We find this a very enjoyable place for a quiet walk. Although not all man made sounds are masked,…read morethe sounds of crickets and birds and the wind in the tree tops gently serenaded us on our most recent walk through the wood. Easy to find, the gravel car park is a very good size. There is a covered information kiosk off the car park and another three-sided sign board at the trail head, along with a small covered Trail Map box on a post. Signs everywhere tell you this is *not* a dog friendly location. The early part of this trail is one person wide, fairly even ground. It wends it's way along the edge of two meadows. After the second meadow, the path becomes much broader and remains fairly clear of roots and rocks until you reach the old stone fireplace at Carr Pond where the pathway turns into the wood and becomes more difficult to navigate. If you have a sturdy, off-road baby pram or wheelchair, you may be able to travers this early part of the trail with a little assistance. You will need to navigate around the 'no dog' sign in the middle of the path at the trail head and the narrow meadow portion. After that the trail widens and would be easier to traverse in dry conditions. We branched off on to the CP trail into the wood. The trail takes a short, steep climb at the beginning and then levels out. Single wide, the trail is clearly blazed, even under a carpet of autumn foliage. CP trail is the white trail mark and signs for other trails are very well signed. Carr Pond is about half way round on the CP trail, before looping back and returning to the meadow. We 'strolled' the trail, enjoying being in the wood, stopped at the pond a couple of times to enjoy the serenity. You can most definitely walk it faster, but we took about an hour to make the loop. There are no benches to rest on along this trail, or to sit and enjoy the pond views. In the wooded section you need to keep an eye on roots and rocks. There are a couple of short boardwalks over low area near the pond. It was cooler under the trees making me glad I remembered a hat and jacket along with my water. No facilities of any kind are available, so go, before you visit. Definitely an easy trail for those who are sturdy on their feet. Wear appropriate footwear, and enjoy the quiet peace of the wood and pond.

This is one of my favorite hikes to do with little kids. It has a great loop with a second longer…read moreloop if you want it. I love the pond that it surrounds and we always see signs of beaver activity by it. There's an old fireplace on the hike that is my kids go to spot to stop for a snack. The only downside to this hike is in the winter if it snows and you'd like to snow shoe. It's NOT well marked when there is snow on the ground. The trail markers for one trail are white which make it very difficult to follow after a fresh snow fall. A friend of mine and I did it years ago and ended up having to turn around. If there is snow on the tree trunks it made it impossible to follow the white trail markers. The yellow trail is the longer loop and we never made it that far to find those markers. That's my only complaint!

So if you've ever seen the Wes Anderson movie "Moonrise Kingdom" - and you've hiked this trail to…read moreLong Pond - you'll recognize the scenery around the pond from the top of a massive glacial boulder. Regardless of its Hollywood connections (and my hats off to the camera crew and actors for getting up there!), this is quite the hiking area, though not for the faint-hearted. It does involve a bit of clambering up and down boulders, so be sure to bring a stout set of hiking boots or shoes ... and I'd recommend long pants to deal with the rocks and branches as you're more than likely to be finding yourself scooching down them on your butt at some points. (Yours truly wore only cross-trainers and boy did I regret it: I could not get any traction to summit that huge glacial formation and had to settle vicariously for the distant oohs and ahhs of wonderment from my wife and daughter). We started at the North Road trailhead for the main Narragansett Trail which is marked by yellow blazes but be aware (or beware?) that the turn-off to this spectacular view of the pond - while marked by a big red arrow on a rock - is an unmarked trail, so be sure to take mental pictures of the turns and forks so you don't get lost on the way back. But it sure is worth making this deviation! The main trial can be quite the hike and the opposite direction will take you into Connecticut if you so wish. There is supposed to be another unmarked trail opposite the one going to Long Pond which will take you to Ell Pond, but we weren't able to find the entrance to that trail from the main one - we're guessing probably because it's less traveled and maintained. In addition to Long pond, we were impressed by the large amount of rhododendrons in the forest - we promised ourselves to visit in the spring when they'd be blossoming as that must be a sight to see. This Narragansett Trail area is definitely worth repeat visits! Please note that there are no privys or running water at the trailhead - and parking areas are sparse.

The Long Pond-Ell Pond Nature Area is a spectacular location to stretch your legs and take in some…read morefantastic views of rural Rhode Island. As an avid hiker in the White Mountains of New Hampshire... it was wonderful to find beauty in one's own backyard. It was a crisp Saturday afternoon that I found myself driving down a dirt road in Hopkinton to the Long Pond trailhead. The drive down North Road (aka Old Rockville Road) itself was even enjoyable. The narrow dirt road meandered through branches, heavy with yellowed leaves until the obvious intersection of a couple of cars with several pull offs. There is room for 2 cars at this trailhead, with a pull off for another 2 just before the small parking area. The trail is well-marked with yellow blazes on the trees. Be mindful of who is participating in this hike... it isn't quite simply a leisurely walk in the woods. There are many rock scrambles, some elevation gain, and quite a bit of maneuvering to go to and fro. As you head down the trail from the parking area I mentioned, you reach a crossroads of sorts. If you turn left you hike a short ways until you reach a very large rock formation. At the top is wonderful outlook onto Long Pond. It is a great place to lunch. If you turn right you head toward views of Ell Pond (I didn't go this way on my trip). If you head "straight" which is actually kind of towards the right as well you descend into a forested valley and towards other adventures in the area. The hike to this crossroads is quite manageable and a quick trip. The beauty of this area is that you can make your hike as long or as short as you'd like. It is not a loop so you can decide to turn back at any point and be quite aware of how far and long it will take you. Great in any season I am sure... Fall was perfect. Wish I had gone when there was a bit more foliage to look at but stunning none-the-less. Quiet, serene, a joy to visit. I will most certainly visit this area again and traverse more of its trails. Be sure to wear your blaze orange during hunting season, September to February generally. I'm not sure how much hunting is allowed in this area but I'd rather be safe than sorry!

