Posts Tagged ‘ South Kingstown Land Trust ’

Browning Woods Farm – South Kingstown

  • Browning Woods Farm
  • Shannock Road, South Kingstown, RI
  • Trailhead: 41°24’47.16″N, 71°36’22.06″W
  • Last Time Hiked: October 30, 2016
  • Approximate distance hiked: 3.1 miles
  • Fairly easy with slight elevation.

 

At the extreme western edge of South Kingstown lies Browning Woods Farm. This property, owned by the South Kingstown Land Trust, was part of the original Pettaquamscutt Purchase of 1657 and belonged to the Browning Family as far back as the early 1700’s. The farm was used mostly to raise animals such as sheep, cattle, and pigs. Today there is a two mile loop and a half mile access trail that winds through the property. There is quite an elevation change on the property but it is so gradual that it is almost unnoticed. The trail passes several stone walls and the Browning Homestead where there is an impressive cellar hole. There are several side trails and old woods roads that spur off the blue blazed loop trail. Be sure to stay on the well marked blue blazed trail. Along with maples and pines there are also holly trees and winterberry. Chipmunks and squirrels can be seen here as well as a variety of songbirds. This is a great hike for someone who is just getting started with local hiking as the trail is easy to follow and mostly flat.

 

Trail maps can be found at: Browning Woods Farm

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Stone Walls And Boardwalks

DuVal Farm – South Kingstown

  • DuVal Farm/Susannah’s Woods
  • Post Road, South Kingstown, RI
  • Trailhead: 41°24’1.81″N, 71°35’5.67″W
  • Last Time Hiked: August 28, 2016
  • Approximate distance hiked: 3.9 miles
  • Moderate with some elevation.

 

Duval Farm, also known as Susannah’s Woods, is a South Kingstown Land Trust property that offers quite a bit. There are four separate trails here that wander through the woods, over hills, and by a pond. This property has an abundance of both mountain laurel and wild blueberries. Hiking in June for the mountain laurel or July for the blueberries are highly recommended. There is also a scenic overlook on the property and on clear days you can see Block Island. The view, somewhat boxed in by trees in the summer would be more impressive when the leaves are off the trees. There is a parking area in front of the cemetery along Post Road for a few automobiles. From here head west a few feet west along Post Road (following the blue blazes) to the trail head. The trail then heads into the woods passing a kiosk with the trail map. For this hike follow the blue blazed trail briefly to the first intersection. Turn left onto the red blazed trail (Polly’s Rock Loop). You will soon be along a ridge of a hill that is covered with low lying wild blueberry shrubs. The amount of them looks like waves along the slopes of the hills. You will also catch your first glimpse of the mountain laurel among the forest of oaks and pines. At the next intersection turn left onto the green blazed trail (Jones Camp Trail). The trail passes stone walls and areas of ferns. There are also some low lying wires to watch for. The trail will lead you west and eventually to Bull Head Pond. Near the end of the trail there is a small loop and you can see the pond through the trees. After the loop retrace your steps back to the red trail. Here turn left and follow the red blazes to the intersection of the yellow trail. Along the way there is a grove of mountain laurel that would look spectacular in bloom. The trail then climbs a rather significant hill before coming to a trail on the left. It is a short crossover trail that will shave a bit off your distance. For this hike continue straight following the red blazes passing the other end of the crossover trail. Soon you will reach the yellow trail (Lyn’s Loop) where you will turn left. The yellow trail heads north almost to Gravelly Hill Road before looping back south to a four way intersection with the blue blazed trail (DuVal Trail). Turn left here onto the Duval Trail and follow it to Gravelly Hill Road. Turn right onto the road and look for the blue blazed trail on the left just after a driveway. The trail then quickly climbs a hill, turns right (at the intersecton), and follows a ridge above the road. The blazes become far an few between along this stretch. Soon the trail widens at a rocky and sandy area. This is the overlook where on clear days you can see the ocean and Block Island off in the distance. The Duval Trail continues for nearly 2 more miles (4 miles out and back) to Red House Road up and over several hills. If you would like a hike of up to eight miles feel free to hike to the end of the trail. For this hike retrace your steps along the blue blazed trail back to the four way intersection. Here you will turn left onto an unmarked trail (non-system trail) that quickly descends downhill. The trail splits, stay to the right and follow it to the back side of the cemetery. The other trail loops around and eventually rejoins the unmarked trail. The trail then passes through the cemetery. There are graves from the early 1800’s here and at the front end of the parcel is the site of a meeting house that was built in 1750. After passing through the cemetery the trail winds downhill to the parking area.

 

Trail maps can be found at: Duval Farm

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Pine Needle Covered Trail

Sculpture Trail – South Kingstown

  • Sculpture Trail
  • Green Hill Beach Road, South Kingstown, RI
  • Trailhead: 41°22’57.35″N, 71°36’11.01″W
  • First Time Hiked: September 27, 2015
  • Last Time Hiked: March 4, 2017
  • Approximate distance hiked: 0.4 miles
  • Easy.

This trail is wedged onto a small South Kingstown Land Trust property at the northeast corner of Matunuck School House Road and Green Hill Beach Road. The short trail, opened in 2014, features sculptures from a variety of artists that are placed throughout the property. There are trail maps at the entrance of the property.

"Sir Loin" at the Sculpture Trail.

“Sir Loin” at the Sculpture Trail.

