Drove by this a couple times in the winter, and now that's its warmed up decided to check it out. A nice little getaway, you have multiple paths to choose from upon initially entering. Both paths were slightly overgrown a little bit into them, otherwise though it was a great time. read more

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I don't do a lot of hiking in RI but this is one of the better trails I've found in the area in that it's a more challenging hike (no walk in the woods) and it's long enough to keep you entertained for a few hours. You're also mostly in nature and not seeing random homes and neighborhoods like some other trails. Definitely recommend high ankle hiking boots because there are a lot of roots and rocks so it's easy to twist an ankle. Would definitely not recommend sneakers. Trails are pretty well marked and the blue loop trail was great. Also very encouraging that we found very little litter- just one random orange peel and one water bottle top. Love that people respect the space. Look forward to returning here again! read more

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A great find! So close to home! The George B Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge is owned and maintained by the Audobon Society of Rhode Island. With 7 miles of trail spread across 860 acres of land, this network of footpaths does not disappoint. Open from sunrise to sunset, you will find plenty of time to meander through these woods and take in the local terrain. Cairns, boardwalks, historic carriage roads, stonewalls, bedrock outcrops, babbling brooks, a 100-200 year old farmhouse foundation, and so much more awaits you on these trails. Paths are well marked with blue, orange, and yellow blazes along with signage both for trails and to point out a few of the interesting sights. The hills roll up and down so no matter which way you head, you'll get a bit of a workout in. Keep your eyes peeled and you might encounter some wildlife during your trek. A frog hopped along our path and towards the end, something much bigger (heard but not seen... most likely a deer). Peaceful and quiet. It's wonderful to take a break and hear nothing but the leaves rustling and the water flowing. Two parking lots available that connect to the trails on Maple Valley Road. Parking lot #1 is well-signed from the road. I'll definitely be back to check out parts of the trail I missed this time around. Note: no dogs, horses, or bikes allowed on trail. read more

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What a beautiful find! Lovely, natural, pristine words and walking trails. A total of about 7 miles of various trails, up and down small hills and and lots of natural beauty all around you. Well- maintained and trails that give the hikers good exercise and lots of fresh air! read more

I love love love this trail. There are several small trails that connect- I like to park at lot number 1 because it has easier access to the blue loop and there's more parking spaces. I would say this trail is easy/ moderate depending on your fitness level and the time you have. The blue loop would make this a nice place to trail run as there are no steep inclines and the limited amount of rocks and tree stumps. I highly suggest this trail and have been here several times throughout the years. I've attached lots of pictures to let the trail- and it's views- speak for itself read more

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Although a little bit of a drive for us it's so worth it. We got in a 75 minute strenuous hike (moving fast) on a cool autumn day. The paths are varied: Clear and flat to 'watch your step' rocky to wet with a few wooden walkways to help over some of these spots. There are some trees down over the pathways. Some you can walk around, some you have to go over. Trails are well marked for the most part. Be sure to check out the map in the parking area before entering the trail so you have an idea of where you want to go. Take a photo of it for reference. There are a few historic sites of the previous tenants with a sign of where they are and what to look for. Odd to think this woodland was once a farm. Even if you are not in for a work out, this is a good trail with only a bit of a slope throughout. How quickly you walk it is up to you. Wear sturdy walking shoes. Any other footwear will not do for these trails. read more

Great hiking experience however the trails need to be marked better because it's too easy to get turned around and lost, especially after storms. read more

