Washington County

Rhode Island's shortest - and very likely highest - nature walk. The tower that makes Tower Hill what it is provided a fantastic view of the area and is well worth the three-minute stair climb to the top.

Shady Lea Grove is a small picnic area on the side of Route 4, right at the intersection of Route 4 and Route 1. Not huge and not quiet, given the proximity to the highway, but a good place to sit and eat a sandwich.

Official Description (from location's homepage)
The Queen’s River preserve is a wonderful place for an easy stroll along forested pathways to one of Rhode Island’s, and southern New England’s, most pristine streams. The Queen's River, a cold, largely forested stream with headwaters in West Greenwich, forms the western boundary of the Queen's River Preserve. The river flows southwestward through the tiny villages of Liberty and Usquepaug before finally tumbling into the Pawcatuck River in South Kingstown.

Official Description (from location's homepage)
The wetlands support the rare ringed boghaunter dragonfly and an Atlantic white cedar swamp. A short loop trail leads through an impressive stand of mature white pines, while further south the Narragansett Trail runs through the property passing by numerous wetlands, mountain laurel, and a field.

Official Description (from location's homepage)
The ponds, wetlands, and wooded uplands provide habitat for a number of unusual dragonfly and damselfly species, including the rare Ringed Boghaunter. A short loop trail passes a small woodland pool, goes through black oak-white pine forest, and then rises up to a high point amid rocky outcrops and dense shrubbery. Access to the Pond itself and its wetlands is restricted due to the sensitivity of the animals, plants and natural communities.

Official Description (from location's homepage)
This is the Rhode Island Chapter's largest nature preserve. Its oak forests, pine barrens, wetlands, and fields support numerous plants, animals, and natural communities, most notably a rare pitch pine/scrub oak barrens, vernal pools and a sizeable grassland. Kiosks located at the trailheads greet visitors with information about the preserve including visitor guidelines and what to see. There, visitors can pick up a trail map, a self guided hike, and a bird checklist available to the public at the kiosks. Visitors have a choice of hiking the wide Narragansett trail that leads to the grassland or hike on the narrower woodland trail which meanders through the heart of the property. In addition, the preserve is now open to horse back riding on specified trails. We have expanded our parking are at the Old Mill Road entrance to accommodate horse trailers and we have also installed a manual water pump to provide water for horses.

Official Description (from location's homepage)
Rhode Island's First National Natural Landmark This land's beauty lies in its contrasts - forested valleys dip between rugged bedrock ridges. From atop rocky cliffs, you can see spectacular vistas, views of Long Pond and Ell Pond nestled in a deep hollow below. A rich diversity of plants and animals flourish among unique cedar bog and wetland habitats in the valley. The preserve abuts lands owned by The Audubon Society of Rhode Island and the state of Rhode Island. In 1972, The Nature Conservancy purchased Ell Pond to add a link to a growing web of contiguous protected lands in Rhode Island.

Official Description (from location's homepage)
Two distinct forest types - old and young - tell the story of this land. Large oaks, tulip poplar, and white pine that have stood for several generations speak of the past. Other areas of the preserve were more recently cleared for agricultural use, causing a young forest of mixed hardwoods and evergreens to spring up. Streams and wetlands are scattered through the forests. In places the terrain is steep and rocky, and the downslopes are littered with large boulders, so wear sturdy hiking boots. Use caution and wear orange if walking the preserve during hunting season. Some hunting activity has occurred in recent years even though The Nature Conservancy prohibits hunting on this preserve

Official Description (from location's homepage)
Pleasant, babbling Beaver River flows through undisturbed acres that feature a small woodland pool, streams, seeps, a bog pool and swamp, forested wetland and a mixed oak forest.