Beautiful and spectacular lake out in Foster, with a gorgeous waterfall over the reservoir dam…read more Though technically you're trespassing on this land (being the reservoir for the city of Providence), lots of people walk the trail loop around the lake. On this bright mild winter's day, the walk was pleasant and tranquil through stately spruce stands and beguiling views of the water. We plan to come back in the spring when the trees start greening; and in the fall when the colors are in full glory.

A place with water…read more trees stones and lots of dead people Even though you can't actually go on the water Barden Reservoir is still a great place to hike. Since there are little dirt roads with virtually no traffic, many individuals and hiking clubs use a loop around the reservoir as a place for a nice hike through the woods when the snow or mud makes a trek through the deep woods difficult. Of course the primarily attraction of Barden Reservoir is the water. The huge reservoir is punctuated with small islands and looks like it would be a fantastic place to canoe or kayak, but I suspect the authorities would view someone boating on the public water supply rather harshly. Best just to view the reservoir as well as the cool waterfalls and numerous streams from a small distance. Another thing that becomes quite obvious is the huge abundance of stones. Boulders and walls everywhere. The whole area was heavily glaciated 20,000 years ago and the glacial debris must have made the area a nightmare for people to farm. Yet they managed quite nicely. One of the curious things that new people to the state notice is the large number of small cemeteries scattered about everywhere. Not only in the middle of the woods but also in cities and on quiet little side sides in the suburbs. Rhode Island has a thing for historical cemeteries and has preserved and protected over 3,600 on them. Most are very old and tiny things with a just family or two. There are a number of these diminutive graveyards in Barden Reservoir and I suspect they contain the remains of the original settlers that first turned the land. There is a project going on to record and document every name on every stone. Unfortunately many of the stones are sandstone which erodes very quickly and the names are no longer legible. Barden is a nice place for a easy hike, especially when you don't want to trudge through deep snow or mud and history drips from every wall and foundation. Great water views on all sides and plenty of wildlife to observe. Just make sure you thread lightly and don't disturb the dead.

I hope someday that CT will get enough money to be able to upgrade some of its parks…read more We came here as part of their Sky's the Limit Challenge, and it was a really interesting experience. On paper, this trail goes 5.8 miles from Moosup to the RI border, where it joins the RI Trestle Trail. It starts out at a nice, beautifully framed railroad bridge in Moosup, and then heads off, as a nicely paved path. Then, at Barber Hill Road, about 3/4 of a mile in, the paved part stops. It gets kind of fire road like for a while, and, well, it gets GNARLY. We were there in winter, and there was a lot of frozen and semi frozen water on the path. I am guessing it might stay that way year round (wet at least) because there are plenty of desire trails along the sides at times, allowing you to bypass the wettest parts. Eventually, it starts undulating, and this is because a lot of dirt bikers seem to like to use this trail, in opposition to what the regulations say the trail is meant to be used for. One dirt biker politely made his way past us, so they at least have some etiquette, even though they're doing some erosion damage to the trail. We didn't hike the full path, and I'm really glad we didn't try to take our bikes on this, as it would have been impossible. Like I said, maybe someday there will be money to turn this into a real rail trail all the way east. Until then, make sure you wear good hiking boots!

This trail runs along side moosup river. There are a couple waterfalls that can be viewed. Sections…read moreof trail are paved this is a small section behind Rogers Corp. On River Rd. Trail runs into Rhode island.

Westconnaug Meadows Hiking Trail is a beautiful and serene locale to stretch your legs and breathe…read morein the fresh air. At approximately 1 mile, this loop hike allows you to clear your mind and learn a little bit about nature. The Scituate Land Trust has owned the land here for some time and they keep it very well maintained. The signage here is really neat. The trailhead is adorned with a large wooden sign identifying the hike. There are informational posts on several trees that point out various types of oak, birch, sassafras, pine, and so many more. The trail itself is very easy to follow if you pay attention (don't accidentally cross into the Scituate Reservoir property!). Some nice glacial boulders, vernal pools, and wildlife. Very peaceful, very quiet. Parking is easy and located at the baseball field near to the Scituate Animal Shelter. Seems like dogs are welcome on the property. Worth a visit!

Another great hike at GWSP at 6.79 miles! I'm adding some…read moremore pictures including how the trails are marked. Just follow the color! If you find my glasses and case, let me know.

great wooded hike starting in Pulaski State park on the snow-shoe trail then completed the orange…read moretrail which take you out on an eastern route put of the park where you will spend most of the walk between Pulaski and George Washington camp ground. some great features of the remains of a home and an associated man-made pond. in time the orange trail does turn west and ends on the dam at the western edge of Pulaski. The trails are hilly and so.e trees are down, but none interfered with the walk. I would category this as a easy hike. we will be back in the fall yo be sure!

