Posted By auntie on April 22, 2015

5 miles; exeter & richmond, ri

in honor of meeting ellie heyder last weekend, and because it’s been so long since i’ve been in arcadia, i thought i’d revisit this “walk in the watershed.” if you’re unfamiliar with what i’m talking about, ellie heyder is one of the authors of the pamphlet walks in the watershed, published by the wood-pawcatuck watershed association. it’s chock full (okay all 48 pages of it, anyway) of great hikes in the southern rhode island/southeastern connecticut area. you can get a copy here, or at ure outfitters in hope valley.

roaring brook crossing

i started this hike from the state garage on route 3 on the richmond-exeter line. it takes in parts of the yellow-blazed arcadia trail, the white-blazed arcadia crossover trail, and the seemingly ubiquitous blue-blazed north-south trail. it also crosses roaring brook several times—this is one of the more rustic-looking crossings.

false hellebore

this little green jewel is false hellebore, Veratrum veride. it starts to green up and get showy about the same time as the skunk cabbage leafs out, and the two are often confused, since they are both found in very wet spots. all parts of it are toxic.

seven springs farm

this trail also loops around browning mill pond, and comes very close to the privately-owned seven springs farm. i have no idea what they grow on their property, but i have seen burros or donkeys there in the past.

greenery

i’m not sure what this greenery is that was popping through the leaves. it looks like a dicentra or a rue, but i have no idea, really. i’ll have to watch for the flowers.

you can find this hike in walks in the watershed by charles f. hickox and ellie heyder, published by the wood-pawcatuck association (see links, above). i entered arcadia via my favorite trailhead, which is at the state garage on route 3 on the richmond-exeter line.

Categories: Rhode Island, Walks and Hikes
Tags: 5–7 miles, Exeter RI, RI, Richmond RI