then east. Pines are still quite prevalent, however, oaks and maples start to join into the mix. The forest floor also now has a covering of low laying shrubs. The trail turns south and then west coming back to the back side of the dog park. The trails are marked with blazes on posts at each intersection.

Trail map can be found at: North Attleboro Town Forest

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Morning Sun On An Autumn Morning

2022
11/28
CATEGORY
Bragg and MacDonald Memorial Forest
North Attleboro Town Forest
~1 to 2 Miles~
~NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH MA~
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Osamequin Farm – Seekonk

At the headwaters of the Runnins River lies the sprawling Osamequin Farm. Known for its farm stand, the operational farm offers trails that are (currently) only open to the public during special events. A visit during a tree identification hike brought a small group for a mile long stroll along just a portion of the farms woodland trails. Along with stone walls, open fields, small ponds and the river, the property is graced with sugar maples, red maples, red oaks, sweet birches, white pines, junipers, spruce, and blooming witch hazel.

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A Farm Road in Fall

2022
10/16
CATEGORY
Osamequin Farm
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SEEKONK MA~
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Ash Swamp – Cumberland

  • Ash Swamp
  • Nate Whipple Highway, Cumberland, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°58’57.94″N, 71°25’32.16″W
  • Last Time Hiked: September 4, 2022
  • Approximate distance hiked: 2.4 miles
  • Moderate due to lack of blazes and mapping, Some Elevation.

In the thickly wooded area behind the North Cumberland Middle School are a series of trails that meander across lesser known town owned land. Some of these trails are used by the schools cross country team and the remainder reach to Tower Hill Road. For this hike, I ventured into the woods with a map from “OpenStreetMaps” with the intention of finding and completing the two loops in the middle of the property. The first challenge was getting to the trail head. Passing through the main parking area for the school, drive behind the school to a smaller parking area at the back of the school. There is enough room for 2 or 3 cars here. From here follow the tree line around the bend and you will encounter a sign for the schools cross country program. This the trailhead! After entering the woods stay to the left. The trail to the right will lead you to Schofield Farm. In a little bit you will come to a four way intersection with some park benches. Turn right here. The trail winds northerly toward the first of the two loops. There will be a trail to the left just before a stream. Ignore it and continue ahead crossing the stream. Soon on the left you will get a glimpse of a boulder strewn landscape. At the next intersection stay to the right and you will cross a stream. A short distance ahead a trail comes in from the right. Ignore and stay on the main trail that veers to the left and starts a climb uphill. At the top of the hill the trail splits. Stay to the left and pass through the stone wall. The trail starts to turn to the left before straightening out. At the next split, stay to the left again. You will pass another stone wall before coming to the next trail intersection. Stay to the right here and continue ahead about sixty feet or so and there will be another intersection. Continue straight here and ahead to the next trail intersection. Ahead the trail is slightly overgrown. The main trail turns abruptly to the left. Follow the main trail as it starts a climb uphill. The trail turns to the right and levels out a bit, then turns left again and again uphill. There will be a trail to the left, ignore it and continue the climb uphill. At the top of the hill will be the next intersection. Turn left here and in about twenty feet or so will be another intersection, turn left once again. There will be a trail on the right, ignore it and continue ahead. You will now start a long descent downhill. Next, a trail comes in from the left, stay to the right and follow the main trail. And yet another trail to the right to ignore. Continue to follow the main trail downhill. At the end of the trail at the bottom of the hill turn right. Follow this trail about sixty feet to the next intersection. Turn right here and follow the main trail slightly uphill. Again a trail comes in from the right, and again ignore it. Near the top of the hill and on the left there is a narrow trail that leads to a footbridge. Take a moment to check this out. There is a babbling brook that cascades over the rocks here. Return to the main trail, it will turn slightly to the left and cross a stream. Shortly after the stream there will be another trail intersection. Stay to the left here. The trail descends downhill passing boulders and outcrops before ending at the next trail intersection. Turn right here and continue ahead to the four way intersection with the park benches. At the intersection turn left and follow the trail back to the trail head. During this hike, we encountered some chipmunks, squirrels, and a lone deer. A few suggestions and notes about this hike. Use GPS! You could easily get lost here and you will likely do some backtracking if you take a wrong turn. The map that I had used only showed the main trails. There are many other trails here that are not shown on the map. Some of the trails were blazed at intersections. These blazes are for the cross country team and are not typical “hiking blazes”. Also, it may be a good idea to tackle this hike on a weekend or holiday when the school is closed.

Trail map can be found at: Ash Swamp

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Trail and Stone Wall at Ash Swamp

2022
09/05
CATEGORY
Ash Swamp
~2 to 3 Miles~
~CUMBERLAND RI~
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Tucker Woods Preserve – Charlestown

  • Tucker Woods Preserve
  • Alton Carolina Road, Charlestown, RI
  • Trailhead:  41°27’2.07″N, 71°40’16.74″W
  • Last Time Hiked: June 18, 2022
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.2 miles
  • Fairly easy with slight elevation.

One of the newest trails opened to the public, Tucker Woods, once farmland, is now permanently protected by the Charlestown Conservation Commission. Starting from a new parking area along Alton Carolina Road follow the blue blazed trail into the property. The trail first passes by an open field with sporadic pitch pines before moving into the wooded area shaded by a canopy of oak. The trail widens to an old cart path. You will pass the yellow trail on the right. Continue ahead for now. The forest floor is covered in fern in some spots and there is a rather large hill on the left (future to top of hill is planned). You will pass the other end of the yellow trail, still continue ahead to the end of the blue trail. It splits and makes a loop. Continue ahead and uphill. The trail turns sharply to the right and follows a stone wall before turning again completing the loop. From here stay left and retrace your steps back to the yellow trail (now on your left). Turning onto the yellow trail, start looking for a spur on the left. This leads to a sitting area by a babbling brook with a small “waterfall”. The other side of the brook is part of the Carter Preserve. Making your way back to the yellow trail, turn left, and follow it to its end. The trail winds along the side of a hill for a bit before cutting its way back to the blue trail. At the blue trail turn left and retrace your steps back to the parking area. Trail map is at the kiosk and should be online in the future.

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Along The Yellow Trail

2022
07/05
CATEGORY
**BEST OF TRAILS AND WALKS**
Tucker Woods
~1 to 2 Miles~
~CHARLESTOWN RI~
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