Biscuit City Preserve – South Kingstown

 

Biscuit City Preserve is a South Kingstown Land Trust Property in the north central part of the town. I started the hike from a small parking area directly across the street from the Biscuit City Road entrance. This parking area is also the parking area for Potter Wood. I followed the trail into the property and I came across members of the Land Trust doing some maintenance work. The were planting some new shrubs and trees, the likes of Swamp Azalea and Holly among a few. I stopped and made some small talk with them and one gave me a brief history lesson. Apparently this property has a natural spring and was used by both the Native Americans and the colonists. He even indicated that one may still find an arrowhead here. I then continued the hike by following the trail along a small pond. Just before the park bench at the end of the pond I turned right onto a trail that passed a couple cellar holes, one on each side. I also passed a root cellar that has been sealed off. I then noticed blue blazes. The trail map indicated that this trail was a dead end, however, the trail has been extended and blazed blue. The trail crosses a stream before turning left and then it meanders through areas of trees and shrubs looping back to the millrace by the pond. From here I continued straight along the southern side of the pond. After the pond there is a trail split. The trail to the right goes to Higgins Drive. The trail to the left, the one I took, heads to the spring house. After passing the spring house the trail continues back to the trail I came in on. Here I turned right and retraced my steps back to the car.

 

Trail map can be found at: Biscuit City.

A Trail At Biscuit City Preserve

A Trail At Biscuit City Preserve Looking Toward The Pond

Yawgoo Pond – South Kingstown

 

I started this hike from the parking area on Barbers Pond Road. The entire trail is blazed blue and starts just to the right of the information sign. The trail, narrow at first, runs up and down and winds through areas of thick shrubs before coming out to a dirt road. Here I turned right, crossed the Mud Brook and continued to where the trail splits. Here I opted to follow the trail to the right as it passed through an area of young pines and stone walls. I encountered a garter snake along this stretch. I also stumbled upon a cemetery here. The graves belong to those of the Wells family and were dated in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. I then continued along the trail finding myself in a dense area of fern. Soon I could see Yawgoo Pond through the trees. There was a short unmarked access trail to the shore of the pond. I then continued of the blazed trail until I reached an intersection. Though not shown on the map, the unmarked trail to the right lead to a footbridge that crosses the Chickasheen Brook and then eventually to a beach area along the pond. This seemed to be the best vantage point of the pond. The unmarked trail narrows and continues but I opted not to explore it any further. I retraced my steps back to the intersection, continuing straight, before seeing the blue blazes again. The trail eventually led to the first split completing the loop. From here I retraced my steps back to the parking area encountering some deer along the way.

Trail map can be found at: Yawgoo Pond.

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Yawgoo Pond

Crawley – South Kingstown/Richmond

  • Crawley Preserve
  • Glen Rock Road, South Kingstown, RI
  • Trailhead: 41°30’32.74″N, 71°36’30.44″W
  • Last Time Hiked: August 11, 2014
  • Approximate distance hiked: 1.8 miles
  • Fairly easy with some elevation.

 

Although the entrance and the front part of the property are in South Kingstown, the majority of this property is in Richmond. The property is maintained by both the South Kingstown Land Trust and the Richmond Conservation Commission. I started the hike first following the yellow blazed Brook Trail. The trail has two stream crossings and meanders through a forest of several types of trees including pine, maple, oak, chestnut, and beech. There also several boulders, some stone walls, and an area of ferns and moss along the trail. I also observed several toads along the trail. This trail is only open to hikers. As I approached the end of the trail I came across a horseback rider on the blue blazed Crawley Trail. I turned right on the blue trail briefly then left onto the orange blazed Box Turtle Trail. I followed the orange trail, across the red trail, to the edge of the property and an abutting farm. I then followed the orange loop to the red trail again. I turned left here following the red blazed Red Fox Trail to its end at the back of the property. At this point the blue blazed Crawley Trail begins. It is also the highest point in the property. The hike to this point was all uphill. From here I followed the entire length of the blue trail to its end back to the parking lot passing stone walls and the ruins of an old homestead. I came across several blueberry shrubs and some clethra along this trail.

Trail map can be found at: Crawley.

Along The Brook Trail

Along The Brook Trail

Thewlis Woods – South Kingstown

 
 

Thewlis Woods is a South Kingstown Land Trust property tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood. The trail, an entrance trail and loop, is rather short but very peaceful and quiet. The trail is very easy to navigate and has a couple slight hills. The property has an abundance of pine trees and I saw a few hawks here. This was my fourth hike of the day and was rather alone all morning until I got here. In this short hike I came across four very friendly dogs.

Trail map can be found at: Thewlis Woods.

Thewlis Woods

Thewlis Woods

Weeden Farm – South Kingstown

 
 

Weeden Farm is a South Kingstown Land Trust property along Matunuck Beach Road. If you are a stone wall enthusiast then this site is well checking out. In fact, at the kiosk near the parking area there is a pamphlet for the “Stone Wall Geology Tour”. There are 8 separate spots featured along the way that give descriptions of some stones such as quartz, granite, and conglomerate. Weeden Farm also features corn and hay fields that are separated by the predominant tree lined stone walls. I opted to follow the perimeter loop trail which in total in about 1.2 miles. I did see some cows (on the neighboring farm), as well as several blackbirds, robins, and one circling hawk.

Trail map can be found at: Weeden Farm.

Stone Wall At Weeden Farm

Stone Wall At Weeden Farm