Posted By auntie on August 20, 2015

3.34 miles; hopkinton, ri

this is the most demanding trail in ri, except for the length, which is pretty short. i decided to do it because i  felt i needed a challenge… well, this was a good challenge, for sure.

long pond glimpsed through the trees

i started from the long pond fishing area parking lot on canonchet road in hopkinton. the trail gets “interesting” pretty quickly. there are  also some simply stunning stretches through here. you go under and through gigantic native rhododendrons that make you feel as if you’re in a primeval jungle. i half expected to see velociraptors lurking.

yellow club fungus

you didn’t think i’d pass up an opportunity for a fungus shot, didja? i think this is Clavulinopsis helvola. but don’t quote me.

staircase along the trail

another “interesting” section of trail.

the staircase

this is the climb up to the overlook between the two ponds. it’s featured in the movie “moonrise kingdom,” as is the local boy scout camp, camp yawgoog.

after i walked the torturous path to its end at north road, i turned north and walked back to my car via the roads. i was not up for doing this as an “out-and-back.”

i have added this hike to the hikefinder. trailhead, no trail map really necessary—just follow the yellow blazes due west from the parking area. don’t go the other direction, though… you’ll end up at ashville pond at the spot where the narragansett trail starts (the long pond ell pond trail is part of the narragansett trail, by the way). you can find information and directions to the north road trailhead on the nature conservancy’s ell pond preserve website here.

Categories: Rhode Island, Walks and Hikes
Tags: 2–5 miles, Hopkinton RI, RI