The trails were a little too muddy and overgrown for me to fully explore them, but what I did do…read moreoffered some views and a quiet escape. Even had a couple deer dart in front of me on the trail.

Veterans Memorial Park is a picturesque, hidden gem, surprisingly located... in the middle of…read moreBarrington (funny for such a seemingly secluded locale). You can access the park via a dirt road, just off of West Street, next to the YMCA. Park at the YMCA or drive down the dirt road a bit to park inside. It is an easy jump skip from the East Bay Bike Path as well for those using a bipedal method of transportation. The trails are not extensive, only about 2.5 miles in total if you traverse all of the loops, but the views of Brickyard Pond are worth it. The 84-acre body of water sits on 230 acres of land, named for its history as a site of the brick-making industry in the area up until the 1940's. Due to hazardous structures in the water, swimming is not allowed. Fishing is allowed only certain times of the year since the pond is home to some herring spawning grounds. There is a boat launch as well as several points of access to the water for kayaking. Two trails, the Red and Green, make their way along the shore of the pond and into the forested acreage of the park. Summersweet plants flower everywhere along the trails, filling the air with their pleasant aroma. For the most part I stayed on trail but there were a number of unmarked routes leading who-knows-where. I explored some of these but didn't stray too far. The trails were well-marked with their colored blazes and arrow signs but with so many trails breaking off from the main loops, it was easy to get turned around. Well-kept, there were several bridges and walkways built into the path to skip over lazy moving streams and marshy areas. From their maps, it appears that several more trails looping around the pond are in the works, connecting the park to the bike patch directly. It will be wonderful once development is complete. Near the boat launch is a peaceful clearing with tables and park benches. A great place for a picnic or to simply kick back and soak up the outdoors. A nice find in downtown Barrington. As a side note: there was a surprising amount of litter in the parking lot inside the grounds... the trails were clean but some of the areas with grills and benches were visited by litter bugs and party animals. Trash, broken glass... dropped it down to 4-stars for me despite my enjoyable experience in the rest of the park.

Came here on a bright sunny day and made the most of it. Found out this time that the trail does…read moreNOT allow running because of the wildlife on the premises. Makes complete sense since the refuge hosts events for people to come learn and study about wildlife on the property. They have renovated different sections of the trail such as wooden bridges and benches along the walk. The walk is beautiful and is good for a short hike. They have different routes depending on how long to plan to walk for. Great experience for families or even by yourself to see what nature has to offer.

What a wonderful little sanctuary in Seekonk. The trails are well marked, plenty of raised walkways…read moreand water features. Free parking, easy access and quiet space, no pets allowed.

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.

If you're looking for short, level, easy path, you'll find it here. That said, in the summer, views…read moreare somewhat limited due to vegetation, and it's just 1.1 miles long, so out and back is a short 2.2 mile trek. At .8 miles (from the lot where we parked), there are two benches which offer a view of the river. There is also a lot at the other end of the trail, so the benches would be at .3 miles respectively. On the plus side, the trail is quiet and we only saw a few people. On the negative side, it's very short, it's not a loop, there are limited views in the summer, and it's not especially interesting. I wouldn't go out of my way to walk here, but if it's convenient to your locale, or your limited on time, this might be your spot!

Ghosts dams and…read morebeavers The Stillwater Scenic Trail is a walking path that runs along an old railway bed for about a mile. Flat and very easy to walk on it's a nice place for a stroll along the Woonasquatucket River and then by Stillwater Pond. Even though it isn't a long walking path it has all kinds of interesting things to look at. The trail goes right under a cool highway bridge and follows the river until it becomes Stillwater Pond. The remains of several old dams are still visible as well as evidence of lots of beaver activity. It does get a it spooky in dark or foggy weather because the trail is tucked in between the river on one side and a hill with some industrial looking places on the other. On most of the trail you feel very alone and isolated. Lots of old foundations and even some abandoned and creepy buildings are still visible. They are the remains of Stillwater Village. a place now long gone. Lots of stories about people seeing strange things and hearing odd noses while walking along this path. The last time I went it was a foggy and rainy day so it was a bit spooky but of course I didn't see or hear anything unexpected. A pleasant and different sort of walking path. You get to see some cool natural sights as well as the remains of man made structures. An interesting place best visited in the light of day

