WHERE TO WALK

The Fogland Marsh in Tiverton is a beautiful tidal estuary, where the ocean water mixes with fresh water, creating a habitat for a great wealth of ecology ranging from algae to marsh birds.

The Tillinghast Pond Management Area in West Greenwich is The Nature Conservancy's largest land holding in Rhode Island.  Its oak and pine woods protect the headwaters of the Wood River, one of the most pristine waterways in southern New England.  It continues to expand upon its trail system.

The Francis C. Carter Memorial Preserve in Charlestown is the chapter's second largest nature preserve, with over 5 miles of trails. Straddling the rocky uplands of the Charlestown moraine and the sandy floodplain of the Pawcatuck River, this area is notably rich inn rare pitch pine and scrub oak barrens.  Vernal pools breed wood frogs, and a 35-acre grassland attracts an unusual array of songbirds. 

             
              Fascination is found not only in the vast landscape, but also in the small things. 
              Here Tim Mooney shows me wood frog egg clusters and owl pellets.   3/15/11
                   To learn more about vernal ponds and the wood frog life cycle, click here.
 
Tiverton has five miles of walking trails in Weetamoo Woods, the site of Tiverton's first settlement, named for the last sachem of the Pocasset Tribe of Wampanoag Indians.  Weetamoo was a female sachem.  This area includes part of the original Pocasset Purchase roadway, circa 1685.  
  
In the West Bay, East Greenwich offers scenic historic walks around the Historic Hill District and down by the Greenwich Cove in Scalloptown Park, or hiking trails out at Carrs Pond.  Further south beyond Wickford, lies the John H. Chafee Nature Preserve, historically known as Rome Point, easy-going hike over several interlocking trails or straight through the woods to a pebble beach and popular seal watching location.
     
Walkers and runners alike enjoy Rhode Island's extensive bikeway system.  Walkers, be sure you travel on the left hand side of the paths, facing oncoming bikers. The East Bay Bike Path in Providence begins at India Point, where our state founder and religious revolutionary, Roger Williams, brought us the concept of “Soul Liberty” and befriended our state’s original natives.  The path continues down through Colt State Park and historic Bristol.  
 
The Washington Bike Path follows the route that Rochambeau and his troops marched as they marched into the American Revolution. 

The Blackstone River Bikeway runs north from Providence up through Lincoln Woods and traces the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. The South County Bike Path leads through some of the more rural history of Rhode Island.   The Rails to Trails Conservancy is a great resource for paths outside of Rhode Island if you're looking to get away for a weekend. 

Newport offers wide range of adventures.  The most popular is the scenic Cliff Walk, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the ocean, sailboats, and ships, and the scenery of the magnificent mansions of great industrial barons.  There are also walking paths round the grounds of Fort Adams, one of the most fascinating structures in the state, from both a historical and architectural perspective.  Meandering around the harbor area, you can explore the piers, the shops, churches, and maritime museums.

The City of Providence offers Neutaconkanut Park, the highest elevation in the city, 88 acres with woodland trails along the historic Northwest boundary of the property negotiation established between Roger Williams and the Native Americans.

Rhode Island also boasts miles of walkable beaches. From the white sands of Block Island across to the quaint harbor town of Watch Hill on up to the Narragansett surf and over to secluded Third Beach at the mouth of the Sakonnet River, each shoreline setting offers its own unique experience.
 
For a completely breathtaking oceanside experience, Rhode Island offers the rocky shores of Beaver Tail, with it's lighthouse and many tide pools.  There are also many delightful paths and roadways through Goddard Park,  around Roger Williams Park, and in Colt State Park, to name but a few more options.  And, for the more rustic, there are hiking trails and camping areas all over Rhode Island.

Far away from the water... Are you familiar with the Buck Hill Management Area?  It consists of over 2,000 acres of forest in the northwest corner of Rhode Island. The trails are mostly old wagon roads, relatively rocky, but wide and inviting for conversation and enjoying the wildlife that flourishes in the area. This is a six mile hike that leads past ponds, grain fields, and eventually to the Tri-State Marker where Rhode Island, Massachesetts and Connecticut meet. 
   
The Audubon Society of Rhode Island offers free public access to miles of beautiful nature trails rated for difficulty and length of time required to complete the trail.  Trail maps can be downloaded at www.asri.org.  Adubon refuges offer you a quiet place to escape, reflect, renew, and revitalize.  Here's a list of Audubon and National Fish and Wildlife Service refuges...