One of the best trails I've been on. Most of the trail has wooden planks, and the rest of it…read moreyou're usually hugging a gate to the military base. The path from the parking lot takes you right to the waterfront, and you can continue on following the path along the gate (although I didn't go all the way around). Paths are clear and easy to follow to. As a side note, be wary of GPS. Mine wanted to take me into the military base, but the entrance road to the parking lot is next to the road to the military base; the last thing you want is the military coming after you. But the signs are clearly marked, so as long as you pay attention to the road and signs and not the GPS you should be fine.

Tucked away with a small parking lot that may fill on busy days. It is a short hike, but the views…read moreare great once you reach the coastline. Went after few days of rain with no concern for muddy areas as the boardwalks keep you out of the wet areas. Good short hike for rocky coastal view and didn't see anyone else during the whole hike!

A well-marked set of trails and loops that convey you through various types of terrain: oak…read morewoodland, eskers, vernal ponds, boulder fields, grasslands, white pine, and old stone walls. Portions of the preserve are sobering however: the oak forest is pretty much dead, devastated by past years' severe drought and invasive insect infestations. Although awful to see, it is also "awe-full" in that there is a somber beauty and grandeur in seeing vast swathes of these once-mighty trees bare-leafed and gaunt. While haunting, the trails do take you through vibrant (and apparently healthy) white pine woods, fields, and large vernal pools. The preserve has also thoughtfully provided some information signs, pointing out areas of environmental concern as well as important native tree varieties. There's plenty of parking available at the Old Mill Road trailhead as well as a convenient composting bathroom.

A whole lot of…read morerocks The Francis Carter Memorial Preserve is an eleven hundred acre track of land that has several very well marked trails running through it. Nice to see trails so well marked and with maps actually at places along the trails. Makes it virtually impossible to get lost and you know the exact distance of any individual trail. Many of the trails are short, only a bit more than a mile, but they all interconnect so you can get several hours of hiking in the beautiful woods. There are lots of cool rocks in New England but this place is just infested with rocks of every size and description, as well as numerous stone walls running through the woods. The hiking isn't difficult with just a few minor hills, but it does require some care to keep stepping over all the rocks. The Francis Carter Preserve is very popular with hikers but also with mountain bikers, equestrians, dog walkers, and in the winter cross country skis and snow shoes. A very nicely maintained and extremely well marked series of trails with all kinds of interesting flora, geographic features and of course lots and lots of wonderful rocks.

This is one of my absolute favorite spots in RI! If you've never been you should absolutely go!…read more It's close to the beaches and would be a great stop before or after your beach day! A very nice, easy scenic walk. Beautiful water views, pretty flowers and the biggest snapping turtle I've ever seen!

Great area just to get out and spot some birds and listen to song throughout the walk! Only…read moredownside, which is also great crowd control, is smaller parking lot for visiting. Otter Point Trails is a fine gravel/sand trail great for wheeled visitors as it is fairly level, no ruts or rocks to be able to utilize the full trail and farm pond viewing. Handicap parking right at trail head as well. Farm Field Loop and Osprey Point Trails have ruts and rocks, but very mild and easy for family walk for those with kids. Throughout the walk bird song is present, plenty of chipmunks, squirrels and even rabbits during a sunny afternoon walk today. Restroom by parking lot, but no running water just hand sanitizer for use. No pets, no bikes or jogging here. It is a peaceful walk outside of loud chatty people, so please be respectful as you enjoy the refuge! Great for short out and back if you have been missing hearing the birds!

I was hiking in the area and came upon Biscuit City Preserve. At approximately 3/4 of a mile, I…read moremade a quick detour into its trails and I am so glad I did. The Preserve has a fishing pond, park benches, wood bridges, natural spring, historic ruins, and a variety of plants and animals. So much packed into its 11-acres of land. The pond itself is handicap accessible as it has crushed stone along its borders. Fishing at this site appears to be restricted to children under age 14. Ruins from a historic mill are a stone's throw from the pond. The foundation from the mill has beautifully constructed rock wall faces on a couple sides still. There is a water wheel pit and cellar holes in the area also. The water that powered the mill's activities still flows (first a gristmill, then cotton, then carriage and wagon manufacturing, back to gristmill, and lastly housing before a flood the fire fully destroyed it in the 1880s-1890s). Though there is a natural spring source on the property, it is protected by a spring house which is locked and boarded up. The trails are easy to follow and are well-maintained. A beautiful location acquired by the South Kingstown Land Trust.