Hills walls stones and mysterious things The George B. Parker Woodland is a tract of land owned by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. That means no hunting is allowed on the land so you can hike without wearing orange and without worrying about being nailed by an errant shotgun blast. The primary trial is a 7 to 8 mile loop that goes through fields, forest and up and down hills. Constantly undulating without any exceptionally difficult climbs. A few slippery places in the snow and ice but nothing dangerous or intimidating. Lots of different types of oak and hickory trees are everywhere and if you look closely you can even make out a few small, pathetic looking chestnut trees. The chestnuts were virtually eliminated throughout out the area by a devastating fungal disease many decades ago. This use to be farm land so stone walls are everywhere and foundations of old farm houses are apparent even in the snow. The stone walls are a bit odd because some go off for miles and others are just segments that stop suddenly. An old road also runs through the property and is still visible due to the once heavy use. This whole area once experienced heavy use and in addition to the farms and many buildings a charcoal processing site and saw mill were once here. Nothing remains of the sites but if you observe carefully you can see a few earthen mounds where they use to be. The whole area was once bustling with people and activity but for some reason was abandoned about 100 or so years ago. Some of the most interesting and mysterious objects along the trail are the stone cairns. Round or triangular stacks of stones about 4 to 6 feet high, there are about 100 of them placed in small groups in seemly random spots. Various explanations to explain them range from improbable ideas like the Vikings or Phoenicians left them here to the more likely conjecture that farmers were tired of making stone walls so they just stacked up intruding stones into the cairns. No one really knows and there is no one left to ask. One of the nicest and most interesting short hikes in Rhode Island. A great place all year round but exceptionally pleasant in the winter. A place where you can enjoy nature and see a lot of cool rocks. read more

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This is a peaceful place to walk and observe. There are two loops , one is . 5 mile and the other is 3I believe. There are no paved paths , but there are paths and wooden bridges where there is wetland. The parking lot situation is a bit confusing as I could only find one. Regardless, it is a nice place for a walk like hike. There are no pets allowed as it is a conservation. I believe it is part of the Audubon society. read more

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What a gem. Parker's got it all - diverse scenery, historical landmarks, hills and valleys, easily navigable, proximity to Providence. And lots of rocks. Giant glacial rocks, small piles of rocks, inexplicably arranged large piles of rocks, rocks in a centuries-old farmhouse foundation, beautiful mossy rocks, rocks for sitting, rocks for tripping. We parked at Lot #1 and took the short Orange trail to the Coventry Blue loop. I don't know if it's like that MC Escher engraving where the guys seem to only be walking in a circle *up* stairs the whole way or what, but taking a left at the Blue trail and following clockwise felt like we were going downhill a lot more than going up. Three miles was just enough for a pleasing challenge but not exhausting. I imagine the stillness of a windless, gloomy, early spring day had something to do with it, but I find this hike to be particularly spooky, in a cool way. Not just all those rocks and snarly old and fallen trees, but most of the time you are far enough from roads that when you pause it is Completely. Silent. Maybe a bird or the faint trickle of the brook in the distance, but sometimes nothing at all. There were no maps at the kiosk but a sign that says you can download from the Audubon RI site. Here it is: http://www.asri.org/refuges/george-b.-parker-woodland.html read more

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Yowza, blue loop kicked our butts but no dogs allowed? C'mon. Boring scenery too besides a few bridges and a couple big rocks. It's a whole lot of stamina and not enough entertainment. I prefer places with a little more character. We used the main entrance by the house because the side entrance was closed. I wouldn't recommend it because I think starting in the middle would be a better time. We never did see that cellar everyone talks about. read more

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If you've done the seascapes and cliff walks, try this place (an Audubon wildlife refuge as well), as it will highlight the diversity of Rhode Island's landscapes and also provide a little bit of a more challenging hike. We did the blue-blazed Coventry trail loop and it takes you past (and over) some impressive glacial boulders, charming babbling brooks, and a bit of archaeology to boot! At a good pace, the deceptive-appearing trail length of 3 miles will indeed take the advertised 2 hours to complete as there are a number of rises and rocky outcroppings to negotiate. We went in late fall, which was actually nice for there was more sunlight coming through the bare trees and visibility was better (easier to see the forest AND the trees). Some particular highlights of this trail were the 200-year old remains of the Vaughn farm and various rock cairns. See if you can find the big white quartz rock popping up unexpectedly on the trail, so white and pure I actually thought it was a chunk of early snow fall! read more

