Across from the tulip garden, you can't miss the park. It looks like a regular farm with a house,…read morebarn, sheds and a giant park map. You walk past the hpuse & barn & into the park trail and slowly you find yourself up a hill and in the woods. There's a stream that runs through the property. The park is usually quiet, a couple of hikers.

Shame that hunting is allowed in this park. If you remembered to wear orange and trust that hunters…read morewith bows won't shoot you, you'll get a beautiful view of broken arrows, trash bags, and other various litter on the trails. I'll stick to the parks that don't allow hunting.

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!

The trails were a little too muddy and overgrown for me to fully explore them, but what I did do…read moreoffered some views and a quiet escape. Even had a couple deer dart in front of me on the trail.

Veterans Memorial Park is a picturesque, hidden gem, surprisingly located... in the middle of…read moreBarrington (funny for such a seemingly secluded locale). You can access the park via a dirt road, just off of West Street, next to the YMCA. Park at the YMCA or drive down the dirt road a bit to park inside. It is an easy jump skip from the East Bay Bike Path as well for those using a bipedal method of transportation. The trails are not extensive, only about 2.5 miles in total if you traverse all of the loops, but the views of Brickyard Pond are worth it. The 84-acre body of water sits on 230 acres of land, named for its history as a site of the brick-making industry in the area up until the 1940's. Due to hazardous structures in the water, swimming is not allowed. Fishing is allowed only certain times of the year since the pond is home to some herring spawning grounds. There is a boat launch as well as several points of access to the water for kayaking. Two trails, the Red and Green, make their way along the shore of the pond and into the forested acreage of the park. Summersweet plants flower everywhere along the trails, filling the air with their pleasant aroma. For the most part I stayed on trail but there were a number of unmarked routes leading who-knows-where. I explored some of these but didn't stray too far. The trails were well-marked with their colored blazes and arrow signs but with so many trails breaking off from the main loops, it was easy to get turned around. Well-kept, there were several bridges and walkways built into the path to skip over lazy moving streams and marshy areas. From their maps, it appears that several more trails looping around the pond are in the works, connecting the park to the bike patch directly. It will be wonderful once development is complete. Near the boat launch is a peaceful clearing with tables and park benches. A great place for a picnic or to simply kick back and soak up the outdoors. A nice find in downtown Barrington. As a side note: there was a surprising amount of litter in the parking lot inside the grounds... the trails were clean but some of the areas with grills and benches were visited by litter bugs and party animals. Trash, broken glass... dropped it down to 4-stars for me despite my enjoyable experience in the rest of the park.

Such a beautiful trail. I stumbled upon this one day when I was in the area and wanted to explore…read more It was very busy that day, I love when people get out into nature. Nice sized parking lot that is on rocks for sure. They used to have tons of bird houses but they're gone now- not sure why. But it's very cool under the trees a nice breeze, and so many areas where you can overlook water. Be cautious though, every trail I've ever done has different color marked trails for some odd reason this has 2 trails and they're both marked yellow which can cause for serious confusion. I didn't like this at all because if we weren't paying attention we could've ended up not following the path we entered. I'm not a use my phone type of person for a trail map, I simply want to enjoy my time use the tree cues and go about my walk. It's very clean, you run into all types of people here, families, fur babies, I even ran into a lady who had goats one time it was pretty cool. There is also from what I'm told a swan that practically owns this water, I was told it's been there for years. Very beautiful swan might I say. There's 2 water overlooks one is to the right when you pretty much first walk in, go to the right of the path, they have a bench to overlook but this is more like just a bunch of Lilly pads still pretty. But if you go much longer and stay pretty much to your right you will end up by the water and a big rock you can sit on, just be careful not to fall in. They also if you keep going ( it's hard to explain which "path" to take because as I said they're both yellow, who did this and why), but there is a buddy bridge which is so cute to honor pets who have passed. All in all I liked the trail just pay attention to what you're doing. I been twice and never went all the way, as the two yellow trails are confusing and I'm not that adventurous to get lost. Happy hiking!

Food was good. Diner style menu. Service is good. Welcoming. Prices reasonable. We get breakfast…read morethere on weekends.

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.

If you're looking for short, level, easy path, you'll find it here. That said, in the summer, views…read moreare somewhat limited due to vegetation, and it's just 1.1 miles long, so out and back is a short 2.2 mile trek. At .8 miles (from the lot where we parked), there are two benches which offer a view of the river. There is also a lot at the other end of the trail, so the benches would be at .3 miles respectively. On the plus side, the trail is quiet and we only saw a few people. On the negative side, it's very short, it's not a loop, there are limited views in the summer, and it's not especially interesting. I wouldn't go out of my way to walk here, but if it's convenient to your locale, or your limited on time, this might be your spot!