It's a relatively short set of trail loops but so meticulously maintained and planned that it's a…read moresheer joy to stroll along and admire the foliage, water features, and historical remnants. The trails meander among the environs of a former cotton mill and you'll come across the mill's foundation itself, the overseer's house, the spring house, and what tickled my fancy most, a cold cellar built into a ridge. (Seen from the street side, you'll never know that there was a man-made structure within it!) The springs and pond are simply captivating - a great place to visit in any season. The trailhead is in the midst of a quiet residential neighborhood - I hope they enjoy this gem daily and aren't jaded by it. Charming!

A swamp that's great…read more for a lot of things Great Swamp Management Area isn't really all swamp. A part of it certainly is but much of the 3,400 acres is woodland, fields, rocks and water. Lots of different terrains with lots of different plants and animals. I usually avoid hiking in places with the words swamp, tick, death or leech in them but Great Swamp is indeed great. Although it isn't all swamp the emphasis is definitely on water. The Chickasheen, Usqupaug, Chipuxet, and Pawcatcuk rivers all run through here and the 2 miles of the northern edge of pristine Worden Pond is included within it's boundaries. This of course makes it pretty buggy during the warm months but it also makes the area a great place for some quiet water canoeing, yaking, fishing or perhaps wind surfing on the pond. Besides the water sports Great Swamp is also a cool place for mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding and especially cross country skiing. Not a lot of extreme terrain, mostly gently sloping ups and downs and lots of great views of streams, brooks and ponds. Plenty of trees and rocks to crash into if you're bike riding and of course tons of mud in the wet season. In the spring huge groups of birds gather around the water and if you're lucky you might see deer, otters, turtles and even some water snakes. The area is also famous or perhaps infamous for it's history. In 1675 Josiah Winslow and his Pequot and Mohegan allies pretty much wiped out the Narragansett Tribe in a devastating battle that cost both sides much pain and blood. The ironic part was that Winslow attacked the Narragansett Tribe so they wouldn't form an alliance with King Phillip during the Pequot Wars. Of course after being attacked by the English the surviving Narragansetts were so mad they did just that. Great strategy. Great Swamp is great all year long but I enjoy it most during the quietude of the snow months. Peaceful, serene and ethereal. You have to wear fluorescent orange during hunting season to keep from getting your head blow off but most of the hunters here seem very courteous, reasonable and willing to share with others. Great Swamp is indeed a great swamp but with the emphasis on the great. A swamp that's great for a lot of things

This place is stunning. I recommend following the trail that leads to the old hanger. It's a great…read moreplace to rest, have lunch, and do some reading on the side of Worden Pond. From there, you can take the trails over to the dike and marsh area. Bring binoculars and lots of spare time. You'll want to linger a while :) Be sure to wear blaze orange in the fall/winter due to hunting season!

This Sculpture park is a unique and hidden gem located on Green Hill Beach rd on the border of…read moreSouth Kingstown and Charlestown. There are 23 sculptures nestled amongst the trees and trails. Bring bug spray during peak season. Even though the walk is short, there is quite a bit of vegetation and amazing art on display. My favorite was the HUGE bull as you first walk in. This thing is massive and a fun way to enter the park. More info: The South Kingstown Land Trust Sculpture Trail is a short .4 mile walk that mingles nature with art. Enter the trail at the midpoint and notice the large map indicating the location of each sculpture. Walkers may turn right or left to explore the 3 acres of easy trails and diverse sculptures. Look for dream catchers and crystals, poetry boxes and a giant red cow. The Sculpture Trail is a great place for a slow walk through the woods or a visit with children who will love to find each sculpture. Be sure to stop at the final sculptures and turn around, as the property and trails come very close to private property.

A truly different experience from the exemplary SKLT, the Sculpture Trail is whimsical and charming…read morewhile taking full advantage of the natural beauty inherent. Kudos to those who made this possible and the artists who contributed their work! If visiting in the fall, the brilliant foliage colors and drifting leaves complement the artworks nicely. My only quibble is that I wish there were informational tags attached to the sculptures so that you knew what the piece was called and the artist (apparently, there's supposed to be an informational placard at the trail entrance, but this was missing at the time of our visit; the SKLT trail map brochure, however, does list the pieces' name/artist, but we didn't have one on us). Upon entrance to the trail, you are greeted by a massive bull made from, of course, a barbeque grill ("Sir Loin Barbeque Bull" by Sean Harrington) - and from there, you're off to follow the meandering trails to discovery. There's also a Fairy Village for visitors to build their own fairy houses, so would also be a fun place for the kids.

