Norman Bird Sanctuary
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In the last couple years I've gained an obsession with birds and I've always had an appreciation for nature, so I was really stoked to check this place out. It was a nice weekday, not too cold, a little windy, and sunny. The entrance fee is not too bad for what you get (especially student price) and you can spent all the time you want on the trails. There are binoculars you can use or you can bring your own (not sure if theirs come with a rental fee). They have a lot of trails and a map to help you navigate the space--although I would recommend asking questions at the front desk and paying close attention to when they explain the map since it is not drawn to scale. I do wish they had more color markers along the way to help with knowing what each trail is. We did think we'd get lost at first, but we found our way around quite well and the explanation from the staff starts to all make sense once you're walking. The paths are well maintained and there are slightly elevated wooden bridges for areas that are muddier. I would recommend hiking shoes or boots, mostly for one of the trails with a tougher terrain. There are tons of picture worthy moments, although pictures don't do it justice. Although I did not see too many "unique" birds, we did come across other animals like deer and turkey. We spent a little over 2 hours here and got through about half of the place so if you do want to take it all in, I would recommend a 4-5 hour chunk of time (if you're in no rush).
We booked a private bird tour with Jay for my bachelorette party and it was AMAZING. (Yes, you read correctly a bachelorette party) Jay made this trip an experience to remember. The staff checking us in was extremely friendly, we all got binoculars and out to the trials we went. We saw several different birds, deer and heard many different bird calls. This was fun for everyone - we got to be outside, learn about different birds and some history for Newport. The group pic is my favorite because Jay even put the heart eyed glasses for the picture. We can't thank Jay enough for making this experience the best! I'll certainly be back to hike the trials. It's so beautiful here! We went the day after a major rain storm and only some spots were muddy, we got pretty lucky! Again, this place is amazing!! Check it out! And Jay, if you're reading this, thank you from all of us!
The Bird Sanctuary is a great place to go for a hike. The trails are not to difficult. Going to the end to "hanging rock" is nice. There is a great view of second beach and surrounding area. You never know what you might see on the way. The deer was as surprised as I was on the walk.
What a beautiful parcel of land! The sanctuary is not a large space, however, it is well maintained, great trails and gives the sense you are in a larger area footprint than you think. Staff is friendly and cheerful, the price for admission is very reasonable. We were greeted by the showy daffodil field with resident Turkey on display, a Tom and his small flock of hens. We entered the wooded path and met a doe munching on leaf buds. The trails have walkways that are raised in the "swampy" area and the non walkways were easy to traverse. There are a few more challenging spots, but that just added to the sense of being far away from the hustle and bustle of life. They also have some picknick tables near the entrance, which we took advantage of to eat our lunch after our hike. If you are okay with heights, do the Hanging Rock Trail, I am not one of those brave souls though! Last time I walked the Hanging Rock trail I nearly had a heart attack, I am very very very fearful of heights and steep walls. Go. Give to an old and fabulous animal sanctuary, you won't regret it!
What ended up being a true highlight of my trip is a spot I never would have gone to had I not had some expert local intel! The name is a little misleading, though there are certainly birds to look at. It is more of a hiking trail meets beautiful views meets "nature" sanctuary. You arrive at the visitor center for maps and a check in, then the beautiful grounds are yours to explore. You can head all the way into the sanctuary are do some light rock climbing for amazing views of second beach and the ocean. Don't skip this if you're vacationing in Newport!
Well-preserved sanctuary with multiple trails that take around ~1 hour each. Most of the trails are paved and there is signage at every crossroad (although it can be a bit hard to see sometimes since it is wood on wood). John at the welcome center was super informative and recommended paths for us based on what we wanted to see and hear. They also had baby chicks in the welcome center to see. They have a filtered water station and the restrooms were clean. We were able to see a blue Jay, robin, and hear a wood pecker (lots of other birds as well that we weren't able to identify). Make sure to check for ticks! Two of them got on me while we were hiking the trails.