Located between Albion and Manville in Lincoln, Rhode Island, this preserve is a convenient place…read moreto stretch your legs and get a couple miles in. Relatively easy terrain with some decent ups and downs, the trails here are pretty open and follow the remnants of old cart paths and stone walls. Great views of Rochambeau Pond where largemouth bass and trout fishing is the popular activity. Greenery is in full swing at the moment (as well as the bugs). Some nice open areas within the woods where you can look out over the outcropping of rocks. Came across a small unmarked cemetery, a typical Rhode Island hike find. No markings on the stones though so I'm not sure if it's considered a small family plot or has some other kind of history. I was happy to have a GPS mapping system because the available maps and blaze system here were a little all over the place. Multiple colors and oddly placed markings. The trails are very obvious but do branch off in all different directions. The bridges here could use some updating, one was very bouncy as I gingerly traversed it. There's a great deal of street noise from the neighboring RI-99. The trails pass through some major power lines which afforded some views. Overall, a decently picaresque hike in Rhode Island; a place I would visit for some exercise and varied terrain if I lived in the area. Small parking area with space for 3 or 4 cars.

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!

Beautiful and spectacular lake out in Foster, with a gorgeous waterfall over the reservoir dam…read more Though technically you're trespassing on this land (being the reservoir for the city of Providence), lots of people walk the trail loop around the lake. On this bright mild winter's day, the walk was pleasant and tranquil through stately spruce stands and beguiling views of the water. We plan to come back in the spring when the trees start greening; and in the fall when the colors are in full glory.

A place with water…read more trees stones and lots of dead people Even though you can't actually go on the water Barden Reservoir is still a great place to hike. Since there are little dirt roads with virtually no traffic, many individuals and hiking clubs use a loop around the reservoir as a place for a nice hike through the woods when the snow or mud makes a trek through the deep woods difficult. Of course the primarily attraction of Barden Reservoir is the water. The huge reservoir is punctuated with small islands and looks like it would be a fantastic place to canoe or kayak, but I suspect the authorities would view someone boating on the public water supply rather harshly. Best just to view the reservoir as well as the cool waterfalls and numerous streams from a small distance. Another thing that becomes quite obvious is the huge abundance of stones. Boulders and walls everywhere. The whole area was heavily glaciated 20,000 years ago and the glacial debris must have made the area a nightmare for people to farm. Yet they managed quite nicely. One of the curious things that new people to the state notice is the large number of small cemeteries scattered about everywhere. Not only in the middle of the woods but also in cities and on quiet little side sides in the suburbs. Rhode Island has a thing for historical cemeteries and has preserved and protected over 3,600 on them. Most are very old and tiny things with a just family or two. There are a number of these diminutive graveyards in Barden Reservoir and I suspect they contain the remains of the original settlers that first turned the land. There is a project going on to record and document every name on every stone. Unfortunately many of the stones are sandstone which erodes very quickly and the names are no longer legible. Barden is a nice place for a easy hike, especially when you don't want to trudge through deep snow or mud and history drips from every wall and foundation. Great water views on all sides and plenty of wildlife to observe. Just make sure you thread lightly and don't disturb the dead.

Westconnaug Meadows Hiking Trail is a beautiful and serene locale to stretch your legs and breathe…read morein the fresh air. At approximately 1 mile, this loop hike allows you to clear your mind and learn a little bit about nature. The Scituate Land Trust has owned the land here for some time and they keep it very well maintained. The signage here is really neat. The trailhead is adorned with a large wooden sign identifying the hike. There are informational posts on several trees that point out various types of oak, birch, sassafras, pine, and so many more. The trail itself is very easy to follow if you pay attention (don't accidentally cross into the Scituate Reservoir property!). Some nice glacial boulders, vernal pools, and wildlife. Very peaceful, very quiet. Parking is easy and located at the baseball field near to the Scituate Animal Shelter. Seems like dogs are welcome on the property. Worth a visit!