Posted By auntie on December 22, 2013

2.8 miles; westerly, ri

another 50+ degree day in december in new england, so another quick trip out. i haven’t been on riverwood since august of 2012, and it’s not a good place to visit in the summer. in the winter, however, it’s another story. the bones of the place are evident, from massive rock outcroppings to the river to the old quarry to the many stone walls and cellarholes. it’s a short walk but a unique property.

forbidding sign

one of the unique things about this westerly land trust preserve is how you get on to it. you have to park at the end of boy scout lane in westerly and walk down the road which ends at this sign. but don’t be deterred… keep walking.

closed gate

then you walk right through what looks like someone’s front yard and come to a closed gate. but keep walking! after you pass the gate you come to a boy scout camp. keep going! the preserve starts just past the scout camp.

i took the orange trail which runs around the perimeter of riverwood. going clockwise, the first mile or so runs along the shore of the pawcatuck river.

pawcatuck river

there was a light fog flowing along the river’s surface today. the water was probably colder than the air.

lichen on a log

i thought these lichen structures on an old log looked really cool, like a tiny little forest.

turkey tail

and this is a particularly nice turkey tail fungus.

you can find riverwood in my hikefinder.

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