A wonderful place to walk around, see giant trolls, an old airfield from WW2, coves/beach. Our daughter lives nearby and wildlife conservation biology is her 'thing', so walking around the trails at Ninigret was a fun & informative experience. Rhode Island has 5 giant trolls in various parks, and Ninigret has 2 of them: Greta Granite & Erik Rock. We stayed to the main paths as there are a lot of ticks around. And we saw a couple of fat turkeys who are probably feasting on the ticks. There are tennis courts, picnic area, a playground, observatory & senior center on the grounds. And plenty of parking. read more

Ninigret Park - Erik Rock - Parks Near Me - Charlestown, Rhode Island

It's been on my bucket list to check out these wonderful giant trolls out myself. Spent the afternoon in Rhode Island as an excuse to go exploring for the troll hunt which is gaining popularity, there is five giant trolls hidden across the RI state. Created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these massive sculptures are made from recycled materials and aim to promote conservation. The trolls can be found in various locations. I got to see only 2 of them that I can cross off my mapping for troll's list. * Charlestown's Ninigret Park is home to the Erik Rock and Greta Granite. It's accessible via trails and wooded paths. * Erik Rock lounges beside Little Ninigret Pond. * Greta Granite is located further along a wooded path marked by clues. It's a lot of fun to get on the mapping of the trolls and hunt them out all over the world when you're visiting the areas. It's amazing to experience these pieces of art created and designed by Thomas Dambo. read more

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The park is locked in located in Charlestown, RI it's a huge park with plenty of walking and interesting things to see as well as two trolls to meet !! Erik Rock and Greta Granite are there excited to meet you. They are (2) hand built trolls made out of recycled wood designed by artist Thomas Dambo who designs and builds these trolls out of recycled wood around the world. read more

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This is a beautiful location and has 2 of the Thomas Dambo trolls! There's a few different areas- the freshwater pond, a playground, observatory, trails, and more. It was free to enter and nice to walk and explore for an hour. The trolls make this an even more worthwhile spot to visit. read more

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I am a nature lover and I really loved coming here. A family friend, my mom and myself came here to see the trolls and explore. The place is huge it looks like they hold events here, parties, there's water to swim and kayak in and there are trails from what I saw. But we came specifically for the trolls. They have plenty and I mean plenty of free parking which I throughly enjoyed. It's a very clean and spacious place in general of course all outdoors but there's so much to do. Walking to the trolls we found a bench that overlooked the beautiful water. It was such a calming feeling and it was so beautiful to overlook everything. Now walking to the trolls there was tons of people but everyone was kind and patient and took turns with pictures. The trolls are AH-MAY-ZING! They're so HUGE and super cool. The person we was with knew the whole back story about the creator of the trolls so having all that knowledge made it extra cool. They have so far 2 trolls at this specific location and they are a distance from each other so be sure you are capable to walk. They are so worth it. There was so much bloom going on as well, so much nature to see. I believe they have trails but we really don't explore the others trails that didn't directly link us to the trolls. They keep the area very clean, and it just felt so calming everywhere you walked everyone was so nice. It's not extremely loud like most places would be. From what I can remember it's very full of sticks and branches so I don't believe it was wheelchair friendly, plus if it's wet it gets super muddy for sure wear sneakers. Can't wait to see the new troll that's in East Providence! read more

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Love love love! The trolls are so nice!!! Cute little trail walk for the kids or dogs! read more

Ninigret Park - Troll - Parks Near Me - Charlestown, Rhode Island

Finally checked off my list: The Ninigret Trolls in RI! It was exciting to finally see them, there are only two, but they're definitely worth the visit. I wish there were more, but it's still a fun and unique stop, especially if you're exploring the area. The park itself is great for families. There's a swimming area for kids, basketball courts, a playground, and plenty of picnic tables. There's a marked trail to guide you toward the trolls, though I'll admit, it was a little confusing at first. I ended up walking around to explore (and get some extra steps in!), which actually made it more fun. I spotted the first troll pretty quickly, but the second one felt like a maze to find, seriously, where is it?! It was a bit of an adventure, which added to the charm. Tip: It's off the same exit as Misquamicut, so it's perfect if you want to add a little side adventure while in the area. On the way home, I stopped in Mystic, which made the day even better. Heads up .. If it's rained recently, wear sneakers! The path to the trolls isn't paved and can get muddy, although the outer parts of the park are paved. read more