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.

There is a good sized dirt parking area here with security lights. A trail map is located at the…read moretrail head and the paths are very clearly blazed. You can see they have been through and cleared winter debris from the trail. The terrain is rocky with plenty of roots and has a slight incline. Nothing too strenuous. An excellent location to get into the woods for a quick day hike.

This is such a hidden gem! I would def recommend making the trek out to enjoy it. We followed a…read moreroute on all trails but took our own way sometimes too making our hike about 6 miles. It wasn't very green yet but we cannot wait to come back in a month. There were some deer tracks, two garter snakes, a frog, and lots pretty birds. Oh and a crab! Our pup did great too. Make sure to check for ticks. We found a few on him!

The Ephraim Hunt Ministerial Land is a conservation area maintained by the Rehoboth Land Trust that…read moreoffers several well maintained pathways through the local woodlands. At approximately 64 acres, this land is a quiet, peaceful place to stretch your legs. Tucked away on Pond Street, there is a dirt parking lot that allows several cars to pull in off the road. The land was purchased by the Rehoboth Land Trust when the Congregational Church at the center of town required funds to repair their sanctuary ceiling and steeple. Wanting to maintain the land as undeveloped, this area remains open to the public to soak in the sights and sounds of nature. Hunting is allowed on the property in-season so be sure to take precautions, as appropriate. Swamps, old fields, brooks, and a high knoll mark the land. A map of the area greets you when you pass through the main gate, though I feel like there were more trails than what was pictured. All-in-all, there are only so many ways to go so its hard to get lost. There are some ups and downs and a lovely little boardwalk that helps you traverse some of the wetlands. The trails were very well maintained and easy to traverse - the blue to orange path gives you a nice loop through the land. The furthest end of the loop skirts the Rehoboth Village Cemetery if you want to make a quick detour.

I hope someday that CT will get enough money to be able to upgrade some of its parks…read more We came here as part of their Sky's the Limit Challenge, and it was a really interesting experience. On paper, this trail goes 5.8 miles from Moosup to the RI border, where it joins the RI Trestle Trail. It starts out at a nice, beautifully framed railroad bridge in Moosup, and then heads off, as a nicely paved path. Then, at Barber Hill Road, about 3/4 of a mile in, the paved part stops. It gets kind of fire road like for a while, and, well, it gets GNARLY. We were there in winter, and there was a lot of frozen and semi frozen water on the path. I am guessing it might stay that way year round (wet at least) because there are plenty of desire trails along the sides at times, allowing you to bypass the wettest parts. Eventually, it starts undulating, and this is because a lot of dirt bikers seem to like to use this trail, in opposition to what the regulations say the trail is meant to be used for. One dirt biker politely made his way past us, so they at least have some etiquette, even though they're doing some erosion damage to the trail. We didn't hike the full path, and I'm really glad we didn't try to take our bikes on this, as it would have been impossible. Like I said, maybe someday there will be money to turn this into a real rail trail all the way east. Until then, make sure you wear good hiking boots!

This trail runs along side moosup river. There are a couple waterfalls that can be viewed. Sections…read moreof trail are paved this is a small section behind Rogers Corp. On River Rd. Trail runs into Rhode island.

I love love love this particular hike. I would characterize the trails as intermediate with rocky…read moreareas that require you to pay close attention to what you are doing. The trails are clearly marked but I recommend you take a photo of the smaller trail maps posted throughout the mountain for reference. Because the area is so large with many loop- arounds, having a map photo will prove very helpful. There area several areas near the top with beautiful scenic overlooks you just won't want to miss. This is a dandy hike!

This is a beautiful mountain not far from the Connecticut border. We've been here a few times since…read morediscovering it and really enjoy it. It's a gradual incline at first but still gives you a good workout and is steeper then it looks! Down the road there is another little preserve area with a lake that is perfect for an easy run without too much hill. Very beautiful area and perfect for a late summer and/or fall hike!

One of the best trails I've been on. Most of the trail has wooden planks, and the rest of it…read moreyou're usually hugging a gate to the military base. The path from the parking lot takes you right to the waterfront, and you can continue on following the path along the gate (although I didn't go all the way around). Paths are clear and easy to follow to. As a side note, be wary of GPS. Mine wanted to take me into the military base, but the entrance road to the parking lot is next to the road to the military base; the last thing you want is the military coming after you. But the signs are clearly marked, so as long as you pay attention to the road and signs and not the GPS you should be fine.

Tucked away with a small parking lot that may fill on busy days. It is a short hike, but the views…read moreare great once you reach the coastline. Went after few days of rain with no concern for muddy areas as the boardwalks keep you out of the wet areas. Good short hike for rocky coastal view and didn't see anyone else during the whole hike!

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.