How I love RI! If your driving down the road along…read moreNaragansett Bay you probably just passed this by. It's a slight little turn off just past Scarborough beach. Small parking lot. Unassuming. Oh but it's spectacular! Wooded Hiking trails (rabbits darting back and forth across the paths) to explor or to get to the rocky- beautiful polished stones- beach. The views are beautiful - the bay, Point Judith Light, and mysterious stone ruins at the end of the three-quarter-mile-long path. Fishing is big here. But laying on the huge rocks taking in the scents & smells of the ocean is a true pleasure.

This came up as a trail for me when I was searching, and it is, but as the name indicates is more…read moreof a fishing point than a trail. The trail runs right along the water, offering multiple side paths that take you directly to the shore. Some great views, and although the terrain isn't hilly, it's not straight and has just enough incline to make it challenging without it actually being challenging, if that makes sense.

Right next to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery is the Queen's River Nature Preserve. This beautiful…read moreset of trails will take you to the Queen's River - reputedly the cleanest river in Rhode island - and what a tranquil trek that is! In addition to the marked trails, there are some unmarked ones (but no worries, they are well-maintained and will take you back to the mapped ones) that are well worth exploring - the best one imo is one that follows the meandering river bank and will eventually hook you up with one of the marked paths, thus making a nice loop back to the trailhead. (One drawback of the "official" trails is that they don't really make a loop so you will end up traversing former ground that you covered.) There is space for several cars to park at the trailhead; an alternative is to park along the edge of the Veterans Cemetery nearest to the Preserve, slip between the bordering fence, and there you are, a mere hop-skip-and-jump from the trailhead!

Trout laurel and…read moreXmas The Queen's River Nature Preserve is an almost 200 acre swatch of land that is centered around the Queen's River. This is considered one of the most pristine and cleanest river in the state and loaded with brook trout and all kinds of other types of critters. The trails meander through lots of woods, open fields and wet lands and has plenty of cool old trees as well as large areas of mountain laurel. The river is a whole lot smaller than I thought it would be but it is lovely and very, very cean and is one of those rivers that never warms up. Still freezing cold even in the summer. Queen's River isn't particularly well marked and you'll probably get lost but that's all right because you'll come out to a road of field that will guide you. There is lots of wild life including a wide variety of birds as well as lots and lots of deer. Just beware that bow hunting is allowed from Sept 15th through Jan 31 and at least 200 square inches of bright florescent orange is not only required by law but also good idea so you won't get shot in the arse by some over anxious bow hunter. Queen's River is a lovely and very, very clean place for a easy hike through a varied environment and some spirited soul even put up Xmas decorations on some of the blue spruce trees. Not many hills or difficult terrain but a great place to take your time and look, listen and smell what the river and woods has to offer.

Wow wow wow! This…read morehas been a bucket list find for some years now to finally find the Dambo trolls!! We stumbled upon Eric and Greta. Both were within a short walking distance and is best to park at either the senior center or the main parking lot (troll parking lot marker upon field entry) Ninigret park is HUGE! I saw a tennis courts, basketball courts, a playscape, walking trails and a nice pond among the trolls They also had a Dels lemonade truck in the parking lot and this was perfect for a hot summers day

We came to see the giant trolls and get some steps in before spending the day at the beach. I think…read moremost people see the trolls and leave, but we actually followed the whole trail, which we had to duck down and weave through weeds and overgrowth through a lot of it since it's clearly not maintained. It was cool to see. Good pit stop to get some exercise. The bathroom they had was a camp-style latrine type where it was a big hole and no sink. Was fine for me to pee but my city friend didn't like it. Gets the job done when you have to pee and it's a step up above a portopotty.

Beavertail doesn't need much of an introduction. It's a spectacular slice of coastal paradise…read morelocated on the island of Jamestown. It boasts of spectacular views, walking trails, fishing, and deliciously fresh seafood. Most people hop right over this on their way to and from Aquidneck, but don't sleep on it! Stop in, stroll around taking in that sweet sea air, and eat something phenomenal.

Beavertail State Park is known for offering some of the most beautiful vistas along the New England…read morecoastline. Beavertail's most popular activity is sightseeing, and can be done from the comfort of a vehicle, in one of the four overlooks or on foot, from the rocky coastline. Beavertail also provides some of the best saltwater fishing in the area, along with offering hiking trails, and a naturalist program that attracts hundreds of people each year. This is a great place in the summer, fall or spring. Many people do enjoy winter hikes as well. The entry and the parking are free. If you have some free time and are in the Jamestown and/or Newport area, this is a nice stop to relax.