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Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge

4.4 (13 reviews)

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Ashley P.

Enjoyed a very peaceful Autumn trek along the several miles of trail spread across the 295 acres or so of land that comprises the Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge. Located on the farm estate of the late Maxwell Mays (a painter known for his "depictions of bygone scenes of cities and bucolic villages in his home state of Rhode Island"), the land is maintained by the Rhode Island Audobon Society. Easy-going... couple of brief ups and downs here and there but nothing significant. Well-maintained trail system, easy to follow the colored blazes, and a couple of interesting and historical sights along the way. The changing landscape offered variety to the hike, from meadows to covered forest canopies, wetlands, and the somewhat centralized 11-acre Carr Pond. I performed a couple figure 8's along the white (Carr Pond), yellow (Hammitt Hill), and blue by-pass trails to take it all in and put in about 4 miles or so. A historical cemetery, stone chimney (that was likely attached to a past, temporary hunting/fishing lodge), carriage roads, a farmhouse foundation, countless rock walls (as the land used to be part of a working farm), as well as glacial rock outcroppings. I was pleased to learn there is a private, lakefront cottage on the property available to rent between May and October each year. Dock for lake access, canoes, screened-in porch, fires... sounds like a perfect weekend getaway. Definitely keeping this in mind. The views of foliage across the calm waters of the pond were beautiful from the trails. Imagine the views are similar from this property. No dogs, bikes, or horses allowed on the property. Open sunrise to sunset. Consider taking a peek at the Interpretive Trail Guide available online if you have kiddos in tow.

Tamra F.

Nice trail, clearly marked. Nice and peaceful and good for photography. Also has a parking lot which is always a plus. Enjoyed hiking the trail here. Would come back again.

Brian S.

I would like this land to breathe Maxwell Mays was one of Rhode lsland's best known folk artists and for decades he was in great demand not only for his wonderful and historic Rhode Island art but also for his speaking and storyteller abilities. Maxwell was also a philanthropist and environmentalist and when he died at the age of 91 donated his land to the Audubon Society so future generations could enjoy it. The roughly 300 acre refuge actually started as a farm way back in the early 18th century and the area continued as a working farm with large herds of cattle and sheep until Mays finally bought the property in 1941. Maxwell May lived and loved the property until his death in 2009. The area was dedicated this year as the Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge is and is now part of the Audubon Society. The refuge is a quite place with mature forest and wetlands. The roughly 11 acre Carr Pond is in the middle and at the right time of the year lots of birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and even beaver and otter can be seen. The hiking is easy with few hills or rocks and all the trails are very well marked. A nice place to hike for people that aren't deep wood wise or just want a simple walk in the forest. The present trial is only about a mile and a half long but by next spring another trial up Hammitt Hill will open that will make the hiking a bit more interesting. This isn't a place for a strenuous workout, it's a pleasant and quiet area that should be taken slowly to fully appreciate the beautiful scenery and subtle wildness. It will be great for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter because of the lack of nasty hills and dangerous ledges. Certainly not the place to go if you want some exciting and lung burning hiking, there are plenty of other hikes nearby that will give you that. This is a peaceful place to see some wildlife, hear and smell nature and take part in some quiet contemplation. Maxwell stated that he wanted this land to breathe and stay open because it has been very good to him. His gift will ensure that the old farm will continue to be good to others.

Allison H.

With a break in the weather we wanted to get out and enjoy some fresh air. We pulled up our 'AllTrails' app and decided to explore this hiking/walking path. This refuge is clearly marked by a decent sized sign from the road so you shouldn't miss it. There is also plenty of parking but no facilities. At the beginning of the path, the rules are clearly displayed and you can grab a map. Please note, dogs are not allowed. There are two different trails, one all around the property and one that cuts through the middle if you don't want to take the full hike (which I believe is 3 miles). The paths are clearly marked by markers painted on the trees and signs. You do have to watch your footing because there are a lot of roots, fallen trees and puddles (if it rained recently) that sometimes obstruct your path but overall it wasn't too bad. We saw an old fireplace (see pics) which was interesting as well as an old family cemetery (Carr family). Overall we had a great time exploring these paths and would visit again in the nicer weather so we can hopefully see the wildflowers that I've read about in other reviews.

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8 days ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

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15 years ago

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12 years ago

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5 years ago

Great place to hike with the family! Short and long trails. Great in the spring and fall. Nice places to stop and rest or have a snack.

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10 years ago

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9 years ago

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11 years ago

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10 years ago

Choose to do a scenic 1.2 mi loop or add another 2.0 miles in beautiful backwoods. Peaceful and easily accessed. A great find!

