I actually ended up here by mistake. I was looking for the troll and went to the here, which is…read moreaccross the street. That said, and I'm showing my age here, as Bob Ross once said, there are no mistakes, only happy little accidents. And honestly, that's a great way to desribe my time here. Because, while it wasnt my destination it ended by being a great time. Plenty of walking trails, most of which are elevated and some great views of the pond. I'm slowly becoming an outdorrsman and finding trails like this to relax and unwind are quickly becoming a thing for me.

Popped in really quick to see one of Thomas Dambo's newest trolls…read more Did not disappoint and easy access from pavilion parking area with about a two minute walk to see it. Excellent addition to the trail!

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.

A hike that won't…read more break your heart The Breakheart Trial is one of the many trails in the the area that ends up (or starts) at Breakheart Pond. This is one of the main trails and despite it's imposing name really isn't very difficult. Sure some hills, rocks, roots and water but certainly nothing that is going to break your heart or any other part of your anatomy. I heard the name actually stated many decades ago when the oxen had to haul the corn and other farm veggies up a huge, rather steep hill and of course struggled to get up it. The hill may be tough if you're hauling a wagon full of rutabaga but for a hiker it's really not much of a challenge. The old names given to places usually have interesting stories behind them. I have heard that Roast Meat Road in Connecticut received it's name because of a rather unfortunately incident in which a wagon of dry hay being dragged by a couple of oxen was hit by lighting. A rather unpleasant scene developed but I imagine the farmers did eat well that night. The actually Breakheart trail is pleasant with lots of water views including, rivers, steams, swamps and of course Breakheart Pond. In the spring it does get very muddy but there certainly are worse places. Of course because of the water, birds and many small animals make this their home. Lots of turtles, frogs and water snakes can be seen basking on rocks if you thread quietly. Unfortunately a vast number of stinging and biting insects are also present during certainly times of the year. Strong Deet is an absolute necessity if you dare venture here in the late spring, The main trail is poorly marked but easy enough to follow. If you want a challenge you can try some of the very small paths that lead off in all directions but you probably will get lost. Some of the paths just lead into old stone cellar foundations and then stop, Others meander into large open fields or into swamps. A reminder that in days gone by this whole area was once productive farm land. The Breakheart Trail is a well used path that is the most fun in the winter. Easy to follow the tracks of various critters in the snow and of course the horrible bugs are gone. It still is pleasant enough all year long if you don't mine sharing the woods with some insects and lots of mud. An ancient and well traveled path that may break an ankle if you're not careful but it certainly won't break your heart.

We found this trail via the AllTrails app and glad that we visited. This trail has some pretty…read moreviews (see pictures attached) around the Breakheart Pond. There is adequate parking at a few points around the trail. The paths are wide but there are quite a bit of rocks and roots so you need to be careful with your footing. Other than the rocks and roots the walk is relatively flat (no hills to climb). We took the trail directly around the pond because we weren't sure how long it was (approximately 2 miles). The trails are marked but this could be improved on to indicate the mileage on each trail. Overall we really enjoyed this hike and its views and will be visiting again.

So don't let my 3-star rating put you off too much from visiting this place! If you're here for…read morethe Woodland Trail, you might be dismayed by having first to traverse a working farm with its attendant equipment, out-buildings, fencing, and compost piles (which is why I gave the overall experience 3-stars rather than 4) - but once you get into the trail proper, it's quite beautiful and peaceful. So peaceful in fact, that we had a thrilling encounter with a coywolf sunning itself on a large boulder! There was no danger to us - the coywolf was no doubt more wary of us than us of it (and was aware of us long before we saw it), but once it knew we spotted it, it leisurely got up and sauntered off without a backward glance. The Woodland Trail is fairly well-marked, has elegant beech trees scattered throughout, a babbling brook, and the loop can be completed in about 30-40 minutes at a moderate pace. A hidden gem in East Greenwich and my hat's off to the East Greenwich Land Trust for preserving both these woodlands and the working farm.

A historic farmland where you can walk around for a 1.5 miles through pastures and woods. Pat's…read morePastured main farm is located here and you'll see their pigs, chickens, and ducks hanging out and grazing. From the parking lot/trailhead, we meandered past the farm and into the woods. The trail markings are easy to spot and the trails were clear and super easy to walk. No huge hills. Relatively flat. Good for little kids, probably not too great for strollers, though. Bring your dog as long as your pet is on a leash. We saw two other couples -- and, unfortunately two garter snakes as well -- and it was great to be out in the woods and fields by ourselves. Quiet and peaceful.

Review from September 3, 2025…read more For years I've had this place in mind because a friend recommended it, only to find out I had been once before. There isn't too much parking options (about 3, maybe 4 spots), but I also doubt it gets packed. We had our lunch on the rocks by the waterfalls before taking on the Ben Utter trail. One thing I noticed that's new is that there is a rope to swing on over the water. I tried it and it felt pretty secure. We were initially worried we'd get lost but there's essentially only one way there and back. The path does split a couple times into two different avenues but they eventually meet in the same location (I think it has to do with level of difficulty). Definitely bring good shoes with thick soles because the path is pretty rocky. My favorite part of the hike was seeing a black bear! We heard some rustling to our right and thought it might be another hiker, but then we saw that it was a bear walking around in the woods, about 40 feet from where we were. It did not even look our way, so I just stared in awe. The trail is about 1.5 miles together - there and back. We were tired after but we had done a different trail prior, and it was mostly because of the rocky terrain. It is very peaceful, and between the water and plants, there are good views.