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This is one of my favorite places to go for an easy hike in the area. I say easy, but take in mind I am an experienced hiker and in pretty good shape. There is a lot to see and the trails are wonderfully marked and easy to navigate. The Audubon Society runs this amazing park, so there is little chance of you getting shot (even sans blaze orange clothing during hunting season) and there are signs giving information about some of the more interesting land marks. One such landmark is the foundation of a farm dating back to the 1700s (or was it 1800s. I'm not very good at remembering dates). There are a couple of different routes that you can take to navigate the woodland. I generally choose to do the three mile route if I don't have all day to wander around, or the seven mile route if I do. There are a few decent sized hills, so wear appropriate shoes and take plenty of water. Also, if you are out of shape, prepare for putting in a little work to complete the hike. For those Rhode Islanders (or visitors from the surrounding states) looking for a good hike, but who don't want to travel up to the mountains, this a lovely place to go. I'm pretty sure that they are open year round, so once we get a little snow I am hoping to go snow-shoeing there. It really is a beautiful area, and there is nothing like a nice jaunt through the woods to clear one's mind. read more

Beautiful. Big rocks. Little rocks. Not an easy path at times. We took the blue dot trail from the first parking area. 3 something miles. The yellow trail connects to the other 3 miles of blue trail, which we have not taken yet. There were some midges which dove in to eyes and noses. Good tree cover. Check for ticks when u get done as the trail is pretty narrow at times. I only had one problem where there was a huge rock the path appeared to split at. Deadfall on the left side obscured the continuing path. I did like that there were tons of blue dots to guide us. At times it is a good steep climb, tree roots to catch your toes, and a rocky path to turn your ankle. Be careful. read more

Did this hike today, was a nice moderate hike...not a leisurely stroll but not strenuous either. We parked in lot #1 - took the orange trail and then did the coventry blue loop. It was about 3 miles and took about 2 hours to complete. Quite a bit of up and down and some spots were a little hard to follow because of all of the leaves and branch debris from superstorm Sandy. Definitely a great way to spend a couple of hours. read more

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This is a beautiful place to go for a nice walk. I found a trail map online which is a must to get the most out of this place, there were no trail maps available at the site either time I was there. There is some real hiking to be had here- uneven, rocky terrain and hills- but there are some easy parts, too. The place is extensive enough that you could come here a couple of times and see different areas each time. There are beautiful streams and impressive landscape left behind by the glaciers that melted thousands of years ago. The trails are well-marked and easy to follow. There is a lot more to see here than just a path in the woods- it is a special place. read more

Beautiful hiking spot! The trails were clear and well marked.

I did the full 7 miles....great fun. Intermediate is the right designation...some slippery rocks if wet and minor inclines/declines. Beautiful woods although the Gypsy Moths have ruined acres of Oaks. Very well marked trails. read more

I have been a lifelong resident of Rhode Island and am an avid outdoors man. I take advantage of all of the wonderful resources we have. I have visited Parker many times over the years and have exposed family and friends to this enjoyable and historical site. I went to visit on 2/24/12 to take a walk with my dog. I was disappointed and frustrated at the no dog policy. He was leashed and harnessed. I hike many other trails throughout RI. and on every visit I Cary out garbage left behind by uncaring people. I also deal with motorcycles and 4 wheelers and people on mountain bikes all of which are damaging to the trails. Many animals use these trails as their bathroom including horses so I cannot think of a reason for this policy. I wasted expensive gasoline traveling 40 minutes each way. I have emailed the Audubon Society but have received no response. People can trash the woods with their garbage and machines but I cant walk my dog. This is a nice hike with many things to explore but yet again another regulation to ruin our outdoor experiences. Maybe we should all just walk circles in the parking lot at a Walmart ! Sad. read more