Long Pond Woods Wildlife Refuge - Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Ell Pond Preserve - The Nature Conservancy
Narragansett Trail - Connecticut Park and Forest Association - An extension of the blue-blazed Connecticut Narragansett Trail into Rhode Island, which is blazed yellow in Rhode Island.
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.49979, -71.76014
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| Ashville Pond Parking |
TRAIL MAP:
Long Pond Woods Wildlife Refuge Trail Map - Audubon Society of Rhode Island (does not include the section of trail from Ashville Pond)
DISTANCES:
I had this trip planned months ago as an add-on on the way home from an REI hiking trip in Maine that I had registered for. REI then cancelled all of their adventure trips but I kept the Rhode Island part and so glad I did - it was so much fun!
Friday, June 27, 2025
HIKE: Long Pond Woods and Ell Preserve - 5.2 miles
HIKE: Arcadia Management Area Stepstone Falls - 6.2 miles
HIKE: Turner Reservoir Trail - 3.4 miles
Saturday, June 28, 2025
HIKE - Colt State Park Hiking Trails - 1.7 miles
ZUMBA - In-person Zumba with Nellie G
BIKE - Easy Bay Bike Path with Colt State Park Bike Trails - 32.4 miles
THE HIKE:
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| The Long and Ell Pond/Narragansett Trail heads into the woods towards ... |
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| Ashville Pond |
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| There is a rocky section of trail that is nothing like the rocky sections we are used to. The rocks are much bigger. |
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| The trail can be a bit overgrown at times. |
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| The old stone farm walls are also made of much larger rocks. |
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| The mountain laurel was shot except for this one remaining bloom. Must have been pretty a couple of weeks ago. |
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| This is the parking lot to the right on the map attachment that the trail passes by. |
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| Long Pond comes into view and the trail becomes more challenging with increasingly steeper ups and downs. |
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| In all, the trail descended steeply and ascended steeply three different times with the last one being the most challenging. |
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| A glimpse of Long Pond. |
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| Rhododendron about to bloom. |
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| Only saw one in the distance that had opened up. |
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| Crossing a connection between Ell and Long Ponds. |
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| The final push uphill. (But you have to do it all over again on the way back.) |
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| At the top at the You-Are-Here map, an unmarked trail leaves to the right. |
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| This might be the end of the trail but to the right are massive boulders. |
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| You need to find a way up to the top.... |
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| ... to the views of Long Pond. |
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| Long Pond |
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| Trying to remember how I got up so I could get back down. |
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| Back at that map ... |
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| ... the trail descends steeply to the left but to the right a trail to Ell Pond. |
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| There are a lot of herd paths so it was hard to find the historical marker but I happened upon it. |
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| This is about all you can see of Ell Pond. |
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| Heading back on the yellow-blazed trail. |
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| They are always lurking at the steep sections! |
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| This snippet of Long Pond is much prettier when the sun is out. |
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| Ashville Pond with sunshine and blue skies. |
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| Back at the parking lot up ahead. |