We are so lucky to have a wonderful wildlife preserve like Norman Bird Sanctuary right here on the island for locals and visitors alike to enjoy! While the trails are wonderful for hiking and they offer an extensive amount of conservation and outdoor education programs for all ages, we would never miss the annual Harvest Fair, which occurs every year in October, just when the temperatures chill and the autumn leaves fall. The Fair is a fun and inexpensive weekend festival that includes everything from rustic carnival games and pony rides for kids to a giant tent chock full of vendors and artisans from Rhode Island and beyond. Be sure to carve out some time if you plan to go shopping - it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of gorgeous handmade things for sale! They have everything - art prints, jewelry, housewares, even knitted cozies that fit an ice cream pint. I mean.. truly awesome. Pro tip: if you visit on the second day of the festival, most of the vendors will happily haggle for prices with you. I got an awesome handmade pewter bat barrette, and the owner let me have it for almost half the price! Don't be afraid to negotiate! The foodies won't be disappointed, either! I've been going to the Harvest Fair for years, and this season's had the most food vendors I've seen in recent times. Come hungry! There's vegan burgers and both vegetarian and meaty pulled pork sandwiches, homemade mini donuts, pizza, tacos, and even a small truck that sells cupcakes out of it! Wow! I was impressed. We got the donuts from Sweet B's, which has been popping up all over RI. I'm a huge fan. The powdered sugar donuts were to die for. While the Norman Bird Sanctuary is awesome to visit any time of year, if you find yourself in Rhode Island in the fall, you have to check out the Harvest Fair! It's the best way to kick off Spooky Season in RI!
Went here with the family in early July. It is quite striking and serene. Lots of walking paths with easy hiking trails. Stroll past fields full of bird houses, and explore paths winding through the woods. There are lots of little surprises along the way like cool views and wildlife. There's a welcome center, museum, and grounds that include fields, wetlands, and a forest. There are educational programs run here but we didn't participate in them, instead we bought trail passes -- $7 for adults -- and walked around at our leisure. There was plenty of parking, and bathrooms at the trail head. Definitely a cool place to check out if you're in Middletown.
Beautiful place. $7 to walk the trails. We were able to do all the trails in about two hours. Kind of muddy in some spots so would recommend waiting a couple days after rain to go. We only saw ducks and blue jays. Wish we saw more. Cute gift shop. Plenty of parking. Clean bathrooms. Would come back during a different time of year.
A very cool place especially in the snow The Norman Bird Sanctuary has 300 acres of a wide variety of terrain. Ponds, streams, woods, fields, and lots of boulders and rocky ledges. Even some impressive views of the ocean and salt marshes. It was establish by Mable Norman Cerio in 1949 as a place where birds and other critters could live out there lives without being bothered by humans. Of course no hunting is allowed here and people are encourage to walk softly. No biking, jogging, collecting or general screwing around and making noise is tolerated. Just a cool place to see, feel, smell and experience nature. In the winter the hiking can be tough because of the heavy snow but but the peace and quiet makes it worthwhile. Not very people come here in the snow so you can have the place pretty much to your self. The trail up to the summit of hanging rock gets extremely slippery and difficult in the ice and snow so great care must be taken so you don't fall over a cliff or ledge and end up as part of the terrain. The ridge trail is made of rocks called purgatory conglomerate or puddingstone and is of ancient volcanic origin and has a very unusually texture and appearance. Beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding area can be seen in every direction once you reach the top. The only possible negative is the five dollar entrance charge. Lots of other cool places to hike around here are free but the Bird Sanctuary offers numerous educational programs and workshops for schools and community groups and the money goes toward a very worthy cause. I can think of a lot worse things to spend the five dollars on that a great hike though a very cool place.
