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    The Walkabout Trail

    4.1 (9 reviews)

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    Brian S.

    A trail that's a gift from some friends from down under. Most trails in New England have been around for centuries and the exact origins and meaning of the names have frequently been lost to the mists of time. The Walkabout Trail is an exception. Even though many paths have been running through this area for a long, long time, the Walkabout Trail was cleared and cut by Australian sailors in 1965. Their ship, the Perth, was docked in the city of Newport, a few hours away. The story goes that the sailors wanted to escape the bacchanalian debauchery that was Newport at the time so went out into the deep woods and carved out a nice trial. Even though it's hard to imagine sailors actually wanting to avoid debauchery, the trail was named Walkabout, after the wandering predilections of the Australian aborigines, The Walkabout Trail has three main paths, a choice of 2 mile, 6 mile, or 8 mile loops. Lots of ups and downs but no real steep climbs. Plenty of loose rock, exposed roots and mud to keep a hiker's attention but it can't be called a strenous or dangerous hike. Just a nice stroll through some beautiful woods. The trail goes by Wilbur Pond and Bowdish Reservoir and has some interesting water views and If you look carefully you might notice ducks, kingfishers and geese. The forest is mostly pine, hemlock and Mountain Laural and deer, mink, raccoon, muskrats beavers and some cool snakes can occasionally be seen. The trail gets a bit crowded in the summer and is a far more pleasant place to hike in the colder weather, especially after a nice snow. Because of the proximity of fresh water the bugs can be extremely aggressive in the spring and summer. Of course remember to wear bright orange during hunting season. It's not only the law but a good way to avoid having your head as a trophy for a myopic, plastered or trigger happy hunter.

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    Wolf Hill Forest Preserve

    Wolf Hill Forest Preserve

    4.3
    (21 reviews)
    11.2 mi

    Great hike close to PVD - also a great overlook of the city in the distance! My husband and I hiked…read moreabout 2 miles here. The different trails intersect frequently, which means you can really make a hike however long you'd like. There was a QR code to scan to get the trail map where we started our hike. Everything was well marked and well maintained. There was also a small boardwalk area to keep you out of a swampy area. Parking was a bit confusing. We parked in the Carltons Trail cul de sac which had both "parking for trail" and "no parking" signs on the same pole. We took the risk and parked because the "no parking" sign looked a little less official. The leaves had just come down from the trees, which made the path difficult to navigate at some points; we kept tripping over rocks on the path that you couldn't see. I may reserve this hike more for spring and summer for this reason!

    This is a tough series of trails!…read more Ninety percent of the hike is littered with rocks and roots - mostly rocks. This is entirely on a hill with steep grade changes starting at the very beginning. I gave only 4 stars because there are not enough flashes and there are many side trails not flashed or on a map. There are some amazing rock formations, but not enough to thrill me as the hike was too mentally taxing for a Sunday hike. Be sure to wear serious hiking boots, trekking poles, water and snacks. Trekking poles are an absolute must to help with balance and navigation through the rocky grades. I was guided by the Kostrzewa book, but needed a topo map for actual guidance. I will suggest that for anyone else. I can check this hike off my list of Rhode Island trails. I won't return.

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    Wolf Hill Forest Preserve
    Wolf Hill Forest Preserve
    Wolf Hill Forest Preserve

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    Steere Hill Trail

    Steere Hill Trail

    4.4
    (5 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    The Steere Hill farm Conservation Area and Phillips Farm is an absolutely gorgeous piece of land…read more It's one of those places that feels like several different hikes all rolled into one. Hundreds of acres of wetlands, wide-open fields, miles of trails, and nesting grounds for birds. The open fields here are definitely the highlight. Complete with historic cemetery, picnic areas, benches to soak in the view and listen to nature. On my last visit the lupine, wide variety of wildflowers, and steady summer breeze made me linger longer than I usually do when I'm trying to pack the miles in. The history is abundant here with old foundations, stone walls, abandoned hay balers and manure spreaders, former orchards, beech tree groves, areas where livestock roamed, and so much more. The trails were incredibly well marked. Their online trail map is precisely marked. Wildlife was abundant and included a possum, frog, birds, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and countless butterflies. Some sections were more popular than others so I had a mix of alone time paired with hiker encounters. I put in about 8.5 miles with very little repeating which is a nice perk when you're looking to increase mileage and have something interesting to look at while doing so. The trails are well maintained and fairly wide. Definitely check this place out!

    I'm always on the look for a new trail running spot. This spot is a well maintained, multi faceted,…read moreinterwoven trail system. You can do shorter 2.5 ish miles or extend it to your pleasure. A nice mix of grass and gravel trails. Not too flat, not too hilly. Some spots offer supreme views of this part of the state. It even has a portapotty on the trail! Lace up and head out!

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    Mushrooms
    Mushrooms
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    Sprague Farm

    Sprague Farm

    4.0
    (3 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    History on your own backyard! Remains of farms, homesteads and amazing trails are awaiting you…read more Don't miss this easy trail area with miles of area to take in. Parking area provided and trails are well marked

    Foundations cemeteries…read more and history Sprague Farm is a roughly one thousand acre hiking area that served for generations as a farm and agricultural center. It is now owned by the town of Glocester and has been allowed to revert back to it's natural state. Even though the trees and plants are all grown back many signs of it's agrarian past are still present. Lots of stone walls and cool old foundations, many of them massive are still around and give a hint of what the area was like hundreds of years ago. Some huge trees are growing from the edifices, giving quiet testimony that the places have been abandoned for a long, long time. I'm not sure if any organized archaeological digs have ever been done but the sheer number of foundations and rusty old metal thingies just hanging around suggests that this would be a fascinating place for some digging and research. The area is also a haven for wildlife. Numerous deer, foxes, fishers, and a large number of birds including cool hawks and owls can be seen by the careful and quiet observer. Even the huge pilated woodpecker has been reported seen in these woods. Recently nests of the black-throated blue warbler, long thought to be extinct have been found. The hiking itself is quit easy with no difficult or dangerous climbs or cliffs. Just a nice pleasant place to quietly walk, look and explore, with interesting things around every corner or hill. Just poking around all the old foundations will consume several hours. A cool old Sprague family cemetery is also located way out in the middle of the woods. It served the family for generations. The area supplied generations of farmers a great place to grow their food and to live and prosper. Once the people left the trees, plants and critters have once again taken over the land with a vengeance.

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    Sprague Farm
    Sprague Farm
    Great foundation

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    Great foundation

    The Walkabout Trail - hiking - Updated June 2026

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