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Such a lovely park to explore and view the beauty of nature. We loved searching for the trolls. All the beautiful flowers. The many walking paths and views that were so pretty! Great place to bring the kids for a swim, have a picnic, stroll on a date day, or just chill on a park bench with a buddy. read more

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What a great little gem. There's so much to unpack here. Plenty of trails, athletic fields and courts, an exercise area and bathrooms that are actually open and clean. And lastly, the trolls. First, the park is absolutely massive. And has so much to offer. The park was apparently an old airfield, which I never knew. There is a small exercise area near the front that has a handful of functional equipment like you'd find at a gym. There are also plenty of courts and fields near the front as well. There are also plenty of trails to walk. Lastly, the trolls. The trolls are quite the attraction and bring people far and wide. Both are relatively easy to find, either through gps, signs, or simply following the crowd(s) of people. That said, the 2nd troll's path could use a little bit of a trim. Both are huge, massive structures(?), with one by the water and the second along a short path. All and all it is a fun time and dare I say a must-see sight if you're close to the area. Having said all that, I swear I heard the 2nd troll mutter a sarcastic remark about my weight, so he/she maybe a little bit of a troublemaker :) read more

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Love this park! We came for the trolls but love how there is so much to do here. From trails to find some trolls to swimming to playgrounds Ninigret Park has it all! My toddler had the best time walking through the trials to find the trolls and know she would love the playground and swimming area too if we had time that day. We will definitely be back!! read more

Ninigret Park - Parks Near Me - Charlestown, Rhode Island

In the early 1940's this land was acquired by the U.S. government to train Navy pilots for WWII. In 1979, the land was passed to the town of Charlestown who have agreements with several organizations to manage the 230 acres of land. Within the park you have fishing, wild life preserves, a trail system, playgrounds and recently, the division of tourism paid artist Tomas Dambo to build two Trolls to encourage more people to visit the area. I do love this artist and his trolls and happily drove to the park to find them. There are signs now that point the way to the trolls. From the Troll parking area, large, troll sized foot prints are painted on the path leading to the trolls. This makes finding them much easier. They are nestled in the woods. One is next to a pond making for a very pleasant spot. The other has her own grotto built around her. They make for very fun walking destinations. Doing research on the history of the park, besides learning of the Navy training history, I also found information that the park is currently undergoing environmental investigation by the Army Corp. of engineers for remediation of PFAS, unexploded ordinance and petroleum spills. Some material has been removed and water filtration systems put on some of the wells within park boundaries. Testing continues through 2025 and final reporting is not due until further testing is performed. This is a beautiful, huge park with many community services such as tennis courts, a senior center, dog park, observatory, nature center and newer playground. At the same time, it's a contaminated site under going remediation. read more

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The trolls are Ninigret park are definitely worth the trip! They are really amazing, Thomas Dambo does an exquisite job. Overall they do a great job at signage so you know where to find the trolls. This place is huge, it was my first time in, but I just followed the signs towards the playground to find troll parking. I never actually found the playground, but I did find the trolls. I especially loved how Gretta Granite is hidden within the forest. I do wish they had bathrooms, but they did do a good job at putting port-a-pottys around so you had an option, especially with all the small children running about for the trolls. I have heard rumors of a coffee truck that parks around here, which is genius. We were there on Labor Day Weekend so I didn't have any luck. Overall a beautiful park to walk around or play disc golf. Worth the trip for the trolls! read more

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I greatly enjoyed my visit to Ninigret Park, its a decent sized park with ample parking. The park offers tennis courts, a children's playground, a mini observatory, the town's senior center, walking trails (for people and pets), a disc golf course, and now public art displays. Peak time to visit is the early mornings when you'll have choice parking. read more

