Well-maintained, well-marked trail, it's a fabulously beautiful and peaceful hike in autumn. Full…read moreof diverse trees (maples, oaks, pitch and white pines, hickory) and wildlife (we saw a large eastern black racer sunning itself on the trail - perfectly harmless and more scared of us then us of it!), this 2.5 to 3 mile loop will take you past many stone walls as well as the remains of the old Browning homestead. The trail also thoughtfully provides a few interpretive placards describing natural features along the way as well as tags labeling some of the notable native flora. A very nice appreciative touch! There is a convenient small parking lot at the trail head. Another fine preserve and trail from the exemplary South Kingstown Land Trust.

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.

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!

Big River Management Area, is a Big Area! We have been on several of their trails, parking in a…read morevairety of places. It's a diverse area and one of our 'go to' spots for getting into nature. Our past few hikes have been around Carr Pond. We drive down Division Street, to Carr Pond Road, and park street side. There are a couple of parking lots, both before Carr Pond Road, and after. Just depends on how long you want your hike to last, and where you want to walk. There are DEM signs posted on a tree and obvious signs that cars have been parking in this particular spot on Carr Pond Road. The hike around the pond has taken just over 3 miles to well over 4.5 miles. We usually wander through the interconnecting trails as the mood strikes us. It is important, when taking a walk quite this long, that you DO bring a bottle or two of water per person. You will also appreciate bug spray. I have forgotten the bug spray, and although definitely 'do-able', not quite as enjoyable. This particular summer, we have had a lot of rain and mushrooms are everywhere along the trail. A few large puddles have developed along the trail that are full of small toads (I just love these cute little critters). The trails are very well maintained for the most part and it is easy to walk 'around' these low lying areas. A few less travelled paths are a bit over grown, but nothing that isn't easily navigable. The pond itself is large with a variety of areas where you can picnic (bug spray), meditate and just enjoy the serenity of the pond. There are also a number of old building foundations, dams, rock walls and a historical cemetary. We use a phone app to track our hikes as we do tend to wander and it's a good way to see when we are close to our pathway out. After a few visits, you begin to recognize where you are but the first couple of trips can be questionable. The change is altitude is minimal with a couple of paths that have a good 'up grade' (or down grade as the case may be). You do need quality footware here as the paths are a variety of gravelly, rocky, roots and dirt. It change from one type to another on any of the individual paths. The trails are color coded if you want to stick to just one. The path width can also chagee dramatically from four person wide to barely one person wide on any given trail. It's best to be prepared for all possibilities. Most of the path around Carr pond is in shade but if you wander into other areas of the BIg River Management Area, you may be in full sun for most of the walk, so plan to wear a hat, bring sunscreen, have water and maybe a snack. Most of all, Have Fun!

Roomy and extensive trails that will loop you around two bodies of water - Carrs Pond and Tarbox…read morePond - but also many side trails that crisscross and branch off the main ones. If you're new to this preserve - as we were - better download the AllTrails app onto your smartphone as unfortunately, trail blazes are virtually non-existent and there's no map posted at the trailhead. But it is nice making your way to the two lily-covered ponds, though viewing them in the height of summer is tough with all the leaves and undergrowth. We intend to visit again in the fall (when the colors should be spectacular!) and early winter.

The Audubon's Lathrop Wildlife Refuge hosts approximately 85 acres of protected land near the…read moreshores of Winnapaug Pond in Westerly, RI. Great for birdwatching (and searching for other wildlife), photography, and a little fresh air; this location is good for someone looking to get outside but not invest a lot of time/distance to soak in the sights. At only about 0.5 miles of trail, this property is a great add-on to other activities in the area. I didn't venture too far from the main path once reaching the pond as the shores were quite soft underfoot. I personally combined this trek with a 3.5 mile hike in the Dr. John Champlin Glacier Park just across Shore Road. There is a small parking lot for the refuge which was largely inaccessible on my visit as it had just snowed and the steep incline featured sections of ice. Having walked here, this was of no issue. Flat terrain leading to a wide-sweeping view of the pond and some of the buildings located at Misquamicut Beach across the way. Very calm and peaceful. Westerly State Airport is located a stone's throw from here. The noise of the planes was mostly unobtrusive and an interesting alternative to birdwatching as they slowed to turn to land. No dogs allowed to maintain the wildlife habitat efforts.

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.

This place is such a little treasure. This place is so well-maintained. It's stunning. There are so…read moremany different types of trees here and they are labeled so you can get an idea of what type of trees that you're looking at. There are several loops in this place that you can loop around different sections. The main loop is around the pond but there's other shoots so you can spend a couple hours here just wandering around checking out the different things. The trails are well maintained. You may get turned around a little only because there are so many loops but just keep your eye on the pond and you won't get lost. I recommend thisplace. It's very easy walk. My friend and I walked around for about an hour and a half half or so just taking in all of the scenery. We definitely plan to come back here in May or June when the mountain is at its peak because there is so much mountain Laurel here. I think that will be stunning at this time of year. I also want to come back in September October to watch the colors of the leaves change. The parking is off street parking. There are signs for two hour parking. I did not see any charged parking, but it looks like you can park on both sides of the roads up and down the street.

What a hidden gem! Wanted to take a walk along the water on a summer weekend day but finding a good…read morespot that allowed for social distancing was a challenge. Although the arboretum is not on the the sound, this place was perfect. Very quiet and incredibly expansive. I didn't do tons of exploring in here but it looks like there are plenty of paths to walk! The paths aren't paved but to be expected in this environment - very natural wooded area. If walking isn't what you are looking for there is space to spread out and have a picnic (no tables) overlooking some small ponds. This place is easily accessed from a Williams Street. Many of the addresses online have you enter through the gates on Monhegan Ave, you won't be able to access the arboretum here. Had to up on theto drive back out to the main road and drive to the other side of campus where you can access the arboretum. Easily found free 2-hour street parking. Not sure how easy it would be during the academic year but it wasn't an issue when I went but spots had definitely filled in by the time I got back to the car. Looking forward to coming back and this time more prepared to fully experience this wonderful spot!

Water rocks and…read more houses The Dr John Champlin Glacier Park is a parcel of land that is owned by the Westerly Land Trust and is open to the public. It's not particularly large, a bit less than 150 acres, but you can stretch out a hike of about 4 or 5 miles if you use all the paths. Nothing strenuous or difficult, all the paths and trails are wide and easy. The Glacier Park is an interesting place if you happen to enjoy geology. As the name implies the area was formed by the glaciers and in fact the entire park is a recessional moraine. Lots of boulders, kettle ponds and other obviously signs of glaciation are present and lots of cool stone walls meander throughout the park. At one time the area held a stone quarry and huge chunks of worked granite can be seen laying around. At the highest point there is an observation platform where you can see a few miles out to the ocean. An impressive and nice view, especially in the winter. One of the biggest problems with hiking here are the houses. The area has been heavily developed recently and houses are visible in the distance during almost the entire hike. They're very nice houses but I would prefer more trees and stones and less signs of humans. Glacier Park isn't a hike for people that like to cover miles and want the solitude of the woods, plenty of other places for that near by. This hike is great for older people, kids or perhaps people with disabilities that keep them from climbing or doing the more difficult hikes. It's also a great place for anyone interested in glaciers or geology. Definitely a place to slow down and look, listen and think.

Nice trails sandwiched in Westerly. Make sure you bring the insect repellentread more