Will have to update once the weather warms up a bit, but this was a lovely little surprise find in…read morethe EG area. Immediately greeted by a small pond, which is always a nice feature for a walk through the woods. There are stairs down, and a decent amount to be prepared for that both starting and finishing your trip. There are also some "bridges" over waterfalls with visible openings. Certainly safe, but just a heads up. I took a short stroll around the pond and then up to the left, walking behind the water. There are trail markers which is helpful. A nice quiet spot to enjoy a little time out in nature if you happen to be in the area; oh and parking on site which is always a plus. Can't wait to come back and explore more in the Spring.

There's plenty of parking at the trail head as you start your hike. This is a fun, shorter trail…read moresystem that is well marked. Trails are cleared pretty well which makes it great for people of all abilities or families with smaller kiddos. There's a cool bridge beside a beautiful pond. Beyond that you can go to the right down to the rock structure remains of an old water mill (I believe it was a water mill) To the left off of the bridge, is a nice, clear trail that has some gradual incline. Along that route are parts of a kids story book that engages with passerby.

This is one of those unsung RI landmarks. Way back when, there was brief talk of the new Patriots…read morestadium being built here. But alas, it's remained just a place to sled in the winter and walk around during the rest of the year. Really, not formal parking, just a handful of spots in a couple of openings. But it's a nice little getaway nonetheless.

I did not know the State of Rhode Island has it's very own Desert! Seriously, we have lived here…read morefor over a decade and I am just now finding this out? I have tried to locate exactly who is responsible for this land, checking with both the town West Greenwich town website, and the State of Rhode Island website, neither of which identifies itself as the care taker so I am unable to provide a web address for more information. That said, this place just wowed me. We lived in the actual desert at one time (AZ) and this spot is more like the dunes in SoCal than the high desert of Tucson. It's a bunch of sandy dunes undulating under the blue sky. Surrounded by woodlands, it's hidden from the road. A quick look up on the satellite map shows this is a spot for winter sledding. Sorry I missed that as a kid. First off, there are two locations: one is located on the north side of Division Street nestled between Division and Rt 95. The other is on the south side of Division Street, listed as the West Greenwich Sand Dunes. While exploring this area one bight autumn day, we came across a group of military personnel, practicing their 'jumping out of helicopter' skills. That was a very good time and there were quite a few people who brought their lawn chairs to enjoy the show, camera's in hand. We wandered around as best we could, trying to stay out of the way of the jumpers (they had targets on the ground they were supposed to land near, so this was pretty easy to do) and have returned again and again to explore more of this area and the surrounding Big River Management area woodlands. I'm sure this desert is part of said Big River Mgmt area of which you can easily find hiking information on line. The general area is popular with hikers, walkers, bikers and runners. Seriously, if you are a fan of the desert, are new to RI, or just never knew there was such a thing in this state, you have got to stop by some fine day and take a walk around. It's like being at the beach, minus the water.

Didn't get to do the full trail as the rain picked up heavy. What I did do was a little…read moredisappointing. The water level is high and goes right up to the trail, and part of the trail is a little overgrown. There is also an uprooted log/tree across the trail near the begining, making it difficult to traverse. May have to give it another look down the road.

It's a short trail but that doesn't take away from any of its beauty, charm, and enjoyment of this…read moreAudubon refuge. Won't take the average person much more than 30" to complete the half-mile loop, but you do get some awfully nice views, the Hunt River, a somewhat jarring but interesting close encounter with electrical towers, and if you're lucky, a couple of river otters! Especially pretty this time of year with its blaze of autumn colors. Great for the kids as the trail is well-marked, well-cleared, and easy to keep track of them. Nice information signs at the trailhead too.

Trail was a little overgrown when I went, so I couldn't get to deep, but the scenery is great, and…read morewhen I was a kid it was a great fishing spot, although I don't know if they still stock it.

Hard to believe that this gorgeous little trail exists right on the outskirts of East Greenwich…read morevillage! It's a well-kept secret (at least to me, who has lived here for 25 years) and a true hidden gem. The trailhead is located at the back of the St Patrick's cemetery and is marked by the East Greenwich Land Trust. The trail is very peaceful (notwithstanding the cemetery ...) and goes straight to Bleachery Pond and the associated dam. We visited the morning after a rainstorm and it was spectacular! There's a trail to the left that will follow the Maskerchugg River and skirt what I think are some remnants of an old mill along its banks. It's a little overgrown but a nice hike and you are serenaded by the gurgling of the stream along the way. The trail will come to an end as marked by a small bench - but for those brave enough, one could conceivably swing across using an overhead rope that someone rigged (we did not ... !). Well worth a visit to decompress from city (er, village?) life!

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!

At the north end of Hope Village lies the Trott-Perry Land Preserve, a beautiful greenspace open to…read morethe public. Managed by Hope Associates, Inc., this land includes nature trails, access to the Pawtuxet River, and a baseball field. The parcel was acquired in the 1990s by Drs. Raymond H. Trott and Thomas Perry. Look carefully as you drive through town and you will find North Doctor's Lane. There is a large parking area for Doctor's Field where the trailhead begins. I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the rolling landscape. At approximately 3/4 of a mile, the red-blazed trail packs a punch with groves of oak, maple, cedar, pine, birch, sassafras and so much more! I saw a number of white-tailed deer and birds during my time here. There is a rope swing set up at the eastern bank of the Pawtuxet. A peaceful jaunt through the woods. Worth checking out if you are in the area!

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.

The Trestle Trail, a section of the Washington Secondary Trail, is a wooded section of 'bike path'…read morethat connects the western end of the Coventry Greenway to the Moosup Valley Trail in CT. It follows an abandoned rail corridor and is part of the East Coast Greenway project which will ultimately link 25 urban cities between Maine and Florida. Well, that sounds like a challenge. We were able to visit on a beautiful autumn afternoon. There were lots of people out enjoying the day. Dog walkers (remember to bring your doggie poop bag to pick up after them please!) bike riders, folks on rollerblades, families, couples. This seems to be a popular outing location. There is a parking spot at 210 Flat River Road, and another, closer to CT, at 51 Hill Farm Road. The trail is paved, with the usual policy of walk on the left, ride on the right meaning you can see the bikes approaching you and get off the road for them to pass if there is no room to go around you. There is also a horse trail running along the sides in this section. From the lot on Hill Farm Road, following the path toward CT, you pass a large pond with small waterfall (which you can hear, but not see as it flows away from the path), then becomes wooded along both sides for quite a while. It does cross over or under a couple of roadways and a few houses but for the most part is a nice walk in the woods. Heading back toward Coventry/Warwick from this same parking lot, the path leads through more populated areas passing behind businesses and homes, although still wooded on one or both sides for a fair amount of time, passing by a camp ground and another lake. There are a couple more places to park along the Washington Secondary Trail path that are closer to town, including near the Coventry Library and behind the Paine House museum on Station Street. This link makes a nice way to commute on your bike within town and a lovely outing for family or place to get in your steps.