Five Great Rhode Island Walks
Sunday, May 30, 2010
There's no bad season for a good walk, whether among historic homes, through woodlands, or along a shoreline. But summer truly beckons us to hit the trail. Here are five great walks to get you started.
Nature Walking in Barrington
Owned and operated by the town of Barrington, the 42-acre Osamequin Wildlife Sanctuary, left, offers woodlands, fields and saltwater wetlands, with a well-defined trail system leading to the shores of Hundred Acre Cove and bordering wetlands. These two to three miles of trails that wind through the sanctuary makes this an ideal place for observing migratory waterfowl and shore birds. Open year round, from sunrise to sunset. Off the Wampanoag Trail, Rte. 114, Barrington.
Wooded Ramble near Glocester
The George Washington Management Area, a nearly 3,500-acre swath of natural retreat near Glocester, is perfect for wooded meandering. The Angell Loop will take you on a lakeshore-woodland circuit, even passing an historic Indian gravesite. Keep on the lookout for cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hare, grey squirrel, white-tailed deer and furbearers. 2185 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, www.dem.ri.gov/
Bird Watching in Tiverton
Located on the saltwater shores of the Sakonnet River in Tiverton, the Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge is a hidden jewel offering shallow marshes and upland woodlands for a wide variety of bird life. The 50-acre reserve offers hikers views of salt marshes, seabirds, the Sakonnet River and more. Donated to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island in 1965, it was once a 30-acre farm belonging to Emily Rueckner. Now, the refuge is an inviting spot for nature walks along its one-and-one-half miles of easy-walking trails which should take about 90 minutes to complete.
Seapowet Ave, Tiverton, for directions/trail map, go here.
Historic Newport Neighborhood
Explore the Point, the colonial neighborhood often overlooked by visitors en route to wharves and mansions. But it's a rich area, and this walk created by Newport's Friends of the Waterfront among the Point's homes, storefronts, and driftways, is a perfect afternoon stroll. For a self-guided walk and map, go here.
Getting Green on Block Island
Inspired by England’s Greenway system of trails, the Block Island Greenway covers more than 12 miles of trails in the southern part of the island. Choose a path and meander through Nathan Mott Park, the Nature Conservancy, Turnip Farm, Rodman's Hollow, and private lands graced by old Victorian mansions and charming farmhouses. Access points can be found on Lakeside Drive, and along Old Mill, Cooneymus, West Side and Beacon Hill roads. Look for granite Greenway markers, turnstyles and steps over stone walls. 466-2129, www.nature.org