Ninigret Park - Parks Near Me - Charlestown, Rhode Island

Only Thursday, July 4th, my husband and I ventured to Ninigret Park in Charlestown, home to two giant trolls made by Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist, with recycled and reclaimed wood. Currently there are more than 100 Dambo Trolls all over the world, including Denmark, China, France, South Korea, Australia, Chile, Ireland and the USA. The name of the two trolls at Ninigret Park are Erik Rock and Greta Granite. The park (and trolls) are free to the public which is a great option if you are looking for an outside activity. Ninigret Park is a 227-acre park features a state-of-the-art playground, ball fields, ten-speed bike course, tennis and basketball courts, disc golf, picnic areas and a freshwater swimming pond with public beach (Little Ninigret Pond); lifeguards on duty (seasonal). Huge!!! This was our first time at Ninigret Park. Not knowing where the trolls were and there was a parking lot specifically designated as troll parking, we just parked at the first parking lot we saw which was by the tennis courts. By the parking lot, we saw a board with a map of the park and a map showing us where the trolls were (it wasn't very helpful). We started to walk around not really knowing where to go till a woman on a bicycle passing by asked if we were looking for trolls and we said yes. She told us to pass the Frosty Drew Observatory on the right and you'll see a trail to a troll on the left. Thankfully she directed us in the right direction and we saw the first troll, Erik Rock, who is situated by Little Ninigret Pond. I had read from other articles that there would be clues on Erik Rock to lead us to a marker and the second troll, Greta Granite. Unfortunately, we could not find any clues and just wondered around again. That was when we found a parking lot designated as troll parking near the playground and basketball courts. After 30 minutes of wondering, I put in Ninigret Troll No. 2 in Google Maps and was able to find the marker leading us to Greta Granite. Greta Granite was located after following a narrow path through trees and plants. Tip: If you are short on time and don't feel like wondering, you can search Ninigret Troll No. 1 and Ninigret Troll No. 2 in Google Maps. Also, the closest parking lot to the trolls is the Troll Parking lot. Eric Rock sitting on the edge of a pond has black hair made of burned maple branches and he wears a birdhouse necklace to keep him company as he wanders the woods. Greta Granite holds an array of necklaces, each made from different found materials such as sea shells, stones, glass, driftwood, and bones. Her hair is made of 300 split bamboo sticks. A few boulders are spread before her, just right for sitting and storytelling. We were so happy to have been able to find both giant trolls at Ninigret Park because they were amazing to see and you can see all the dedication and time put in to build them. I just wish there were better directions or hidden clues like a picture of a troll on the signs. Just something to help out a little. I did enjoy the fresh air and 1 hour and 1/2 walking around and exploring Ninigret Park. I will definitely bring my bike next time! read more

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We always have to do things the hard way We heard that there were 2 Danish trolls waiting for a dope selfie and we were lucky enough to find one. The trails aren't really marked clearly so we walked about 15-20 miles out of the way (who knows how long really cuz it's so easy to lose track of time). Anyways, people also looking for trolls were super nice and we all acted like we were in it together. We loved it. And we'll be back for sure. Although, we didn't see any brown people... read more

Ninigret Park - A Lady Troll - Parks Near Me - Charlestown, Rhode Island

We went to Ninigret Park to see the Trolls. Being from CT I had not heard of the park previously. Finding the park and parking was a breeze. Finding where to begin looking in the park for the trolls is a different story. There were signs for "troll parking" but no signs for "trolls this way" & that park is huge. We looked on the creator (Thomas Dambo) website and found clues. Maybe that was the entire point. Who knows. Once we were on the right track, they did not disappoint. They just add to the beauty of this park. Great trails, playground, disc golf and so much more to do. Definitely recommend read more

Ninigret Park - Trolls - Parks Near Me - Charlestown, Rhode Island

I love Ninigret park. Even though we live one town over- and they're plenty of parks there- we always head to Ninigret. With a nice playground, bike track and trails, a wonderful observatory, a senior center, ball fields , tennis courts, a pond, hiking trails, dog parks and more, we keep coming back. The terrain for the whole park is flat. The park was initially a landing strip during the wars and some remnants can be seen on some of the hiking trails. The park is very well kept. The bathrooms always clean. Plenty of trash cans all over. Grass is always nicely mowed Went to the observatory tonight and had a wonderful time. A guy from NASA was there giving a presentation about the James Webb Space Telescope. Read my review on the Frosty Drew Observatory for my full experience. This summer there have been dinner, movie, and a concert at Ninigret on certain Thursdays. They've been fun. They have about 6 food trucks and a different band playing music. Then around 8pm the erect a movie screen and project a different movie each time. There are other special events that take place here like the Charlestown Seafood Fest and the Rhythm and Blues Festival. read more

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Lots of walking trails. Parking is sporadic throughout the park. There is also a fenced in dog area which I never knew about but appreciated! read more

The trolls were supremely interesting. The signage could've been better to get between the two sites, but we figured it out.

