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A Wandering Guide To Rhode Island
A Wandering Guide To Rhode Island
to Rhode Island
Short and long walks for all to enjoy
Lianna M. Blakeman
Published by Lianna Blakeman Publishers
An independent publisher
89 Allagash Trail, Narraganset, RI 02882
www.lblakeman.wordpress.com/
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Lianna M. Blakeman
Table of Contents
Map of Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4
Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5
King Preserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7
John H. Chaffee Wildlife Preserve. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 9
Canonchet Trail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 11
Long and Ell Ponds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 15
Stepstone Falls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 19
Black Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 23
Lincoln Woods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 25
Napatree Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 27
Fort Wetherill State Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 31
Barden Reservoir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 33
Pulaski Park-Peck Pond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 35
Sachuest Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 37
Lincoln Woods
Barden Reservoir
Stepstone Falls
John H. Chaffee
Wildlife REfuge
Sachuest Park
Canonchet Trail
Fort Wetherill State Park
King Preserve
Black Point
Napatree Point
Notes:
I followed Ju-
lia’s trail until the
Stoney Brook Loop
where I then turned
left and walked
clockwise. This took
me to the pond over-
look sooner, where I
could sit and take in
the water and the
nature around me.
King Preserve | 8
John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge Narragansett, RI
Easy trail | 15 minutes| Sneakers necessary
W hile sometimes
want a long, arduous
walk to pull your mind away
you walkers before I even go out
of my car. A golden retriever
was very excited to see me and
I saw a picturesque view of a
green field with an old rock
wall and rickety tree, I was on
from your troubles and life, tried to pull its owner closer to a mission to figure out what
other times you just want to me to sniff me out. I made my this entire nature refuge had
sit in a beautiful, peaceful way down a paved road leading to offer.
place and simply step away off into the wetland. I was hop- Directly underneath the
from everything. I found ex- ing it would change to a rough, main road’s bridge was a path
actly that at the John H. Cha- dirt path, but I quickly found that led down to the river and
fee National Wildlife Refuge. that that was not where I was wetland. It was a short 30-
As this was my first time going. The paved road ended at foot path, but it opened up to
being in this refuge, I wasn’t a circle, a cul de sac, and I was a beautiful view of the water,
sure what exactly I was going forced to turn around. Back at birds chirping, and sprawling
to find. Quickly I realized that the parking lot, I had to accept wetlands. On such a gorgeous
this is a very busy area… for the fact that I had gone in the day as this in September, peo-
dog walkers! I passed two dog wrong direction. And though ple were out and about through
Canonchet Trail | 12
was nothing to say about this sible to only walk along a short dragged my feet and tried to take
moment but breathless. portion of the path, I could as long a time as possible before
I felt that I could stay looking see how it continued on much I had to face my reality. Then,
out over this wetland for ages, further. A sign about a half mile out of the corner of my eye, I see
but then the bugs appeared. Due down shows a little more back- a small grey bunny scurrying off
probably to a combination of ground of the path you are walk- into the woods. I crouch down
the late hour and proximity to ing along and some more infor- low to get a photo, but he ran
a wetland, a swarm of mosqui- mation about the types of plants away too fast for me.
tos and other bugs attacked me and the area you are seeing right Light on my feet after seeing
where I stood, forcing me to run now. These little additions to a a bit of wildlife in this hidden
out back into the woods. There trail makes the walk so much oasis, I’m not paying too close
I wasn’t attacked as much from more interesting as you realize attention to my surroundings.
the insects, but I still had to walk that the trail is more than just Suddenly, I find myself staring
quite quickly along the path to a stroll through the woods but right at a deer in the path in
avoid their biting attacks. enriched with history and soul front of me. The deer looks at
While my time made it pos- On the way back to my car, I me, then I look at it. And without
Canonchet Trail | 14
Long and Ell Ponds Hopkinton, RI
Moderate trail | 1-2 hours | Boots necessary
Notes:
Keep your eyes peeled on your walks and you
may come across some of nature’s wonders. To
the left are some puffball mushoroms I came
discovered during this walk. CAUTION - unless
you’re with professionals and they say it’s okay,
don’t eat anything that you find walking in the
woods. You never know what you may be putting
into your body.
Stepstone Falls | 20
walking along the road and across the waterfalls. Wanting (which were most likely puff-
path. After we parked right to see where it would take us, ball mushrooms) growing on
next to the river, we made our we decided to keep going and a fallen log, a trail used for
way down to the waterfalls. continue enjoying the changing horseback riding, and an old
Right next to the road, it wasn’t colors. foundation probably of a farm.
too difficult to find the falls This unexpected path took It was a trail for slow walk-
and take in the rushing water. us deeper into the woods, far ing and long talking. Not a very
Though nothing like the Niag- away from people and civi- strenuous or demanding trail,
ara Falls, these small cascading lization. A gorgeous wooden Lauren and I were able to catch
falls had a petite beauty about bridge took us back over the up more with what we had
them that pulled us and many rushing river and the path going on in our lives and could
others in. Walking all around was littered with fallen golden take in the beauty of the chang-
the waterfalls, we discovered a leaves. Along the way, we came ing world around us. Spending
trail that kept going down and across mysterious mushrooms most of our times completing
Stepstone Falls | 22
Black Point Narragansett, RI
Easy trail | .5-1 hour | Sneakers necessary
Black Point | 24
Lincoln Woods Lincoln, RI
Easy trail | 1-2 hours | Sneakers necessary
While the road circling the pond is very easily navigated, a few trails off to the side provide for a more chal-
lenging option for those not afraid to get their hands dirty.
Lincoln Woods | 26
Napatree Point Westerly, RI
Easy trail | 1-3 hours | Sneakers necessary
Napatree Point | 28
deserted, crisp beaches during town turn left onto Route 1A south, turn left onto Watch
the winter months have an and Shore Road. From the Hill Road and continue for 1.6
unparalleled beauty that can’t south, take Route 1 North to- miles. Stay straight onto Wau-
be ignored. Whatever your ward Westerly. After crossing winnet Avenue for .2 miles and
preference, any beach at Rhode into Rhode Island, turn right then stay straight again onto
Island is sure to make for an onto Main Street and follow Bay Street. After a quarter
incredible walk. this for half a mile. Then turn mile, turn right on Fort Road
left onto Beach street which which is at a large parking lot
Finding the Trailhead: will become Route 1A south. and small shopping plaza. Find
From the north, take Route 1 From Route 1A South, after 5 parking here or further along
South and right after Charles- miles coming from the north closer to the cabanas.
and 1.5 miles coming from the
Walking up along an easy wide, beautiful world around 1.5 miles. After a slight left,
path, we found ourselves on us all. Conanicus Avenue turns into
a rock cliff overlooking the Walcott Avenue. Continue here
Bay. These rock cliffs line all Finding the Trailhead: for about a half mile. Then turn
around the park over the water, Heading south on Route 138 left onto Fort Wetherill Road at
creating a fun adventure for East, take the exit for James- the sign for the park. Parking
kids and adults of all ages. It town right before the tolls and lots are on the right side of the
was nice coming up here after Pell Bridge. Continue straight road and the boat ramp is all
a long week and taking in the onto Conanicus Avenue for the way at the end of the road.
Fort Wetherill | 32
Barden Reservoir Foster, RI
Easy trail | 1-2 hours | Sneakers necessary
Barden Reservoir | 34
Pulaski Park Jamestown, RI
Easy trail | 1-3 hours | Sneakers necessary
Sachuest Point | 38
Created for the purpose of completing an Honors Project.