Big River Management Area, is a Big Area! We have been on several of their trails, parking in a…read morevairety of places. It's a diverse area and one of our 'go to' spots for getting into nature. Our past few hikes have been around Carr Pond. We drive down Division Street, to Carr Pond Road, and park street side. There are a couple of parking lots, both before Carr Pond Road, and after. Just depends on how long you want your hike to last, and where you want to walk. There are DEM signs posted on a tree and obvious signs that cars have been parking in this particular spot on Carr Pond Road. The hike around the pond has taken just over 3 miles to well over 4.5 miles. We usually wander through the interconnecting trails as the mood strikes us. It is important, when taking a walk quite this long, that you DO bring a bottle or two of water per person. You will also appreciate bug spray. I have forgotten the bug spray, and although definitely 'do-able', not quite as enjoyable. This particular summer, we have had a lot of rain and mushrooms are everywhere along the trail. A few large puddles have developed along the trail that are full of small toads (I just love these cute little critters). The trails are very well maintained for the most part and it is easy to walk 'around' these low lying areas. A few less travelled paths are a bit over grown, but nothing that isn't easily navigable. The pond itself is large with a variety of areas where you can picnic (bug spray), meditate and just enjoy the serenity of the pond. There are also a number of old building foundations, dams, rock walls and a historical cemetary. We use a phone app to track our hikes as we do tend to wander and it's a good way to see when we are close to our pathway out. After a few visits, you begin to recognize where you are but the first couple of trips can be questionable. The change is altitude is minimal with a couple of paths that have a good 'up grade' (or down grade as the case may be). You do need quality footware here as the paths are a variety of gravelly, rocky, roots and dirt. It change from one type to another on any of the individual paths. The trails are color coded if you want to stick to just one. The path width can also chagee dramatically from four person wide to barely one person wide on any given trail. It's best to be prepared for all possibilities. Most of the path around Carr pond is in shade but if you wander into other areas of the BIg River Management Area, you may be in full sun for most of the walk, so plan to wear a hat, bring sunscreen, have water and maybe a snack. Most of all, Have Fun!

Roomy and extensive trails that will loop you around two bodies of water - Carrs Pond and Tarbox…read morePond - but also many side trails that crisscross and branch off the main ones. If you're new to this preserve - as we were - better download the AllTrails app onto your smartphone as unfortunately, trail blazes are virtually non-existent and there's no map posted at the trailhead. But it is nice making your way to the two lily-covered ponds, though viewing them in the height of summer is tough with all the leaves and undergrowth. We intend to visit again in the fall (when the colors should be spectacular!) and early winter.

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!

A very cool very old place…read more with two names. Pardon Gray Preserve is frequently called Weetamoo Woods but they are actually two different places that just happen to be right next to each other. Weetamoo Woods is owned by town of Tiverton and Pardon Gray is owned by the Tiverton Land Trust and together they make up almost 700 acres and since you can go from one to the other without even knowing it doesn't matter what you call the area. The name Weetamoo is from a female sachem that was the leader of the Pocasset tribe and probably married to King Philip's brother. Way back in 1675 King Philip's War devastated the area and many streets and parks are named after him or his original name Metacomet. Pardon Gray was in the Revolutionary War and is buried in a clump of trees in a small family plot. The entire area is dripping with history and the paths and trails are ancient and probably have been used for centuries. The hiking isn't particular difficult but has some nice climbs and varied terrain. One steep climb to a rocky summit even gives a distant view of the ocean. Tons of massive stone walls and huge boulders are everywhere and lots of old foundations and cellar holes reflect the history of the area. It does get swampy and buggy in the spring because of all the water but that also attracts lots of cool wildlife. One particularly nice thing about these woods is the silence. In the winter few people walk these trails and once deep inside you are far enough away from the few roads that you can no longer hear any traffic. No planes seem to fly over the area so you hear absolutely nothing but running water or rustling of the trees. A great place to get away from modern civilization and experience history, quiet and nature.

Definitely a top favorite walk in the state! Even in the winter when the trees are bare, there is…read moreso much beauty in the delicate fallen birch leaves underfoot, quiet trickle of streams, and resilient, diverse mosses and lichens. I hadn't been here in a few years and was so psyched to see maps available, pointing out the special points of natural and historical interest. The addition of the colored metal arrow blazes are a major improvement for helping walkers navigate their way around the network of trails. The scramble up massive glacier rocks to the outlook behind the old mill ruins and arch bridge is not to be missed. People love to bring their dogs here! A little RI paradise for dogs... and people. Just beyond Tiverton's 4 Corners so delicious options for picnics or post-hike ice cream.