Great place for a great hike and sweat. Also a nice cold stream to cool down. Will be my go to…read moreplace when I am nearby. Loved it

really nice camping spot. Different from what I was used too with the reservation I had which was a…read morefield campsite on the wolf den. However it was filled with families and couples alike. Nice hiking trails clean bathrooms/showers multiple sightings of deer, found a couple turtles . Cheap fire wood and convenient that it's only 15 minutes from essential business like food,superstores, etc. there was food and gas closer by too. Also the park ranger who I didn't catch his name but I wish I did (he wore a white hat), was super helpful and gave me his personal fishing spot nearby which was really cool and uncommon from another fisherman. I won't name his spot cause I have manners. But all around looking forward to my return in a few weeks.

Beautiful venue and great food and drink! I have visited Little Dipper Farm for several of the…read moreField & Feast events from the incomparable team at Stone Row KB out of Willimantic. The space pays homage to the previous business Golden Lamb while adding new flair! From an afternoon tea in the Fall to a Summer celebration; the farm features the idyllic countryside of Eastern CT and rustic chic interior perfect for a special event. The signature locally-sourced small plates and cocktails from Stone Row crew have been excellent, and make the meal more of an evolving experience. Thanks for a lovely time!

Unreal. Every dish was more incredible than the last. This was the juiciest pork I had ever had in…read moremy life! The flavors of each course were masterful. Lobster ravioli and lavash with homemade butter are to die for. Coming from Boston, this was worth the trip, I can see this rustic, farm to table culinary EXPERIENCE being the next French Laundry. You can taste how fresh the ingredients are and the passion that the chef and staff have for their craft. Not to mention, the property is breathtaking. It is peaceful farm with a stunning lookout point and lake behind the restaurant. Overall decor is ultra authentic and sourced directly from the chef and staff, or part of the history of the farm. Each dish and each part of the restaurant seems to have a unique story behind it. I would drive the 1.5 hours from Boston, or farther anytime to experience this again!! Shout out to Crystal for taking great care of us and sharing fascinating tidbits about the history of the farm, the food, and how it's made!

No more rattlesnakes…read more but still very cool Wickaboxet Management Area is a great hiking and nature trial that virtually nobody uses. I have been here many times in all weather and at all times of the year and seldom see any traces of people. I'm not sure why because this is a great place for a hike. The most interesting part of Wickaboxet is called Rattlesnake ledge. Perhaps at one time the place had lots of rattlesnakes but I've never seen any and I suspect they are long gone. The ledge does have lots of crevices and holes and you can easily understand why snakes would love this place. I have no compunction about crawling all over the rocks and ledges but I still try to avoid sticking my hands or head into any of the dark places. You never know if one of the snakes decided to stick around. The ledge is a great place to fool around although people do fall off on occasion. It can get slippery in snow and ice or in wet weather. Beside Rattlesnake Ledge Wickaboxet has lots of other cool things to see. If you look around you will see lots of pines trees of all different sizes. These were planted after the horrific forest fire in the 1950's that destroyed the entire area. The trees are doing well and most signs of the fire and now just a distant memory. Another cool thing to see is the remains of the old fire tower. Nothing but the cement legs are left and you have to look carefully to find it. Ironically it was destroyed in the great fire so I guess it didn't do it's job very well. The parking lot is pretty small but that doesn't matter because nobody goes here anyways. Wickaboxet isn't a very long hike, with climbing around the ledges and poking around the side trails you can do it in a couple of hours. But just checking out the views from the top of Rattlesnake Ledge makes it worthwhile. Just don't go sticking your hands into any of the holes. You never know what could still be living there.

Great place. Lots of rocks. Rattlesnake ledge looks like a cool place to see but I'll have to do…read morethat on another trip. Lots of rocks and stone walls. Trails are pretty easy to follow. A couple of nice preserved cellar holes. Will be back soon.

History on your own backyard! Remains of farms, homesteads and amazing trails are awaiting you…read more Don't miss this easy trail area with miles of area to take in. Parking area provided and trails are well marked

Foundations cemeteries…read more and history Sprague Farm is a roughly one thousand acre hiking area that served for generations as a farm and agricultural center. It is now owned by the town of Glocester and has been allowed to revert back to it's natural state. Even though the trees and plants are all grown back many signs of it's agrarian past are still present. Lots of stone walls and cool old foundations, many of them massive are still around and give a hint of what the area was like hundreds of years ago. Some huge trees are growing from the edifices, giving quiet testimony that the places have been abandoned for a long, long time. I'm not sure if any organized archaeological digs have ever been done but the sheer number of foundations and rusty old metal thingies just hanging around suggests that this would be a fascinating place for some digging and research. The area is also a haven for wildlife. Numerous deer, foxes, fishers, and a large number of birds including cool hawks and owls can be seen by the careful and quiet observer. Even the huge pilated woodpecker has been reported seen in these woods. Recently nests of the black-throated blue warbler, long thought to be extinct have been found. The hiking itself is quit easy with no difficult or dangerous climbs or cliffs. Just a nice pleasant place to quietly walk, look and explore, with interesting things around every corner or hill. Just poking around all the old foundations will consume several hours. A cool old Sprague family cemetery is also located way out in the middle of the woods. It served the family for generations. The area supplied generations of farmers a great place to grow their food and to live and prosper. Once the people left the trees, plants and critters have once again taken over the land with a vengeance.

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…read morethat 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!

A great find! So close to home!…read more 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.