Sandy Brook Trail

Posted By on December 1, 2018

Sandy Brook Trail

5.5 miles; Exeter, RI

Second hike of the day, this time with the “Take-A-Hike” FB group on somehow one of the few trails in Arcadia I’ve missed. We also took in the Dove Crest Trail and part of the Arcadia Trail, and we started out with a visit to the Tomaquag Museum, which is about the Narragansett Indians. Great wrap up to a day of hiking.

Group Founder at a trailside cellar hole

Group Founder at a trailside cellar hole

I’ve hiked on this particular stretch of our route many times, but can’t say as I ever even noticed this cellar hole beside the trail. There was some debate among the group as to what it might have been… a root cellar, a barn, and old house? It was hard to say. There wasn’t a noticeable hearth anywhere, which to me would rule out a house. Maybe a barn with a root cellar beneath?

Stairs

Stairs

We all agreed that the construction of the stairs was quite lovely and unusual, though.

Roaring Brook Pond

Roaring Brook Pond

The stillness of the water today on Roaring Brook Pond made the reflections mesmerizing.

That Funny Feeling

That Funny Feeling

There was a small grove of trees at the start of the loop around Browning Mill Pond where someone had painted odd little spooky portraits on all the trees. I liked the white jack-o-lantern on this one the best.

Abandoned Fish Hatchery

Abandoned Fish Hatchery

We left the Browning Mill Pond loop early to cut through the abandoned fish hatchery, both because it came out closer to our cars, and also because a hiker had told us that the trail around the pond was really wet, and we figured it’d be easier than fighting through the flood.

You can find out more about the many, many trails in Arcadia from the most excellent Great Swamp Press map of the management area, which can be found here or at URE Outfitters in Hope Valley, RI. Sorry, but there are no online resources that compare to these maps for completeness and accuracy. As always, click the image above for details about this hike and to download the gps track.

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