Two ways to visit Stepstone Falls. One, you can simply park at the falls right off the road. I…read moreprefer the second option which is Ben Utter Trail for a quick up and back to enjoy! A short drive down Plain Road you will find the trail head and small parking options. Please note this is rock/dirt road and there was a gate (not sure of hours open/closed). The path follows the waterway for portions of the way up. Chances to view beaver activity and other wildlife along the way as you traverse up to the falls. While it is an easy short hike (approx 3 miles up and back) there are areas with downed trees and a lot of rock within the trail path to note for those that may have weaker ankles or slower movers. Good way to enjoy a quick afternoon in the woods with small falls to relax!

Newly opened trail in East Greenwich. Still not 100% cleared and ready, but I did a little…read moreexploration anyway. Right off Tillinghast Rd, this is a great addition to East Greenwich. A couple of hills, but nothing too steep, and they are manageable. Paved parking lot, but the entrance is unpaved. Two trails have recently been cleared, so it's not overgrown yet, and some nice views. When it officially opens, it will be even better.

Small trail behind the high school. Good for beginers and a quick stroll, but can get old fast for…read moreexperienced people. Have spotted a couple deer, but otherwise not really any wildlife. Beginning runs right next to Rt4 so its also not very quiet. Plenty of trail markers and a couple hills, you could do worse for a quick stroll.

Follow cleared trails through sunny and shaded areas. Located through parking lot of school…read more Limited people using trails. Good for walking or biking, taking your canine for a stroll.

Online it says it's permanently closed, but it's not. Nice trail, although I didn't go very far…read moredue to getting a little spooked by some bear scat on the trail What I did hike was well maintained and easily accessible.

Go take a…read more hike Mount Tom is a well known hiking trail that is part of the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area. Like many of the trails in this part of Rhode Island it is maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club and is well marked and easy to follow. Even though over 8,000 acres of woods in this area were destroyed by a devastating fire in 1951 the only evidence now of that horrible event are the numerous pines that were replanted over the years. Nature returned with a vengence. The entire trail is only a little over five miles but it crosses many other paths so you can walk all day in Arcadia if you desire. The hiking isn't difficult even though it does ramble up and down for most of it's length. Very few ruts, roots or loose rocks to trip you up and no extremely severe climbs, with a little care you can make good time on this path . Even though there are several nice places for distant views you never really know exactly when you get to the summit. It doesn't really matter because it's not very high, probably only around 500 feet or so and the woods are pretty thick. There are some nice cliffs and ledges and numerous rock formations but nothing dangerous or spooky unless you decide to do something really stupid. There are several parking areas but the most convenient is the Acadia Canoe Launch and Check Station. A huge sign marks the parking lot and there are plenty of parking spaces, nice bathrooms and even a pleasant brook to sit by after the hiking is done. The Mt Tom Trail might not be the highest or longest or most scenic hike in the state but it is one that I always find pleasant, entertaining and interesting.

This is one of those unsung RI landmarks. Way back when, there was brief talk of the new Patriots…read morestadium being built here. But alas, it's remained just a place to sled in the winter and walk around during the rest of the year. Really, not formal parking, just a handful of spots in a couple of openings. But it's a nice little getaway nonetheless.

I did not know the State of Rhode Island has it's very own Desert! Seriously, we have lived here…read morefor over a decade and I am just now finding this out? I have tried to locate exactly who is responsible for this land, checking with both the town West Greenwich town website, and the State of Rhode Island website, neither of which identifies itself as the care taker so I am unable to provide a web address for more information. That said, this place just wowed me. We lived in the actual desert at one time (AZ) and this spot is more like the dunes in SoCal than the high desert of Tucson. It's a bunch of sandy dunes undulating under the blue sky. Surrounded by woodlands, it's hidden from the road. A quick look up on the satellite map shows this is a spot for winter sledding. Sorry I missed that as a kid. First off, there are two locations: one is located on the north side of Division Street nestled between Division and Rt 95. The other is on the south side of Division Street, listed as the West Greenwich Sand Dunes. While exploring this area one bight autumn day, we came across a group of military personnel, practicing their 'jumping out of helicopter' skills. That was a very good time and there were quite a few people who brought their lawn chairs to enjoy the show, camera's in hand. We wandered around as best we could, trying to stay out of the way of the jumpers (they had targets on the ground they were supposed to land near, so this was pretty easy to do) and have returned again and again to explore more of this area and the surrounding Big River Management area woodlands. I'm sure this desert is part of said Big River Mgmt area of which you can easily find hiking information on line. The general area is popular with hikers, walkers, bikers and runners. Seriously, if you are a fan of the desert, are new to RI, or just never knew there was such a thing in this state, you have got to stop by some fine day and take a walk around. It's like being at the beach, minus the water.

Will have to update once the weather warms up a bit, but this was a lovely little surprise find in…read morethe EG area. Immediately greeted by a small pond, which is always a nice feature for a walk through the woods. There are stairs down, and a decent amount to be prepared for that both starting and finishing your trip. There are also some "bridges" over waterfalls with visible openings. Certainly safe, but just a heads up. I took a short stroll around the pond and then up to the left, walking behind the water. There are trail markers which is helpful. A nice quiet spot to enjoy a little time out in nature if you happen to be in the area; oh and parking on site which is always a plus. Can't wait to come back and explore more in the Spring.

There's plenty of parking at the trail head as you start your hike. This is a fun, shorter trail…read moresystem that is well marked. Trails are cleared pretty well which makes it great for people of all abilities or families with smaller kiddos. There's a cool bridge beside a beautiful pond. Beyond that you can go to the right down to the rock structure remains of an old water mill (I believe it was a water mill) To the left off of the bridge, is a nice, clear trail that has some gradual incline. Along that route are parts of a kids story book that engages with passerby.