Awesome, clean trails. Well-maintained and graveled. Good for leashed dogs. You can get a good…read moreworkout in if you do a couple loops. Good for kids. There is a kids play area. A Veteran Memorial. Library. This could be an good place to tucker your kids and dogs out. Get them some books to read and let them learn a bit of history.

This is a beautiful park! I love how many options there are for playground climbing equipment. The…read morestage is really cool as well. It's particularly beautiful in the fall!

Lincoln Woods State Park is one of those places that makes you forget, at least for a little while,…read morethat you're only a few miles from Providence. I live in Kendall Estates, so Lincoln Woods is practically in my backyard, and that proximity is one of the things I appreciate most about it. You don't have to plan an elaborate day trip or spend an hour sitting in traffic to get somewhere that feels like you're actually getting away. Sometimes you just decide you want to go for a walk, head over to the park, and suddenly the noise of everything else seems a little farther away. I've walked here plenty of times, and there is something wonderfully uncomplicated about it. You can come here to exercise, wander around, spend time with the family, bring the pets, or simply find a little peace and enjoy being outside. It's the sort of place where you don't necessarily need an agenda. Sometimes a walk is enough. The lake is obviously a major part of what makes Lincoln Woods special. There are opportunities to swim during the appropriate season, and the park has plenty of space for a good old-fashioned cookout or a day outside with family and friends. Bring the kids, bring the dog, bring lunch, bring a book, or bring absolutely nothing other than yourself. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the park without feeling like you need to spend money once you arrive. What I particularly love is the contrast between Lincoln Woods and the communities surrounding it. Rhode Island is small enough that you can be in the middle of a developed area one minute and surrounded by woods, water, and open space the next. Lincoln Woods gives you that feeling without requiring you to drive halfway across the state. Providence is right there. Lincoln, North Providence, Cumberland, Smithfield, and the surrounding communities are all close by, yet when you're actually inside the park, it can feel surprisingly removed from everything. It's also one of those places that changes with the seasons. The experience of being here in the warmth of summer, when people are swimming and gathering for cookouts, is completely different from walking through when the weather is cooler and the landscape becomes quieter. That's part of the appeal. You can come back over and over and still notice something different depending on the time of year, the weather, or simply your mood. And I think that's ultimately why Lincoln Woods has earned five stars from me. It isn't trying to be anything complicated. It's a beautiful state park that gives people room to breathe. In a state as densely settled as Rhode Island, having a large natural space this close to Providence is something worth appreciating. For me, it's especially convenient because I live so close, but I don't think you need to be a neighbor to appreciate what is here. If you're looking for somewhere to walk, spend time with your family, take the dog, go swimming, have a cookout, or simply get outside and enjoy some nature, Lincoln Woods is an easy recommendation. I've been fortunate to have a place like this so close to home, and I suspect I'll continue taking advantage of it for a very long time. Five stars, without hesitation.

Great park- been coming here for years / with dogs, kids, friends etc.. always a great experience-…read morecleaner than most parks/trails around

Ponds beavers but…read moreno forts Everyone calls it Fort Nature but it's real name is The Florence Sutherland Fort & Richard Knight Fort Nature Refuge. The Fort family used this land as a farm for most of this century and then donated it to the Audubon Society in 1997. The family actually stop cultivating the land a while back and instead used the area as they own private wildlife refuge. They also decided to plant a lot of trees that were cut down in the past to make room for the farming. If you look closely you can see that many of the trees are in strange, rather man made pattern. This is an artifact of the mass plantings that the family did to reforest the land. The whole refuge is only about 235 acres but since it meanders around quite a bit you can squeeze several hours of cool hiking in here. Nothing strenuous, hilly or difficult, except perhaps the mud you will have to muck through in the spring. The parking lot gets very gunky in the wet weather so care has to be taken where you park. The Fort family dug three ponds for their farming and now the ponds serve as habitats for a plethora of critters. In the summer you can see, turtles, snakes, frogs, and a whole variety of aquatic birds enjoying the tepid waters. If you look carefully you can see plenty of evidence of beavers. Lodges and cut trees are everywhere. Every though the area does has many cool side trails that deserve attention, the hike seems over before you even get warmed up. Fort Refuge isn't a place to really cover miles, it becomes interesting when you slow down, stop on occasion and take a good look at all the cool things around you.

Fort Nature Refuse is a nice, casual hike, easy for all ages. The trails are well marked and the…read morearea is generally very quiet and peaceful. The trail wasn't difficult and offered some nice views and the occasional animal running by. Overall it's a good trail for a pleasant walk in the afternoon. It's not very challenging more enjoyable. Well maintained and clean. Plenty of trail markers.

Powder Mill Ledges is a small, well-managed wildlife refuge in Smithfield, RI! I came here by…read moreaccident when I made a few wrong turns and accidentally ended up on US-44 instead of RI-146. Then I saw some signs for a wildlife refuge on the side of the highway and decided to make a spontaneous trip! The trails are well-marked. There's a series of stacked loops so you can choose exactly how much distance you want to cover. I did all 3 loops (orange, blue, and yellow) and it was only about 2 miles, taking less than an hour to cover. This is Rhode Island, where the highest point is only 810 feet, so there's barely any elevation on this hike. I think it would be appropriate for almost any age or fitness level. The trails aren't particularly set off from the road so you can see and hear traffic and stores at some points. It's not the best place to come if you want to feel totally away from civilization. That being said, it's definitely not crowded. I came here on a cold, sunny winter weekend and there were only a couple other people on the trail. I'll come here again if I want a quick hike that's a bit quieter than some of the busy spots in RI!