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12 years ago

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Review Highlights - Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge

“However, it meets up with the Hammitt Hill trail that loops around the pond back to CP trail.”

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Sandy Acres Recreation Area - Viewing platform at the end of the boardwalk turn off.

Sandy Acres Recreation Area

4.5(4 reviews)
6.9 mi

Such a beautiful trail. I stumbled upon this one day when I was in the area and wanted to explore…read more It was very busy that day, I love when people get out into nature. Nice sized parking lot that is on rocks for sure. They used to have tons of bird houses but they're gone now- not sure why. But it's very cool under the trees a nice breeze, and so many areas where you can overlook water. Be cautious though, every trail I've ever done has different color marked trails for some odd reason this has 2 trails and they're both marked yellow which can cause for serious confusion. I didn't like this at all because if we weren't paying attention we could've ended up not following the path we entered. I'm not a use my phone type of person for a trail map, I simply want to enjoy my time use the tree cues and go about my walk. It's very clean, you run into all types of people here, families, fur babies, I even ran into a lady who had goats one time it was pretty cool. There is also from what I'm told a swan that practically owns this water, I was told it's been there for years. Very beautiful swan might I say. There's 2 water overlooks one is to the right when you pretty much first walk in, go to the right of the path, they have a bench to overlook but this is more like just a bunch of Lilly pads still pretty. But if you go much longer and stay pretty much to your right you will end up by the water and a big rock you can sit on, just be careful not to fall in. They also if you keep going ( it's hard to explain which "path" to take because as I said they're both yellow, who did this and why), but there is a buddy bridge which is so cute to honor pets who have passed. All in all I liked the trail just pay attention to what you're doing. I been twice and never went all the way, as the two yellow trails are confusing and I'm not that adventurous to get lost. Happy hiking!

Food was good. Diner style menu. Service is good. Welcoming. Prices reasonable. We get breakfast…read morethere on weekends.

Photos
Sandy Acres Recreation Area - They have a bench to sit but I opted to sit on the dock

They have a bench to sit but I opted to sit on the dock

Sandy Acres Recreation Area - Love nature

Love nature

Sandy Acres Recreation Area

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Frenchtown Park Trail - Creek under the bridge

Frenchtown Park Trail

4.4(13 reviews)
10.1 mi

My SO has been doing a great job finding new places for us to adventure outside lately and this is…read moreone of the spots that is new to us. All these years and this place is so close by; no idea how we missed it. We got in a good hike along a variety of trails that zig zag and intersect. Took a side trail to an old mill ruins that was fun. It's smaller than some other trails, with a nice variety of terrain. You need good walking shoes for parts of the trail, and some of the 'dead end' paths (like the one to the mill ruins) are a bit over grown, so wear solid shoes and long pants. There is a large pond at the beginning of the trail and plenty of parking and a small stream that feeds off the pond. It's really lovely here. If you haven't stopped by yet, prepare for some time in the woods and stop by for a hike under the trees.

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.

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Frenchtown Park Trail
Frenchtown Park Trail - Start of the Cotton Mill trail

Start of the Cotton Mill trail

Frenchtown Park Trail - Gorgeous golden leaves on this mild November morning

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Gorgeous golden leaves on this mild November morning

Rhode Island Desert

Rhode Island Desert

4.7(3 reviews)
5.6 mi

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.

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.

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Rhode Island Desert
Rhode Island Desert
Rhode Island Desert - Parachutes open, aiming for their target on the sand.

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Parachutes open, aiming for their target on the sand.

Washington Secondary Bike Path

Washington Secondary Bike Path

4.6(5 reviews)
6.8 mi

Started out today intending to take a short walk just to check out the path and how things are and…read morewhatnot. Expected to go to the first trail marker and turn around and come back. But I pulled a Forest Gump and I just kept running...well walking. Started at the Station Street parking lot and finished at the end of the path/trail at the Railroad Street parking lot. Roundtrip the route is about 15 miles and took me about 4.5 hours, with a couple brief stops along the way. The trail is very well maintained and surprisingly, everyone is cogent of the rules (walkers to the left, riders to the right). You pass by a baseball field, and there is a brook running alongside the trail at various points. Also along the way is a path to Flat River Tavern, and you also pass by an ice cream shop, so there are opportunities along the way for a respite in addition the park benches. Along the way there are also plenty of good views and vibe

