Wickaboxet Loop Trail
Posted By auntie on September 1, 2014
4.25 miles, west greenwich, ri
i started this wildlife management area trail from a different spot today than either of the other 2 times i’ve hiked it, and it cut the mileage way down. i guess the other two trail entrances, one from pratt conservation area and one from tillinghast pond, each add a couple miles, because somehow i thought this trail was longer. anyway, it was gross outside… hot and humid, and i was just as happy it was only 4-1/4 miles!
the trail, with signage
even though wickaboxet is a state wildlife management area, i think this trail is blazed and maintained by the nature conservancy, because the blue blazes are that same “rgb” blue that we saw yesterday on frances carter. and the signage is excellent. it would make sense, because the wickaboxet loop includes a section of nature conservancy trail which is on tillinghast management area, a nature conservancy property. what i’m trying to say here is that the two properties are adjacent.
and they really really don’t want you to go straight here
highlights are a little blown out on this shot, but the little white sign on the post has two arrows, pointing left and right. and there’s a huge barricade of logs.
the ant mounds
i am told these ant mounds were built and are populated by allegheny mound ants, and that the tunnels can extend up to 3 feet deep, and neighboring mounds can be interconnected. also, i understand that the ants are very aggressive if their mounds and disturbed and they will bite. neat. i gave them a wide berth.
accidental self portrait
another accidental self portrait. i kind of liked it.
you can find this hike in the hikefinder under “wickaboxet loop trail from plain meetinghouse road.” the map is my own. i’ve hiked this trail now from three different trailheads: plain meetinghouse road (today’s hike), pratt conservation area, and tillinghast pond management area. see those individual blog posts for mileages.
[…] halfway through the flintlock trail, you come to the wickaboxet loop trail intersection (see my post from last week). had i had more time, i’d have continued on to the wickaboxet loop trail and added another, […]