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!

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!

East Brimfield Lake, also known as, Long Pond. It is a nice, lightly developed body of water along…read morethe Quinabaug River Canoe (Kayak) Trail. The Lake/Pond is frequented by fishermen, canoeists, and kayakers. It's easily paddled along the circumference, just watch for a few shallow stones and stumps. The entire body of water covers approximately 420 acres. There are three sections, North, Middle, South. North to Middle requires a short portage across a narrow bridge. Middle to South is passable below a Route 20 over pass. The South section leads further to the South on the River Trail. We usually park on the North side of Route 20 at a public boat launch and cast off into the Middle Section.

Nice trail system along the Blackstone River Water Trail. Limited walking trails but scenic and…read morepeaceful. Located in south Uxbridge. Great place to launch a kayak and explore untouched areas of Massachusetts. River leads to Rhode Island and into the Atlantic Ocean..

Stopped by on my way to last resort. Nice little place. Small parking lot, which always prevented…read moreme from stopping sooner. Great views, looks like a resevoir.

Peaceful place for meditation or contemplation! It is fairly quiet and located across the street…read morefrom Wesco Oil. The place is nicely maintained and what you take in, you will have to take out. Parking is easy. There are classes offered for paddleboarding.

We were looking for a short hike with a water view and decided to check out the Quinebaug Lake…read moreState Park, and the Quinebaug Lake Loop Trail. According to Wikipedia, the Quinebaug Lake State Park comprises 181 acres in the town of Killingly, Connecticut. The state park offers fishing, hiking and non-motorized boating on the lake (aka the Wauregan Reservoir). Google Map directions took us to a dead end street, which does offer access to the trail, but you may/may not be able to park there. There are no signs indication that you can park here. However, they park does have a large, free to park, parking lot though it can be tricky to find. Look for a paved access road off of Shepard Hill Road, which is about a half mile long, and takes you to a large gravel parking lot. The lake trail which is a fairly easy trail and 2.1 miles long, takes about an hour to circumnavigate. Traveling clockwise, the footing is initially rocky, but gets progressively easier after the first quarter mile. We had no problem on this trail, but did notice that Camp Quinebaug is located about half way across the lake. Since it was closed, we walked through the camp and continued on the trail. There are no trespassing signs there, so we're not sure if you can cut through the camp in the summer, or if there is a longer way around it. We looked up the camp and found some interesting information: Camp Quinebaug is a summer Day Camp in Killingly. It is a camp for children with developmental disabilities, funded and operated by the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services and The Friends of Camp Quinebaug. It provides a unique summer camp experience for school age children with developmental disabilities and has the only beach on the lake. Approximately 90-100 campers per season enjoy the benefits of this 6 week fully accessible camp environment. We enjoyed our Quinebaug Lake Loop Trail hike though we found Pulaski State Park, which is about 20 minutes away, to have a more beautiful setting and interesting hike around their pond. Pulaski also has picnic tables and a rest room, but it's likely much busier in the summer!

With the weather warming up, I've been excited to get back out on some Rhode Island trails. This…read moreone was a great spot to soak in the seasonal shift, explore a bit of the state's historical landscape, and breathe some fresh air. The preserve has multiple entrances to its many trails. I parked at the one next to the Dollar Tree on Mendon Road--convenient, though not exactly the most picturesque start to a hike. There's something a little mysterious about slipping into the woods from a shopping plaza; a bit awkward, sure, but I still appreciate these green spaces being preserved, even when they're nestled between businesses. The trail system here is extensive and very well-blazed. I started in the 52-acre Ballou parcel, taking the white trail to the blue loop, which connects to both the red and yellow trails in the 132-acre Blackall parcel. Rock walls crisscross the landscape--remnants of pastures, woodlots, and even apple orchards, according to posted info. The yellow trail is said to follow an old horse ring. Stone piles dot the land, likely cleared by farmers long ago. The trails themselves are impressively maintained, with cleared blowdowns and small boardwalks to help with wetter areas. There are some gentle ups and downs that get your legs moving, and on my early spring visit, the greenery was just starting to come alive. Jack-in-the-pulpits were popping up everywhere, along with skunk cabbage, violets, ferns, blue azures, and wood flowers. I also spotted a small snake sunning itself mid-trail and plenty of squirrels. The area is known for Cumberlandite, so that might be a fun thing to explore further on a return trip. While it's easy to get immersed in parts of the hike, you are reminded now and then that this preserve is surrounded by development. Private homes, old equipment, a large tank structure, and the sound of nearby traffic occasionally pull you out of the nature experience. I also noticed some trash here and there, which I tried to pack out. Two utility corridors--one for electrical lines and one for a gas line--cut across the trail system as well. Not deal-breakers, but worth mentioning. I crossed paths with several other hikers, which is somewhat rare for me on Rhode Island trails. Most had dogs on leashes, and it was nice to see others enjoying the area. I covered about four miles with minimal overlap (just the out-and-back parts that connect the loops). In a state where many trails are short, I really appreciate ones that offer some distance. If you haven't been, I'd definitely recommend checking this place out--especially if you're looking for a longer, peaceful hike with a touch of history. I'll be back for sure, maybe with a magnet to go hunting for that Cumberlandite.

We've hiked here many times and enjoy the lake trail which encircles most of the lake. There used…read moreto be a bridge allowing easy access across one end of the lake, but that is gone, and it's a long hike to make it all the way around. There also a dam at one end, and beautiful views of the lake. The lake is 200 acres, and the park includes 24 campsites, a boat launch, picnic tables and shelters, an 18-hole disc golf course, miles of trails, boating, hunting, and fishing. The lake purportedly offers largemouth and smallmouth bass, pickerel, perch, carp, and sunfish. The trails are now nicely marked, thanks to an Eagle Scout project by Giovanni Couture, Troop 66 in May 2022. The project also added benches with views of the lake. The footing can be a little challenging with rocks, roots, downed trees, etc. In the fall, the fallen leaves can make it even trickier, and quite slippery when wet. This is a very pleasant park to visit, hike, or fish. There has always been ample parking when we visited, and I think swimming is prohibited.

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.