I have lived in RI for most of my life. I did not know about the Sanctuary until this summer. What a retreat! Nestled into space between 2nd and 3rd Beach in Newport / Middletown, the Sanctuary is land that was donated by a family and preserved. There are marked hiking paths that take you out to above the beaches, through the ponds in the area and through the quiet of nature. It is hard to believe how close you are to civilization when the sounds fade and you are surrounded by rustling leaves and birds chirping. The hikes and trails are beginner to low-level intermediate. There are a few spots to climb rock formations -- but nothing that needs ropes. The Sanctuary provides educational programming, bird watching, film events, and even a dinner under the stars event. You can become a member and visit as often as you like, or pay a $6 entry fee per visit. There is a Welcome Center and trail maps. The trails are well marked. There's few farm animals (chickens and bees) -- lovely gardens that are maintained by volunteers -- and plenty of pollinating birds and insects to enjoy. A retreat in the midst of Middletown. We saw lots of folks hiking and a few running too. A great way to enjoy being outdoors. I would love to visit in fall.
If I could spend all day in the bird sanctuary and then some, I would. It is no wonder the birds naturally gravitate here, as the staff maintains the land very well. After all, the good gardens with bountiful harvests can be found at Norman Bird Sanctuary. Some of the trails are more challenging than others, but the staff provides a clear heaps up as to what can be expected. Take your time and go where your heart desires, safely and comfortably of course. read more
This is a nice place and has some great trails. Secluded, quiet and a generally nice time. The scenery is great and the terrain is manageable throughout. All that said, you're paying $7 to basically walk the trails which you can do for free at dozens of other spots throughout Rhoe Island. So for me, at least, it's probably one and done. All that said, it is a nice place. read more
1 year ago
My husband found the Norman Bird Sanctuary on an online search for places to hike while we were in the Newport area. On our first trip to the Sanctuary, we ended up doing the trail to Hanging Rock. Because of my height, there are portions where I had to crouch from one rock surface to get to another stable flat area to get my footing. My husband, who is taller than me by a lot, was more easily able to traverse the various rock heights. So what I'm saying is - Shorties, be careful out here!! read more
In the last couple years I've gained an obsession with birds and I've always had an appreciation for nature, so I was really stoked to check this place out. It was a nice weekday, not too cold, a little windy, and sunny. The entrance fee is not too bad for what you get (especially student price) and you can spent all the time you want on the trails. There are binoculars you can use or you can bring your own (not sure if theirs come with a rental fee). They have a lot of trails and a map to help you navigate the space--although I would recommend asking questions at the front desk and paying close attention to when they explain the map since it is not drawn to scale. I do wish they had more color markers along the way to help with knowing what each trail is. We did think we'd get lost at first, but we found our way around quite well and the explanation from the staff starts to all make sense once you're walking. The paths are well maintained and there are slightly elevated wooden bridges for areas that are muddier. I would recommend hiking shoes or boots, mostly for one of the trails with a tougher terrain. There are tons of picture worthy moments, although pictures don't do it justice. Although I did not see too many "unique" birds, we did come across other animals like deer and turkey. We spent a little over 2 hours here and got through about half of the place so if you do want to take it all in, I would recommend a 4-5 hour chunk of time (if you're in no rush). read more
3 years ago
We booked a private bird tour with Jay for my bachelorette party and it was AMAZING. (Yes, you read correctly a bachelorette party) Jay made this trip an experience to remember. The staff checking us in was extremely friendly, we all got binoculars and out to the trials we went. We saw several different birds, deer and heard many different bird calls. This was fun for everyone - we got to be outside, learn about different birds and some history for Newport. The group pic is my favorite because Jay even put the heart eyed glasses for the picture. We can't thank Jay enough for making this experience the best! I'll certainly be back to hike the trials. It's so beautiful here! We went the day after a major rain storm and only some spots were muddy, we got pretty lucky! Again, this place is amazing!! Check it out! And Jay, if you're reading this, thank you from all of us! read more
1 year ago
