Whether you’re looking for some exercise with a view, or you’re just looking to get out and enjoy nature, hiking is a great way to explore the world around you. Luckily, you don’t have to travel far to experience beautiful scenery – you can enjoy these great places to hike right here in Little Rhody!
Arcadia Management Area – Richmond
With over 14,000 acres of forested land in Richmond, Exeter, Hopkinton, and West Greenwich, this stunning recreation area has miles and miles of trails to explore. Offering both gravel roads and well-marked wooded trails, it’s easy to find the right trail no matter what type of experience you are looking for. RI’s largest recreational area covers enough ground to keep hikers coming back to explore more and more of the beautifully-wooded terrain. While the park is shared by hikers, hunters, fishermen, mountain bikers, horseback riders, campers, and boaters alike, multi-use safety regulations are in place to keep the experience safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Burlingame State Park – Charlestown
Burlingame State Park offers beautiful trails and hiking around Charlestown’s Watchaug Pond. With 3,100 acres of rocky woodland, there is so much to explore that you may want to stay for a few days. Luckily enough, Burlingame State Park also features 20 rustic cabins and almost 700 standard campsites that you can rent out. While the campsites are closed until at least June 15, 2020, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, this site’s opening date is worth keeping an eye on.
George B. Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge – Coventry
Managed by the Audobon Society of Rhode Island, the George B. Parker Wildlife Refuge is a great place for bird-watching and possibly catching a glimpse of foxes, mink, deer, and other wildlife. While this 860-acre property may be smaller than some of the others on our list, it offers 7 miles of trails ranging from boardwalks over streams and brooks to Revolutionary War-era carriage roads and rocky trails through hilly terrain.
Long Pond Woods Wildlife Refuge – Hopkinton
If you’re looking for a more challenging trail with beautiful views, you will love Long Pond Woods Trail. While it is the smallest destination on our list with 2 miles of trails through 220 acres of land, it offers lots of steep, heavily-wooded, and rocky terrain leading to a breathtaking view of Long Pond. If you keep a close eye on the water below, you may even see an otter!
