Rhode Island's North-South Trail (NST) is a 78-mile network of trails, roads, and dirt paths upon…read morewhich one can hike from the RI/MA border in Burrillville to the waves of the Atlantic Ocean in Charlestown. If you have the time and ability, this is a FANTASTIC way to explore the beauty our state has to offer. Through-hike it or break it into smaller segments over a series of trips... this is a trek that can be enjoyed by hikers with all levels of experience. In the 1990s, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the US National Park Service teamed up to make this trail a reality. I chose to traverse it from north to south so that I could end at Blue Shutters Beach and dip my feet in the ocean. This path meanders through lush forests and historic farmlands, past miles of stone walls and blue blazes, over boulder fields and numerous rivers, and offers a chance at connecting with a variety of wildlife including deer, turkeys, birds, cows, and so much more. This is a glimpse into not only what Rhode Island is today but what it once was. Old foundations, cemeteries, mill sites, barns and farm equipment pop up throughout. "The North South Trail" by Cliff Vanover is a fantastic resource if you are planning this hike. It is out of print but several of the RI Libraries have copies you can access. I completed the trail over 6 days and recruited friends and family to assist with car spots. It is possible to complete the trail in one go over shorter or longer periods of time. There are plentiful nearby campgrounds as staying on trail is not allowed. It is difficult to sum up my entire experience on-trail; I encourage you to immerse yourself in the outdoors and check out this path less travelled. It is well-maintained, easy to follow, and was absolutely beautiful this October with its abundant foliage. The sand dunes, sea grass, and blue crashing waves at the finality of my trek was a sight to be seen. Try it from south to north and hook up with the Midstate Trail in MA for a route all the way to NH!

I have a lot of experiences on this 78 (ish) mile trek. I've done it for leisure, done it for…read moretraining, helped others accomplish it...etc etc etc. I love hiking the east, but this is not at the top of my list. It was more of a Rhode Island resident bucket list. A good portion of the 'trail' is road (about 50% country roads). There is a great book to assist and give insightful info. However, unless you have a friend or library to lend it to you it's about 100$ lol At any rate, it is a fine walkabout to go from one point in RI to the next. My personal recommendation is to hike it North to South and dive in the ocean. Especially if you do it in the winter. Pure exhilaration! Happy trails and don't forget to sign the books at each end!

Gosh it's been a long time since we hiked these trails and long overdue. But it's just as…read morebeautiful and tranquil as ever! We followed a little different path this time, doing part of the blue loop but then cutting across it on the Woods Road which seems to be a less traveled trail. We also passed by the enigmatic stone cairns, stacked for who knows what reason (my hypothesis is that it was the start of a wall that Mexico didn't pay for ...). We plan to return cuz there's a whole other loop trail (red blazed) that we want to explore.

Drove by this a couple times in the winter, and now that's its warmed up decided to check it out. A…read morenice little getaway, you have multiple paths to choose from upon initially entering. Both paths were slightly overgrown a little bit into them, otherwise though it was a great time.

Beautiful place and hiking trails! Waterfalls, nature and you can even camp there. Enjoy a picnic…read moreor just hike it's worth the time.

Trails were scenic and lovely. Some downed trees block the way. Orange trail has some vertical…read moreareas, and uneven in spots - but that's nature. Waterfall easily accessible from parking lot - short distance, wide trail mostly crushed stone. Vista A lovely overlook of the river valley and mountains.

Stunning grounds with beautiful fall foliage . A paved walking path . Indoor bathroom access and…read moretwo playground areas. Also, there is adult workout equipment throughout . There were many people fishing as well. Clean and safe . 10/10

Trails, a rose garden, water, a playground, and a dog pound(?). This a little gem of a place…read more Think lincoln woods for those from RI like me. This place is huge and one could easily spend hours here. Very quaint and peaceful.