we went here this morning, so i could see the troll statue. it was interesting. i understand they have two but we only saw one. this is the first time we were in this park. this park is huge. its really nice. we noticed a huge picnic area. and they have a observatory. but we came here to see the troll statue. read more

Ninigret Park - Parks Near Me - Charlestown, Rhode Island

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There are several trails to hike some are wooded others are mostly in the open. One trail brings you to a salt lake, I noticed several men headed that way with claming rakes and plastic buckets. So whether you wish to exercise or go claming this is the perfect spot. The terrain is flat with zero elevations so it is suitable for a leisurely nature walk or power walk through the nature preserve. Beautiful locatiob with plenty of parking to enjoy the local scenery and wildlife. read more

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Beautiful park. Huge playground, pavilion for shade, clean bathrooms, quiet beach, lots of walking/bike paths, and so much more!

Finding the right place to park can make or break your experience here IMO. Waze took me to the park entrance but apparently there are multiple spots to park. We parked by the tennis courts and it took us a while to find the actual hiking trails. I don't mind walking but the signs here aren't that great. So as someone from outside the area I thought navigating around the park was a bit tough (thank god for google maps/earth). I'll admit we did not meticulously plan out this trip but we didn't think it would be this difficult to navigate around the park. We got lost and had to cut through a trail to get to our parking spot. The trails are also fenced in and you can only leave or get out where they have the entrance/exit. Overall, the actual trails are quite nice. This is a trail for beginners - it is completely flat and all the bushes/shrubs are pushed off and cleared to make it pleasant for hikers. I would highly recommend wearing bug spray as even in mid September the amount of fleas and mosquitoes is high. The trails are not dog friendly - but there is a dog park on site for all the fur parents out there. read more

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Swords into plowshares Ninigret Park used to be a huge naval landing field in World War II but now serves as a great park and wildlife refuge. Large sections of the old runways are still visible but they are slowly being ripped up. The park was named after a great chief of the Narragansett and contains over 400 acres of land that sits on the edge of the largest salt pond in the state. The great part about Ninigret is that there is always so much to do. Lots of tennis and basketball courts and a bike track that is usually available except for the occasional races held there. They also have a strange Frisbee disc golf course where people throw the things into little metal net goals. One very serious woman told me that they have professional association that actually holds competitions. I didn't even know such a thing existed but she said she trains regularly here for the events. If throwing plastic discs into metal nets doesn't interest you Ninigret also has several miles of hiking trails, a small beach called "Little Nini Beach" and beautiful views of the salt pond. Lots of ospreys, herons and egrets can frequently be seen flying around the pond and diving for fish. A convenient boat launch for yaks and small boats is located within the park and there even is a breach that gives access to the ocean. The Frosty Drew Nature Center and the very cool Frosty Drew Observatory is also located in the park. The observatory does research during the week but is open every clear Friday night for public observations. They have an impressive 16 inch Mead LX200 Schmidt Cassegrain reflector and also a 10 inch Dobsonian and 3.5 inch 40 year old mint Questar telescope available. Some very cool equipment. Lots of various events and festivals are held here in the summer but it is a great place to go any time of the year. The base served honorable during the war defending the country but now the park serves the people of Rhode Island in a entire different and more fun but no less important capacity. read more

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I haven't fully experienced all that park has to offer but think it is definitely one of RI's treasures. Most of the times I've been here it's to take my 3 year old to the playground. There are actually 2, one for bigger kids & another for smaller children. It's just the right size & modern with enough slides & rides for any child. They seem to always have some cool events going on in the summer. I know they host some music festivals (RIP Ocean State Reggae Fest) in addition to the Seafood Festival & circus. Right now the Big Apple Circus is going on. We went to another one last year & had a blast. There's also tennis courts, a pond you can cool off in & a doggie park. The place is so big & has so much to offer for anyone looking for something active to do. The only drawback is that it's so flat so in the summer there's not much shade. Definitely bring sunscreen & fluids for the kids if you go on a hot summer day. Ninigret Park is just awesome. Check out the Charlestown Chamber's website for directions & a list of upcoming events. read more

Beautiful flat hike but beware of the mosquitoes! It was raining and they were ravenous! Be sure to bing your repellent!!!! read more

Ninigret Park - Mosquitoes were ravenous!!! Bring repellent - Parks Near Me - Charlestown, Rhode Island

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Great place for family fun. Well kept, clean and nest. Grass fields are well maintained.