I appreciate this expanding greenway in downtown Providence. Gardens, walking paths and memorials…read morehave been installed over the years and the 195 District park takes you closer to Fox Point. Enter the walkway from Dyer St and on your right, cross the newly opened little bridge parallel to the river. You are now on the Urban Coastal Greenway to Point St. Park. Or, walk straight, cross the pedestrian bridge over the river, turn right and follow the walkway to a new open greenspace. Either way, these new segments of the East Coast Greenway bring green spaces, places to bike, walk, meet up, and be with nature by a running river. There are plans to bring even more food vendors to the park during warm months on the west side of the river by Dyer St. This is in addition to the food trucks that park on the east side by the pedestrian bridge already. Beer? Coffee? Music? Snack? This park is becoming the place to be.

This 7-acre park is located right on the Providence River. The Michael S. Van Leesten Bridge…read moreconnects the East and West portion of the park. There are many events that occur there. Currently, The Guild PVD Beer Garden and various food trucks are there from May to October. There is also an ice cream vendor. The park connects with Point Street Park. The whole area is beautiful and well kept. A fun place to take a stroll, get some food nearby since it's central to everything, or food from the food truck, beers, and ice cream for dessert. When the weather is nice, this park is a great place to visit with beautiful views of the river and cityscape.

I took a walk around the Turner Reservoir Loop Trail in East Providence (about 3.25 miles) and had…read moresuch a good time out there. The trail's easy and mostly well-kept, with a mix of wooded paths, quiet road sections, and lovely stretches along the water. There was a nice breeze coming off the reservoir, and despite a few muddy spots, it was an easy, peaceful loop to take in the sights. Wildlife was out in full force--robins everywhere, a swan, Canadian geese with goslings, a couple of mallards, double-crested cormorants, a great blue heron, two eastern cottontails, a sunbathing turtle, and one very unfortunate (and very deceased) muskrat right on the trail. It's always a bit of everything in nature. The flowers were equally impressive. I came across the biggest patch of pink lady's slippers I've ever seen--easily over 100 in bloom. The Allegheny blackberry brambles and Blue Bugleweed were flowering too, so there was color everywhere. Really felt like spring was showing off. One thing to note: a few parts of the trail get close to residential areas and cross some busier roads, which slightly breaks the immersion, but the bulk of it feels tucked away in nature. Definitely a trail I'd recommend if you're looking for an easy, rewarding loop with lots of wildlife and wildflowers to take in. A great way to spend an afternoon.

This is basically an extension of Hunt's Mill, which is across the street. Parking in front, use…read morethe right side your first time visiting. Lots of birds including Blue Herring. The water is beautiful around sunset. Not many bugs and a nice place to get exercise.

So don't let my 3-star rating put you off too much from visiting this place! If you're here for…read morethe Woodland Trail, you might be dismayed by having first to traverse a working farm with its attendant equipment, out-buildings, fencing, and compost piles (which is why I gave the overall experience 3-stars rather than 4) - but once you get into the trail proper, it's quite beautiful and peaceful. So peaceful in fact, that we had a thrilling encounter with a coywolf sunning itself on a large boulder! There was no danger to us - the coywolf was no doubt more wary of us than us of it (and was aware of us long before we saw it), but once it knew we spotted it, it leisurely got up and sauntered off without a backward glance. The Woodland Trail is fairly well-marked, has elegant beech trees scattered throughout, a babbling brook, and the loop can be completed in about 30-40 minutes at a moderate pace. A hidden gem in East Greenwich and my hat's off to the East Greenwich Land Trust for preserving both these woodlands and the working farm.

A historic farmland where you can walk around for a 1.5 miles through pastures and woods. Pat's…read morePastured main farm is located here and you'll see their pigs, chickens, and ducks hanging out and grazing. From the parking lot/trailhead, we meandered past the farm and into the woods. The trail markings are easy to spot and the trails were clear and super easy to walk. No huge hills. Relatively flat. Good for little kids, probably not too great for strollers, though. Bring your dog as long as your pet is on a leash. We saw two other couples -- and, unfortunately two garter snakes as well -- and it was great to be out in the woods and fields by ourselves. Quiet and peaceful.

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.

A nice little trail(s) in Smithfield near the police station. Waterfront views and access too…read more Crosses over a street near beginning. Parking on the street and a small parking lot too. Trail was well maintained and is a good walk. Not entirety a nature person, but a good walk/hike is good once and again.

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!