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    Whale Rock Trail

    4.5 (11 reviews)

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    Sign at the Entrance
    Ashley P.

    Whale Rock Preserve is a 66-acre parcel of land that The Nature Conservancy purchased to protect from further shoreline development in the area. Home to a number of migratory songbirds, the Whale Rock Trail that cuts through their habitat to the water is an enjoyable jaunt that affords interesting sights and sounds. The hike itself is easy-going. The parking area is just off Cormorant Point Road (look for the small wooden sign that reads "33" and turn in there... you'll see the Whale Rock Preserve sign and small parking lot on the right - be careful not to turn into the Camp Varnum entrance; a Rhode Island National Guard training facility). The walk starts off adjacent to some grassy fields and a private home then quickly enters the heavy brush towards the shoreline. The boardwalks that have been installed make for an easy traverse of this area. After approximately one half mile, you find yourself at the water's edge. The rest of the trail follows the shoreline next to the fenced off U.S. government grounds. Crashing waves, tons of wildflowers. Great views of Narragansett Bay! All in all, round trip gives you about 2 miles of trekking. Not long but a nice way to get out and stretch your legs. Spent some time rock hopping and picking through some seashells. Water access is not meant for swimming due to the currents but there are some tidal pools to poke around in. I'm not into birding myself but it sounds like a great spot during the migratory months.

    Probably not a good swimming site -- rocky & lots of seaweed at low tide.
    Lisa L.

    Cool trail & fun walk to a rocky beach with awesome views. It was a hot day and we decided to check it out. There were only a few cars in the tiny lot. Could be tough to find the parking lot and trailhead because it's off a dirt road. But the GPS -- use "33 Cormorant Point Road" -- took us right there like Andrea P. said in her review. Well cared for, the trail is wide and vegetation is trimmed back. A boardwalk makes it easy to walk -- but if you are in a wheelchair or hauling a stroller-- the boardwalk does not cover the entire trail so you might have a tough time in parts. There are plenty of tree roots and rocks to traverse over, however, it's not hilly. And, there were just a few souls out and about -- families with kids and dogs. The walk isn't long and you can hear the ocean before you get to the beach. The view is panoramic Narragansett Bay with a good view of Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown. People were fishing, exploring the coast, and we even saw someone painting. Nothing says New England like a rocky shoreline. Enjoy!

    This is where your GPS will take you if you plug in Whale Rock trail. This is the national guard base you cannot go down this road.
    Andrea P.

    This place is so cool. It's a little confusing to find. Plug 33 Cormorant Point Rd into gps this will make it easier. You will take a left onto a little dirt road, you will be facing the entrance to the Army National Guard you do not want to go in there. Once you walk down the dirt road you will get to the end and see some big overgrown trees that lead into a little path. The path is made of these adorable little wooden bridges they will leave you out to a beach and you can walk around the perimeter of the National Guard. Wasn't much to see since it's off-season I'm really looking forward to going back more towards the spring and summer!

    Amazing views
    Erin O.

    This path/trail is amazing. Easy, shaded walk that bring you right to the water. Beautiful views. Hard to find though so out coordinates in your GPS.

    The boardwalk at Whale Rock is great and complements the natural elements along the way
    Karen P.

    What a nice trail with much of it a boardwalk so springtime mud wasn't a huge issue. Nice views to beaver tail light and Whale Rock. If you continue right along the fence of Camp Varnum , there are two other rocky beaches. Limited parking and trailhead not easily visible.

    Trail head sign at parking area

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    4 years ago

    Lovely walk, saw many native wildflowers on the way to the water. Note - this is not wheelchair accessible.

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    Review Highlights - Whale Rock Trail

    Once you walk down the dirt road you will get to the end and see some big overgrown trees that lead into a little path.

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    Biscuit City Trail

    Biscuit City Trail

    5.0
    (2 reviews)
    5.1 mi

    It's a relatively short set of trail loops but so meticulously maintained and planned that it's a…read moresheer joy to stroll along and admire the foliage, water features, and historical remnants. The trails meander among the environs of a former cotton mill and you'll come across the mill's foundation itself, the overseer's house, the spring house, and what tickled my fancy most, a cold cellar built into a ridge. (Seen from the street side, you'll never know that there was a man-made structure within it!) The springs and pond are simply captivating - a great place to visit in any season. The trailhead is in the midst of a quiet residential neighborhood - I hope they enjoy this gem daily and aren't jaded by it. Charming!