Great Park that has a nice playground. They recently updated some of the equipment. Has a summer concert on Sunday nights which is family friendly. Good for cycling or running. Also has a round robin tennis club that anyone is welcome to. read more

My dogs favorite place. This park features a playground, disc golf, a swimming beach, a basketball court, tennis court, soccer fields, a place to kayak at the end, along with a walking animal preserve, space observatory, bike bath and most importantly a great big dog park. Very clean. Friendly people. they hold a lot of big concerts and all sorts of different events. It is always a popular summer place. Love it and so glad I only live 15 min away to this park. read more

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Lots of open space, a cycle course, beach access! Built on the site of the Charlestown Naval Air Station (now closed, of course). Miles of nature trails, walking paths, nooks to explore - and right on the coast of Ninigret Pond. read more

Very helpful to have access to this dog park as a traveler. My dogs loved being able to get off leash and play with one other. We did a little bit of playing with other dogs, but one of my dogs is not very trustworthy so we tended to keep to ourselves. In general the parks were extremely clean. I found a little bit of unscooped poop at the far end of the big one. I don't think the owners intend to be negligent, they just get to talking among themselves and don't see what happens down at the far end. Since I'm a traveler and don't pay taxes in Rhode Island, I put in a little sweat equity and picked up the poop. LOL read more

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Ahh...Nini park, so very uniquely Rhode Island. This place is so many things wrapped into one, it's home to local observatories, a playground, tennis courts, a swimming hole, and vast beaten, vegetation overgrown roads that lead to nowhere. It's also the home to the Charlestown Seafood Festival, Rhythm and Roots, the circus', and a myriad of other festivals throughout the year. We've visited many festivals, the local swimming hole, and playground on quite a few occasions, we've also grabbed a few caches here, if you know what I mean ;) one of our favorite nice weather activities. Ninigret is a great place to visit while in RI for adults and children alike. read more

Ninigret Park is a real treasure in Charlestown. It offers so many activities to enjoy, free of charge in a safe environment with loads of parking. It's a great place for a walk, hike, exercise class, birding, kayak/canoe launch, dog park, tennis courts, planetarium, bike riding, basketball courts, dog park and a wonderful children's playground. A great way to spend the day. There is something for everyone who likes to be outdoors. read more

I have been several times to Ninigret Park and enjoy going there. You can just see the runways in amongst the great trails and walk ways. Tucked inside of this great park are two wonderful gems. The new dog park is a wonderful place to take your dog. The second it Frosty Drew Observatory. Unobstructed views of the stars and a high powered telescope make for great sky viewing. Long walking trails. Nature walks of hours. Would be nice if they had horseback riding trails. It's big enough. read more

Great park with many nice trails

This is a beautiful park in the day time, but once dusk comes, beware of the mosquitoes. Wear long pants, not shorts, and apply bug repellent if you attend the Charlestown Seafood Festival at night or gaze at the stars at the park's Frosty Drew Observatory. read more

I have been coming here for 30 years, first as a child and now I bring my neices and nephews here. Great space central to burlingame, the breachway, and westerly. The playground gets bigger and better every year, there is a new bike path as well. Dog park and kayak access to the salt pond in the back. Fresh water spring perfect for rinsing the salt off your skin from the beach. Grilling areas, picnic tables, basketball ... occasional field events like movies and the observatory is open to the public (free!) on friday nights in the summer. A wonderful place to make memories!!! read more

Visited right at the end of this years festival. I will definitely come back. Though I was not expecting much fun because the festival was about to close when I checked in but the environment was still very welcoming. Kids took a few rides and we had Iftar dinner with seafood and fried dough. Fireworks at the end of the event were really amazing and made it real special. read more

Neato! I came here for the Charlestown Seafood Festival and had a nice time. It was easy enough to park and the festival was well-organized. However, I don't know what's up with the GPS as everyone was saying that when you enter the address it takes you away from the park...I followed the signs instead and got here easy peasy, but something has to be done about the GPS directions! read more

Great place for riding bikes, walking, swimming and especially kayaking. Visit the observatory on Friday night's for star gazing with knowledgeable astronomers. They are fantastic! No park fees. Highly recommend a visit. And they host the yearly charlestown seafood festival. Huge and fun for all! read more