A short but enjoyable trail. They have signs up saying there's a detour, but the detour points in…read morethe direction of what appears to be the normal trail. So I don't know. People were walking their dogs on the trail even though there are multiple signs saying they are not allowed. Still an enjoyable experience nonetheless.

Another great hike at GWSP at 6.79 miles! I'm adding some…read moremore pictures including how the trails are marked. Just follow the color! If you find my glasses and case, let me know.

great wooded hike starting in Pulaski State park on the snow-shoe trail then completed the orange…read moretrail which take you out on an eastern route put of the park where you will spend most of the walk between Pulaski and George Washington camp ground. some great features of the remains of a home and an associated man-made pond. in time the orange trail does turn west and ends on the dam at the western edge of Pulaski. The trails are hilly and so.e trees are down, but none interfered with the walk. I would category this as a easy hike. we will be back in the fall yo be sure!

The Otis Smith Farm and Rowbottom Preserve is a 55-acre preserve comprised of two parcels of land…read morefrom the Cumberland Land Trust. Located on the historic Otis Smith Farm land acquired from Brown University and the Kenneth and Barbara Rowbottom land, this preserve is a wonderful setting for some Rhode Island hiking. There are 4 color-blazed trails at the time of this review: --Yellow & White = Otis Lippitt Trail --Red = Rowbottom Trail --Blue = Rocky Ridge Trail There are technically 3 trailheads to delve into these interconnected trails, both the Otis Smith Trailhead on Scott Road (2 of them) and the Rowbottom Trailhead on Lippitt Ave. I started on Scott Road and found the White trailhead very easily, pulling my car off at the pictured/numbered green sign labelled "Cumberland Land Trust"...a big American flag waving in the wind. I spotted the Yellow trailhead on Scott Road as I was driving away marked with a very small homemade sign and no clear pull off for cars. I suggest driving down the road a bit and catching the White trail, much easier. All in all, the trails cover about 1.7 miles. Not a strenuous hike, but there are some interesting sights and changes in the landscape as you make your way through. Many of the trails follow historic farmer's cart paths and are intersected frequently with stone walls. There are signs of the old farm all over the place... look for the irrigation ditch that flowed from Little Pond to bring water to the fields. The trail markers are mostly well placed. There were a couple of times that I had to backtrack because I was following what looked like a path but in actuality I was straying from the trail. Take it slow and look around to be sure you are headed in the right direction. The White Trail brings you through a darkened area of the forest lush with ferns. It was really neat making my way through this dense green part of the woods (especially since the caterpillars have been feasting on the green overhead all spring/summer this year). The Red Trail brings you through a number of pine needle beds, soft and squishy underfoot. Lastly, the Blue Trail boasts some large rocky outcroppings of greenstone... and one really large, angry, bird going through feather molt who was not happy to have my trekking near his/her nest. Although this is a very beautiful area of Cumberland (and what drops this preserve down a star for me), on the Blue Trail there appears to be a makeshift wooden shelter up against the rocks. I wouldn't mind so much seeing this here but it is clear that teens trek out to party in the middle of the night. Evidence of campfires against the rock, broken glass, and trash were strewn about this area. I also came across some disturbing makeshift weaponry (think... thick sticks with nails and screws driven into one end, brandished like a medieval mace). A Lord of the Flies-type scene fluttered through my mind and I scurried away, finishing the loop and heading back for my car. Overall a decent hike... I simply wouldn't recommend poking around the shelter too much, especially with children in tow.

This is a fun little trail! It's about 0.6 miles if you take the Otis Lippitt trail. It's a nice…read morelittle walk for the dog or family. Bring big spray though!

I enjoy walking around in the neighborhood, this is one of the places where you can take your kids…read moreand pick up some good Chinese food on the same block!

Warwick City Park is an absolute gem and one of the most idyllic spots in the area. The paved,…read morewinding walking path takes you through a beautiful forest backdrop, offering peaceful shade, fresh air, and the feeling of being completely immersed in nature. Along the way, you'll find plenty of unique and unexpected views -- from tranquil water vistas to a charming beach area, plus well-kept ball fields and soccer fields that bring a lively community feel to the park. One of the highlights is the dog park, a great bonus for anyone with a four-legged friend. It's the perfect place to let Spot run off some energy before continuing your walk. Whether you're here for exercise, relaxation, or simply a scenic stroll, Warwick City Park offers something for everyone. A true local treasure!

Governor Notte has been in my life for around 6 years now. I have come here so many times and had…read moreso many great memories here. It doesn't matter what season you come it's always so clean here and just a relaxing place to be. It's well up kept which I appreciate and everyone who seems to come here has respect and I appreciate that. They do have a tennis court, place to go fishing ( not sure if it's legal or not but people do), a place to swim during summer time, a baseball field and a children's playground area. It's not huge but it's big enough for our little town. They do have a concession stand who's run by Bobby and he's pretty cool, he's really nice and has amazing prices. This place is like a sanctuary to me. The grass is always so nice and the Views are always amazing. They have a very small maybe 10 car parking lot beside the park where the tennis court is but if you follow the signs you can find the bigger parking lot. Give it a go, make memories for free.

I grew up in this area and remember coming here for camp as a kid. Honestly, I remember hating it…read moreback then, but I also think I didn't have all the things I have now to appreciate it with, lol! We stopped by today to check out the playground, and it was such a nice little spot! There weren't many people there, so it felt open and peaceful. It's a smaller playground, but it has all the basics you need to let the kiddos play and burn off some energy. Everything was clean, well-maintained, and just made for a nice, relaxing outing with the kids. It's funny how your perspective changes when you come back to places from your childhood as a parent. I wish they had something like this here when I was little! We had a great visit and will definitely be back!