    I was hiking in the area and came upon Biscuit City Preserve. At approximately 3/4 of a mile, I…read moremade a quick detour into its trails and I am so glad I did. The Preserve has a fishing pond, park benches, wood bridges, natural spring, historic ruins, and a variety of plants and animals. So much packed into its 11-acres of land. The pond itself is handicap accessible as it has crushed stone along its borders. Fishing at this site appears to be restricted to children under age 14. Ruins from a historic mill are a stone's throw from the pond. The foundation from the mill has beautifully constructed rock wall faces on a couple sides still. There is a water wheel pit and cellar holes in the area also. The water that powered the mill's activities still flows (first a gristmill, then cotton, then carriage and wagon manufacturing, back to gristmill, and lastly housing before a flood the fire fully destroyed it in the 1880s-1890s). Though there is a natural spring source on the property, it is protected by a spring house which is locked and boarded up. The trails are easy to follow and are well-maintained. A beautiful location acquired by the South Kingstown Land Trust.

    Photos
    The overseer's house foundations
    The overseer's house foundations
    The fishing pond
    The fishing pond
    Rhododendrons over-archiing the trail

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    Rhododendrons over-archiing the trail
    Francis Carter Memorial Preserve

    Francis Carter Memorial Preserve

    4.0
    (3 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    A well-marked set of trails and loops that convey you through various types of terrain: oak…read morewoodland, eskers, vernal ponds, boulder fields, grasslands, white pine, and old stone walls. Portions of the preserve are sobering however: the oak forest is pretty much dead, devastated by past years' severe drought and invasive insect infestations. Although awful to see, it is also "awe-full" in that there is a somber beauty and grandeur in seeing vast swathes of these once-mighty trees bare-leafed and gaunt. While haunting, the trails do take you through vibrant (and apparently healthy) white pine woods, fields, and large vernal pools. The preserve has also thoughtfully provided some information signs, pointing out areas of environmental concern as well as important native tree varieties. There's plenty of parking available at the Old Mill Road trailhead as well as a convenient composting bathroom.

    A whole lot of…read morerocks The Francis Carter Memorial Preserve is an eleven hundred acre track of land that has several very well marked trails running through it. Nice to see trails so well marked and with maps actually at places along the trails. Makes it virtually impossible to get lost and you know the exact distance of any individual trail. Many of the trails are short, only a bit more than a mile, but they all interconnect so you can get several hours of hiking in the beautiful woods. There are lots of cool rocks in New England but this place is just infested with rocks of every size and description, as well as numerous stone walls running through the woods. The hiking isn't difficult with just a few minor hills, but it does require some care to keep stepping over all the rocks. The Francis Carter Preserve is very popular with hikers but also with mountain bikers, equestrians, dog walkers, and in the winter cross country skis and snow shoes. A very nicely maintained and extremely well marked series of trails with all kinds of interesting flora, geographic features and of course lots and lots of wonderful rocks.

    Photos
    Grassland
    Grassland
    Sobering sight: devastated oaks
    Sobering sight: devastated oaks
    White pine woods

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    White pine woods
    Norman Bird Sanctuary

    Norman Bird Sanctuary

    4.5
    (22 reviews)
    10.4 mi

    My husband found the Norman Bird Sanctuary on an online search for places to hike while we were in…read morethe Newport area. On our first trip to the Sanctuary, we ended up doing the trail to Hanging Rock. Because of my height, there are portions where I had to crouch from one rock surface to get to another stable flat area to get my footing. My husband, who is taller than me by a lot, was more easily able to traverse the various rock heights. So what I'm saying is - Shorties, be careful out here!!

    In the last couple years I've gained an obsession with birds and I've always had an appreciation…read morefor nature, so I was really stoked to check this place out. It was a nice weekday, not too cold, a little windy, and sunny. The entrance fee is not too bad for what you get (especially student price) and you can spent all the time you want on the trails. There are binoculars you can use or you can bring your own (not sure if theirs come with a rental fee). They have a lot of trails and a map to help you navigate the space--although I would recommend asking questions at the front desk and paying close attention to when they explain the map since it is not drawn to scale. I do wish they had more color markers along the way to help with knowing what each trail is. We did think we'd get lost at first, but we found our way around quite well and the explanation from the staff starts to all make sense once you're walking. The paths are well maintained and there are slightly elevated wooden bridges for areas that are muddier. I would recommend hiking shoes or boots, mostly for one of the trails with a tougher terrain. There are tons of picture worthy moments, although pictures don't do it justice. Although I did not see too many "unique" birds, we did come across other animals like deer and turkey. We spent a little over 2 hours here and got through about half of the place so if you do want to take it all in, I would recommend a 4-5 hour chunk of time (if you're in no rush).

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    Norman Bird Sanctuary
    Norman Bird Sanctuary
    Norman Bird Sanctuary

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    Moosup Valley State Park Trail

    Moosup Valley State Park Trail

    4.0
    (2 reviews)
    29.3 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Watch out for dirt bikes, who can (and did) drive their bikes over this bridge.
    Watch out for dirt bikes, who can (and did) drive their bikes over this bridge.
    And eventually, the trail becomes rather .... in need of maintenance.
    And eventually, the trail becomes rather .... in need of maintenance.
    Nice view from a bridge just off the trail

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    Nice view from a bridge just off the trail

    Whale Rock Trail - hiking - Updated June 2026

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