Ghosts dams and…read morebeavers The Stillwater Scenic Trail is a walking path that runs along an old railway bed for about a mile. Flat and very easy to walk on it's a nice place for a stroll along the Woonasquatucket River and then by Stillwater Pond. Even though it isn't a long walking path it has all kinds of interesting things to look at. The trail goes right under a cool highway bridge and follows the river until it becomes Stillwater Pond. The remains of several old dams are still visible as well as evidence of lots of beaver activity. It does get a it spooky in dark or foggy weather because the trail is tucked in between the river on one side and a hill with some industrial looking places on the other. On most of the trail you feel very alone and isolated. Lots of old foundations and even some abandoned and creepy buildings are still visible. They are the remains of Stillwater Village. a place now long gone. Lots of stories about people seeing strange things and hearing odd noses while walking along this path. The last time I went it was a foggy and rainy day so it was a bit spooky but of course I didn't see or hear anything unexpected. A pleasant and different sort of walking path. You get to see some cool natural sights as well as the remains of man made structures. An interesting place best visited in the light of day

The Otis Smith Farm and Rowbottom Preserve is a 55-acre preserve comprised of two parcels of land…read morefrom the Cumberland Land Trust. Located on the historic Otis Smith Farm land acquired from Brown University and the Kenneth and Barbara Rowbottom land, this preserve is a wonderful setting for some Rhode Island hiking. There are 4 color-blazed trails at the time of this review: --Yellow & White = Otis Lippitt Trail --Red = Rowbottom Trail --Blue = Rocky Ridge Trail There are technically 3 trailheads to delve into these interconnected trails, both the Otis Smith Trailhead on Scott Road (2 of them) and the Rowbottom Trailhead on Lippitt Ave. I started on Scott Road and found the White trailhead very easily, pulling my car off at the pictured/numbered green sign labelled "Cumberland Land Trust"...a big American flag waving in the wind. I spotted the Yellow trailhead on Scott Road as I was driving away marked with a very small homemade sign and no clear pull off for cars. I suggest driving down the road a bit and catching the White trail, much easier. All in all, the trails cover about 1.7 miles. Not a strenuous hike, but there are some interesting sights and changes in the landscape as you make your way through. Many of the trails follow historic farmer's cart paths and are intersected frequently with stone walls. There are signs of the old farm all over the place... look for the irrigation ditch that flowed from Little Pond to bring water to the fields. The trail markers are mostly well placed. There were a couple of times that I had to backtrack because I was following what looked like a path but in actuality I was straying from the trail. Take it slow and look around to be sure you are headed in the right direction. The White Trail brings you through a darkened area of the forest lush with ferns. It was really neat making my way through this dense green part of the woods (especially since the caterpillars have been feasting on the green overhead all spring/summer this year). The Red Trail brings you through a number of pine needle beds, soft and squishy underfoot. Lastly, the Blue Trail boasts some large rocky outcroppings of greenstone... and one really large, angry, bird going through feather molt who was not happy to have my trekking near his/her nest. Although this is a very beautiful area of Cumberland (and what drops this preserve down a star for me), on the Blue Trail there appears to be a makeshift wooden shelter up against the rocks. I wouldn't mind so much seeing this here but it is clear that teens trek out to party in the middle of the night. Evidence of campfires against the rock, broken glass, and trash were strewn about this area. I also came across some disturbing makeshift weaponry (think... thick sticks with nails and screws driven into one end, brandished like a medieval mace). A Lord of the Flies-type scene fluttered through my mind and I scurried away, finishing the loop and heading back for my car. Overall a decent hike... I simply wouldn't recommend poking around the shelter too much, especially with children in tow.

This is a fun little trail! It's about 0.6 miles if you take the Otis Lippitt trail. It's a nice…read morelittle walk for the dog or family. Bring big spray though!

At over 70 acres, this wildlife refuge is situated on a parcel of land that comprises Barrington's…read morehistoric Nockum Hill. A beautiful outdoor space any time of the year; there are a number of trails to peruse this mix of coastal wetland filled with marshes, fields, forest, and farmland. There is a small parking area on George Street just as the road starts to curve. A small sign marks the entrance to the first trailhead. Named for a Barrington native and prominent naturalist, the trails here meander through the various landscape. A couple off-shoots give you access to areas like a small boardwalk area that extends into the upper marshlands. Several of the fields have birdhouses erected that attract all kinds of species. I believe I caught a couple views of some bluebirds during my time here. And geese. So many geese. Another trail delivers you to the sandy shores of the Hundred Acre Cove. Really beautiful in January when I visited, all iced over. This beach is a nesting area for the diamondback terrapin. There is a park bench on this shoreline to soak in the views. Of note, there is a seemingly out of place pistol range on site for the Barrington Police which is very well-marked for safety. All-in-all, a pleasant place to get outside.