The Bird Sanctuary is a great place to go for a hike. The trails are not to difficult. Going to the end to "hanging rock" is nice. There is a great view of second beach and surrounding area. You never know what you might see on the way. The deer was as surprised as I was on the walk. read more
What a beautiful parcel of land! The sanctuary is not a large space, however, it is well maintained, great trails and gives the sense you are in a larger area footprint than you think. Staff is friendly and cheerful, the price for admission is very reasonable. We were greeted by the showy daffodil field with resident Turkey on display, a Tom and his small flock of hens. We entered the wooded path and met a doe munching on leaf buds. The trails have walkways that are raised in the "swampy" area and the non walkways were easy to traverse. There are a few more challenging spots, but that just added to the sense of being far away from the hustle and bustle of life. They also have some picknick tables near the entrance, which we took advantage of to eat our lunch after our hike. If you are okay with heights, do the Hanging Rock Trail, I am not one of those brave souls though! Last time I walked the Hanging Rock trail I nearly had a heart attack, I am very very very fearful of heights and steep walls. Go. Give to an old and fabulous animal sanctuary, you won't regret it! read more
What ended up being a true highlight of my trip is a spot I never would have gone to had I not had some expert local intel! The name is a little misleading, though there are certainly birds to look at. It is more of a hiking trail meets beautiful views meets "nature" sanctuary. You arrive at the visitor center for maps and a check in, then the beautiful grounds are yours to explore. You can head all the way into the sanctuary are do some light rock climbing for amazing views of second beach and the ocean. Don't skip this if you're vacationing in Newport! read more
Well-preserved sanctuary with multiple trails that take around ~1 hour each. Most of the trails are paved and there is signage at every crossroad (although it can be a bit hard to see sometimes since it is wood on wood). John at the welcome center was super informative and recommended paths for us based on what we wanted to see and hear. They also had baby chicks in the welcome center to see. They have a filtered water station and the restrooms were clean. We were able to see a blue Jay, robin, and hear a wood pecker (lots of other birds as well that we weren't able to identify). Make sure to check for ticks! Two of them got on me while we were hiking the trails. read more
We are so lucky to have a wonderful wildlife preserve like Norman Bird Sanctuary right here on the island for locals and visitors alike to enjoy! While the trails are wonderful for hiking and they offer an extensive amount of conservation and outdoor education programs for all ages, we would never miss the annual Harvest Fair, which occurs every year in October, just when the temperatures chill and the autumn leaves fall. The Fair is a fun and inexpensive weekend festival that includes everything from rustic carnival games and pony rides for kids to a giant tent chock full of vendors and artisans from Rhode Island and beyond. Be sure to carve out some time if you plan to go shopping - it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of gorgeous handmade things for sale! They have everything - art prints, jewelry, housewares, even knitted cozies that fit an ice cream pint. I mean.. truly awesome. Pro tip: if you visit on the second day of the festival, most of the vendors will happily haggle for prices with you. I got an awesome handmade pewter bat barrette, and the owner let me have it for almost half the price! Don't be afraid to negotiate! The foodies won't be disappointed, either! I've been going to the Harvest Fair for years, and this season's had the most food vendors I've seen in recent times. Come hungry! There's vegan burgers and both vegetarian and meaty pulled pork sandwiches, homemade mini donuts, pizza, tacos, and even a small truck that sells cupcakes out of it! Wow! I was impressed. We got the donuts from Sweet B's, which has been popping up all over RI. I'm a huge fan. The powdered sugar donuts were to die for. While the Norman Bird Sanctuary is awesome to visit any time of year, if you find yourself in Rhode Island in the fall, you have to check out the Harvest Fair! It's the best way to kick off Spooky Season in RI! read more
Went here with the family in early July. It is quite striking and serene. Lots of walking paths with easy hiking trails. Stroll past fields full of bird houses, and explore paths winding through the woods. There are lots of little surprises along the way like cool views and wildlife. There's a welcome center, museum, and grounds that include fields, wetlands, and a forest. There are educational programs run here but we didn't participate in them, instead we bought trail passes -- $7 for adults -- and walked around at our leisure. There was plenty of parking, and bathrooms at the trail head. Definitely a cool place to check out if you're in Middletown. read more
