The Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter is one of the best places around for a short hike anytime of year. You can complete the whole loop in about an hour or two, and you'll pass through a forest, over a brook, across a field, around a pond, above a waterfall, and you can explore an old cemetery too. Click on "Read more" for all the details about this beautiful place.
Fisherville is owned and operated by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. No hunting is allowed here, and no pets are allowed either, even on leashes. The trails are well marked and easy, with benches scattered here and there for anyone who needs a break. There's a roomy parking lot with a port-a-john if you need it.
The main trail that circles the pond starts at the edge of the parking lot. There's another trail on the other side of the dirt road, but it's less interesting -- just a walk through the woods -- still, if you want to extend your hike, that's an option. Or you can linger by the waterfall for as long as you like.
During hunting season, it's a good idea to wear plenty of orange in the woods. You can buy a florescent orange vest pretty cheap at places that sell outdoors gear, sometimes they have them at Job Lot. Click here for an example of one, at REI (they have a store in Cranston). Even though Fisherville is a refuge and no hunting is allowed, you never know... once hunters are in the woods, it's not always clear where the boundaries are.
Click here to visit the Audubon Web site with all the details you need, plus a pdf map of the hiking trails. Click here for a Google map of the refuge. If you click on "Get directions," you can type in your home address and Google will show you the shortest route and how long it will take to drive there.
Happy hiking!
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