This is the tallest point in RI, clocking in a whopping ~812 feet along 8 feet of elevation…read more Despite the low elevation it has been known as one of the most difficult high points in the United States due to its history. But in 2011 that changed, and it's now easily accessible to the public and a nice path has been paved (literally and figuratively) allowing anyone to visit the "summit". The path is very well maintained and clearly marked, an easy walk that will take you no more than 5 minutes and that's if you're going a very slow pace. At the top, remains of the old observatory set up by the university can be found. Three old buildings, a lookout area, as well as a guest book to sign sit at the top. If you're considering, it's a must. And take a moment to look up the history of this location to learn how special the ability to easily walk to this spot is.

A lifelong Rhode Island-er I finally made my first pilgrimage to Jerimoth Hill. And...in the…read moretotality of things, I would rate it akin to Rhode Island's version of Plymouth Rock. In that, it's not that it's bad, but you hear so much about it, and then you get to it, and it's like 'that's it?' Located a short walk from the road, 2-5 minutes, depending on how fast you walk, it is literally just a small rock protruding from the ground. The path is clear and well-maintained, and parking is just off the road. It's a good thing to start kids out on, to see if they might like hiking and/or walking in the woods, and for people who might be challenged by walking long(er) distances but adventurous or seasoned hikers will leave disappointed. But, again, it's not much. No challenge, no view, no fanfare. For a quick little excursion its probably worth the trip, and again even a fun way to introduce the little ones to hiking and/or the woods. But don't expect views, don't expect a challenge, and overall a bit of disappointment. My fault for not researching it more beforehand, but I expected a little bit of a view, similar to the tower in of RT1 in South County, alas there is none.

Easy hiking and swimming in the pool formed in the falls. Easy road access or a short and lovely…read morehike from the Ben utter trail along the wood river. My 2 year old enjoyed the streaming shallow parts and hunting for frogs.

A short hike brings you to a beautiful waterfall surrounded by large boulders perfect for…read moresunbathing. The area is posted "no swimming", but there were people in the water. It is also posted "no picnicking". The Willimantic River is not known for it's purity, so bathe at your own risk. Although the hike is short and easy, it is rocky and tree roots are staggered throughout. If you're careful you could probably get away with flip flops. There is also a

It's been a few decades, but I want to throw in my 2 cents worth regarding the potential hazardous…read moreconditions. I was there in the spring with a couple of other experienced kayakers and we spent some time playing in the main pool, and then went to head further downstream. There's a large rock on the downstream left side and I thought I had plenty of room to go around it. However, it turned out that it was seriously undercut and just at the water surface. I got sucked over by the current, flipped when I hit the upstream side, and scraped my way slowly under the rock. The buoyancy of my kayak meant that it was pushing hard against the bottom of the rock and I was running out of air. (Spoiler alert - I survived.) I was about to bail out and let the current take me out of the overhang, but just then I felt the release, saw daylight, and rolled up to finish the planned trip. Wetter but wiser.

A very quiet…read moreplace Green Fall Pond Trail is located in Pachaug State Forest and is a cool hike for someone who wants some peace and quiet. The trial loops around the pond and is about four miles although the hike can be made much longer because the Narragansett, Nehantic and Pachaug Trails all run through the area too. The trail isn't particular difficult but does have lots of rocks, roots and ledges to scamper over that can be tricky in the wet or snowy weather. A wide variety of flora covers the area, including oak, birch, hickory, sugar maple, hemlock and tons and tons of mature mountain laurel. The trail can be a bit difficult to follow because some of the blazes are hard to see but as long as you keep the pond in sight you will be just fine. Lots of old stone walls run through the woods, evidence that the entire area was farmed at one time and a cool dam and gorge are at the end of the little pond. Green Fall Pond is a nice place for some quiet kayaking or canoeing and swimming is allowed at a small beach for people that don't mind sharing their water with snakes, turtles and frogs. This area was once inhabited by the Narragansett, Pequot and Mohegan tribes and fierce battles between the Native Americans and the colonists took place here many years ago but now the area is still and quiet. The pond and trail may be difficult to find but a cool place that you will probably have all to your own.