Posts Tagged ‘ Nature Walks ’

Crystal Spring Preserve – Plainville

Newly opened to the public, Crystal Spring Preserve provides a fairly easy hike through the woods less than a half mile from the bustling Route 1. There is a small parking area along the side of School Street opposite house 91 big enough for 2 cars. The access trail to the loop is short with a small patch of wetlands on left. A few hundred feet in you will come to the split at the loop. For this hike I decided to go right where I immediately started to come across some pines mixed in with the prominent deciduous trees. The trail soon comes to an open field with sporadic pines. Follow the treeline to the right for a bit and start looking for the red blaze on a tree at the far end of the field.  Back into woods you will cross stone wall, then the trail climbs slightly uphill. You will pass unmarked connector trails on the left before coming to Grandfather Rock. The trail then loops back around, coming again to a connector trail, stay right here and follow red blazes. After a cairn trail turns sharp left and uphill. At next intersection turn left. Trail to right leads to town property and the Eagle Scout Nature Trails. Following the red blazes the trail winds gently to a meditation circle. The unique stone formation is quite interesting. Continuing ahead, keep an eye out for your turn on the right to continue following red blazes. The trail straight ahead is the first connector trail you passed earlier. The trail again winds gently for a bit coming to a stone wall. The trail turns left here and follows the stone wall. Near the end of wall is small mound of stone. Start looking for the intersection for the access trail you came in on, turn right and follow red blazes back to street.

Trail map: Crystal Spring Preserve

TWRI-Crystal23

Field With Pines

2023
12/27
CATEGORY
Crystal Spring Preserve
~1 to 2 Miles~
~PLAINVILLE MA~
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Catamint Brook Preserve – Cumberland

Newly opened to the public, Catamint Brook Preserve provides a nice moderate hike through the hills of Northern Cumberland passing remnants of yesteryear. The yellow blaze loop is 1.7 miles in length and starts at the small parking area on Tower Hill Road. For this hike, stay to the right and follow the trail slightly downhill. Almost immediately, you are at an intersection with green blazes. Take a right here to see the schoolhouse site. Nothing remains other than the perimeter stone wall. Returning to the yellow trail, it winds downhill steadily for a bit while traversing the eastern portion of the property. Along the way there is a cairn (pile of stones), likely a left over from the stone wall construction during the farming days. You will pass some red blazes (not currently on the map). With that being said, it is obvious there are plans for more trails on this property in the future. For now follow the yellow blazes. Soon you will come to a fairly impressive glacial boulder before coming to the “Farmers Dam”. This dam, built in the 1750s, crosses over Catamint Brook. The trail then climbs a bit and onto the Diamond Hill State Management Area before turning sharply to the left. The unmarked trail ahead leads into a web of unmarked trails. Be sure to wear orange for this hike as hunting is allowed on the Management Area. The trail soon leaves State property and back into the preserve. Stone walls and ledges flank the trail before crossing the brook once again. Just after the brook on the left (green blazed) is a short spur trail to the “Farmers Quarry”. There are some large cut stones here. It is also a good spot to sit for a moment. Continuing along the loop trail, you will pass some more ledges and wind out to Tower Hill Road. Here turn left and almost immediately left again back onto the trail. The trail soon crosses a driveway, narrows, then climbs up a hill with an outcrop at its peak. From here it winds through a grove of pitch pines before coming to a cart path. Turning right here will lead you back to the parking area. The acquisition of this property by the Cumberland Land Trust has made it possible for a trail greenway from the Middle School on Route 120 to Mercy Woods via Ash Swamp, unmarked trails on Town property north of Ash Swamp, Catamint Brook, Diamond Hill State Management Area, Diamond Hill Town Park, and the Warner Trail to Mercy Woods.

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Between Stone Walls and Ledges

2023
11/12
CATEGORY
Catamint Brook Preserve
~1 to 2 Miles~
~CUMBERLAND RI~
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McCourt Trails – Cumberland

Behind the McCourt Middle School in Cumberland is a series of short stone dust trails. The loop trail (blue on the map, marked sporadically with yellow blazes) is about three quarters of a mile long with some small hills. The trails connect the school property with the High Street ball field by the fire station. The easiest entrance is at the ball field. Follow the first base line fence into the woods.

Trail map can be found at: McCourt Trails (Page 4)

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Trails at McCourt Middle School

2023
09/10
CATEGORY
McCourt Trails
~1 Mile or Less~
~CUMBERLAND RI~
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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

TWRI-3Days01

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

TWRI-Wheeler04

Bridge Crossing The Runnins River

2023
02/12
CATEGORY
Wheeler School
~1 Mile or Less~
~SEEKONK MA~
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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

TWRI-Crooked01

Wide Path and Tall Trees

2023
01/16
CATEGORY
Crooked Brook
~3 to 5 Miles~
~NARRAGANSETT RI~
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Pemmerl Town Trails – Rehoboth

  • Pemmerl Town Trails
  • Danforth Street, Rehoboth, MA
  • Trailhead:  41°51’28.02″N, 71°15’47.04″W
  • Last Time Hiked: October 21, 2022
  • Approximate distance hiked: 3.7 miles
  • Moderate with some elevation.

A recently developed parking area and a small handmade sign reading “Pemmerl Town Trails” is what I stumbled upon while doing some country road driving. What a great find!! The property is quite large and has a small network of trails at the southern end and a long meandering trail that reaches into the northern end and beyond. At the time of this hike the trails we marked with some occasional flagging indicating to me that there may be more improvements to come. Each intersection was well marked with homemade signs. I did stumble upon a map of the property artistically portrayed on one of the homemade signs. I explored the yellow “Cliff Walk Trail” with its wonderful ledges and outcrops, the high point of Counsel Rock, the orange “Winter View Trail” where in spots you have to get on your hands and knees to crawl and climb to reach the “LedgEdge”, and the green “Main Trail” which winds through the property to Perryville Pond. The blue “West Palmer River Trail” crosses private property, however there is a sign that seems to welcome visitors to use it. This is a beautiful trail that winds through areas of boulders, into low laying marsh, before coming to the banks of the river. At the pond there is a dam and waterfall. Be sure to use your GPS here as the trails are only marked at the intersections. And do respect private properties as there are unmarked trails that lead off the property.

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West Palmer River

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Map of Pemmerl Town Trails

2022
12/27
CATEGORY
Pemmerl Town Trails
~3 to 5 Miles~
~REHOBOTH 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.

TWRI-OsaFarm06

A Farm Road in Fall

2022
10/16
CATEGORY
Osamequin Farm
~1 to 2 Miles~
~SEEKONK MA~
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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.

TWRI-Tucker05

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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Winsor Park – Glocester

Working on nearly ten years of this project of trying to hike every public trail in Rhode Island will lead to some of these type of “hikes”. Yes, indeed, there is a trail here on this small recreation complex known for its soccer field, playground, and basketball court. Take a venture into the woods and you will find a peaceful quarter mile trail that loops a small pond. It is quite relaxing!

TWRI-Winsdor

Bridge Along The Trail.

2022
02/26
CATEGORY
Winsor Park
~1 Mile or Less~
~GLOCESTER RI~
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