Begin from the parking lot located on either side of Station Street, in Coventry, RI, just past the…read morePaine House Museum. If you choose to head east on the Greenway you cross two pedestrian bridges.The first goes over Rt. 117, the second over the south branch of the Pawtuxet River. This second bridge is close to a Trail parking lot on Pilgrim Avenue near Laurel Ave. The Greenway is part of the Washington Secondary Trail and has been designated as the area running through Coventry, RI. Taking this eastward route, you pass by several cemeteries on either side and a conservation area on your right. It is a mostly wooded area passing by a few back yards and has a gentle slope downward. History buffs can follow the path to the east from The Paine House Museum to the General Nathaniel Greene Homestead. Just exit the path at Laurel Avenue (just after the bridge over the Pawtuxet River) and follow Taft Street, just across Laurel Ave and to your right, to the homestead. It's about 3 miles round trip. Leaving Coventry, you can continue to walk east along the path, where you will meet up with Main Street in West Warwick. Here the path turns north then east, then north, then east again as it crosses the river, goes through some very populated areas, and continues through Cranston, RI. If you decide to head west on the path from the Station Street parking lots, you cross Rt. 117 at a crosswalk near a small shop where you can stop to grab a cool drink or ice cream. This way is also wooded, and passes a number of businesses before becoming quite rural. There is a small parking lot to access the trail located behind a new business on Rt. 117 (it's on Google maps) or continue further down the trail where you can also find a parking lot near the Coventry Public Library. If you are looking for a long walk under the trees, this is probably the direction you want to travel. If you love cemeteries and a shorter stroll, heading East could be for you. In either direction, the Coventry Greenway is a very nice section of the Washington Secondary Trail to get into nature without having to walk too far if you don't want to. We often grab the bikes and get in a nice long ride headed toward CT where the trail is renamed the Trestle Trail. It abruptly ends close to the CT line, just past the Summit General Store where you can get a cold drink and a sandwich if you've been on the trail for a while and need a snack. There is a parking lot at this end of the trail as well, but we warned, if you are riding a bike, the return trip to this lot is all up hill. I prefer to start at the other end and coast back. Enjoy!

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Washington Secondary Bike Path
Washington Secondary Bike Path
Washington Secondary Bike Path

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Big River Management Area - Parking for 3 or 4 vehicles by the roadside. Wear your Orange during hunting season!!!

Big River Management Area

4.3(4 reviews)
4.7 mi

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.

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Big River Management Area - Butterfly habitat. Saw quite a few on our walk.

Butterfly habitat. Saw quite a few on our walk.

Big River Management Area - The RI desert. Well, part of it . . .

The RI desert. Well, part of it . . .

Big River Management Area - Did some desert hills today as part of my workout!

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Did some desert hills today as part of my workout!

Washington Secondary Trail - View of Stump Pond from the pathway

Washington Secondary Trail

5.0(1 review)
4.7 mi

The Trestle Trail, a section of the Washington Secondary Trail, is a wooded section of 'bike path'…read morethat connects the western end of the Coventry Greenway to the Moosup Valley Trail in CT. It follows an abandoned rail corridor and is part of the East Coast Greenway project which will ultimately link 25 urban cities between Maine and Florida. Well, that sounds like a challenge. We were able to visit on a beautiful autumn afternoon. There were lots of people out enjoying the day. Dog walkers (remember to bring your doggie poop bag to pick up after them please!) bike riders, folks on rollerblades, families, couples. This seems to be a popular outing location. There is a parking spot at 210 Flat River Road, and another, closer to CT, at 51 Hill Farm Road. The trail is paved, with the usual policy of walk on the left, ride on the right meaning you can see the bikes approaching you and get off the road for them to pass if there is no room to go around you. There is also a horse trail running along the sides in this section. From the lot on Hill Farm Road, following the path toward CT, you pass a large pond with small waterfall (which you can hear, but not see as it flows away from the path), then becomes wooded along both sides for quite a while. It does cross over or under a couple of roadways and a few houses but for the most part is a nice walk in the woods. Heading back toward Coventry/Warwick from this same parking lot, the path leads through more populated areas passing behind businesses and homes, although still wooded on one or both sides for a fair amount of time, passing by a camp ground and another lake. There are a couple more places to park along the Washington Secondary Trail path that are closer to town, including near the Coventry Library and behind the Paine House museum on Station Street. This link makes a nice way to commute on your bike within town and a lovely outing for family or place to get in your steps.

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Washington Secondary Trail - Information about the pathway at the Hill Farm Road parking lot location

Information about the pathway at the Hill Farm Road parking lot location

Washington Secondary Trail - Autumn sun over Stump Pond

Autumn sun over Stump Pond

Washington Secondary Trail - There are a few benches along the pathway

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There are a few benches along the pathway

Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge - hiking - Updated October 2026

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