5 years ago
Beautiful place. $7 to walk the trails. We were able to do all the trails in about two hours. Kind of muddy in some spots so would recommend waiting a couple days after rain to go. We only saw ducks and blue jays. Wish we saw more. Cute gift shop. Plenty of parking. Clean bathrooms. Would come back during a different time of year. read more
17 years ago
A very cool place especially in the snow The Norman Bird Sanctuary has 300 acres of a wide variety of terrain. Ponds, streams, woods, fields, and lots of boulders and rocky ledges. Even some impressive views of the ocean and salt marshes. It was establish by Mable Norman Cerio in 1949 as a place where birds and other critters could live out there lives without being bothered by humans. Of course no hunting is allowed here and people are encourage to walk softly. No biking, jogging, collecting or general screwing around and making noise is tolerated. Just a cool place to see, feel, smell and experience nature. In the winter the hiking can be tough because of the heavy snow but but the peace and quiet makes it worthwhile. Not very people come here in the snow so you can have the place pretty much to your self. The trail up to the summit of hanging rock gets extremely slippery and difficult in the ice and snow so great care must be taken so you don't fall over a cliff or ledge and end up as part of the terrain. The ridge trail is made of rocks called purgatory conglomerate or puddingstone and is of ancient volcanic origin and has a very unusually texture and appearance. Beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding area can be seen in every direction once you reach the top. The only possible negative is the five dollar entrance charge. Lots of other cool places to hike around here are free but the Bird Sanctuary offers numerous educational programs and workshops for schools and community groups and the money goes toward a very worthy cause. I can think of a lot worse things to spend the five dollars on that a great hike though a very cool place. read more
8 years ago
6 years ago
Went for a birding walk at Norman Bird Sanctuary Sunday, 11/29/2020! I was promised a Golden-crowned Kinglet with a crown and our guide did not disappoint. I think his name was Jake? Darn I am too old to remember. I will post the picture.... read more
I have lived in RI for most of my life. I did not know about the Sanctuary until this summer. What a retreat! Nestled into space between 2nd and 3rd Beach in Newport / Middletown, the Sanctuary is land that was donated by a family and preserved. There are marked hiking paths that take you out to above the beaches, through the ponds in the area and through the quiet of nature. It is hard to believe how close you are to civilization when the sounds fade and you are surrounded by rustling leaves and birds chirping. The hikes and trails are beginner to low-level intermediate. There are a few spots to climb rock formations -- but nothing that needs ropes. The Sanctuary provides educational programming, bird watching, film events, and even a dinner under the stars event. You can become a member and visit as often as you like, or pay a $6 entry fee per visit. There is a Welcome Center and trail maps. The trails are well marked. There's few farm animals (chickens and bees) -- lovely gardens that are maintained by volunteers -- and plenty of pollinating birds and insects to enjoy. A retreat in the midst of Middletown. We saw lots of folks hiking and a few running too. A great way to enjoy being outdoors. I would love to visit in fall. read more
A few dozen parking spots right off the side of the road. There were maps to take pictures of as well as many trail maps set out at their info center. Although the center was closed during the COVID-19 virus, they usually have a small gift shop and visitor center. There is a donation of 7 dollars per adult to enter the park- cash can be dropped in a box or you can pay over the phone or online with a card! The park itself was cute! My boyfriend and I saw a few cool plants- we were scoping out the vibrant misses and the purple skunk cabbage flowers. Most of the trails were flat and rolling and East access for people of varying abilities. There were also bridges over the low areas that could get swampy that would make wheel chair access over the majority of the beginning possible. After a while the trail does get a bit more rocky and there is an incline to get to hanging rock. Overall I'd say the trail is beginner level. Lots of cool trees and plants, the season was a bit too early for wildlife but we saw some deer tracks and a small garter snake!!! There are several benches along the way to take a break on and one bench that looks over a pond. The outlook at hanging rock was stunning and made the entrance fee worth it!!!! read more
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