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Stillwater Scenic Trail
1. Mowry Conservation Area
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Access:
Look for the entrance sign and park along Old Forge Road between Farnum
Pike (Route 104) and Log Road just north of Stump Pond.
Google Map
Features:
A lovely, lively trout stream, towering hemlocks and pines, a scenic
footbridge, picnic tables, a walking trail and the remains of an earthen
stone dam.
An increasingly popular spot, this shady
20 acre retreat given to the town by S. Burton and Mary Mowry (the Mowry
family owned it since 1845) offers something for just about everybody: a
stocked trout stream, a picturesque place for picnics, stone walls, marked
walking trails that begin just beyond an arching footbridge, and, for the
history buffs, much stonework that remains from the 18th century forge,
for which Forge Road was named, and a sawmill. In spring and summer, water
still tumbles through the old dam creating a miniature but thoroughly
delightful waterfall, Squirrels, chipmunks and birds abound in the picnic
and stream area, signs of deer and other wildlife can be found farther
from the road, and muskrats and an occasional otter frequent the tiny pond
just above the old dam, Hemlocks and pines, many of them very old and
tall, dominate the lower area where an orange-blazed trail makes a short
loop. A longer yellow-blazed path, accessible from the orange loop, runs
up a steep ridge and back through hardwoods of several varieties and
mountain laurel" It returns through pines and ends near an old dam.
Together, the trails make a walk of about one mile.
Dedicated in 1979, this is a bustling
place in spring, when anglers seek the trout and wildflowers bloom; a
cool, beckoning oasis in summer; a soothing place in autumn when ferns
beneath the pines add a golden glow, and an incredibly beautiful place in
winter when the stream is fringed in ice and the hemlocks are draped in
snow. There are no "off" seasons at Mowry.
2. Cascade Brook
Conservation Area
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Access:
Enter off Putnam Pike (Route 44) at the sign for Village at Waterman
Lake, at the western edge of
Greenville, across from West
Greenville Road. This entrance is
Mapleville Road
and also known as Pig Road to some long-time residents. Park at the end of
the paved roadway (do not take the forks that go up to the left).
Google Map
Features:
A seasonal brook and small waterfall, immense boulders and rock
outcroppings, a walking trail, tall trees, a four fireplace chimney
remaining from another era.
This 27-acre property, among the newest
town conservation areas, is named for a lovely, gurgling little brook
that cascades down a ledge in all but the driest seasons. A 1mile blue
blazed walking trail loops through the open, rocky forest, taking visitors
to property's high spots, both literally and figuratively. The brook and
small waterfall are the place's best features, along with massive
outcroppings and ledges, several stone walls and numerous stately trees.
Along the trail, which begins a few yards
beyond the end of the paved road and forks at the waterfall, are many
indications that this woodland has been used by groups over the years.
Included is a chimney with fireplaces on all four sides, a remainder of a
picnic area built for children of a former orphanage that once owned the
land. In addition to the blazed trail, other paths also run through the
forest but most quickly run off town property. Be careful on the trail:
some of the rocky slopes can be slippery in snowy or wet conditions.
This place is particularly pleasant to
visit in the spring, when the brook is running freely, and in autumn, when
the oaks, beeches, maples and other trees offer their most colorful
foliage.
3. Esmond Park
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Access:
At the corner of Farnum Pike (Route 104) and Esmond Street in Esmond;
parking lot is at the west end of the park along Farnum Pike.
Google Map
Features:
Arching bridge, small waterfall, picnic tables, benches, river, cattail
marsh, walking path, World War I monuments.
Long known as the Esmond Mills Park and
Alexander M. Balfour Square (a sign still identifies it as such), this
spot in the heart of Esmond was greatly enlarged and enhanced in 1989
with town and Open Space funds. Now about 4 acres, it is a place for quiet
walking or relaxing conversation.
The park retains some of its old charm
with plaques on boulders that honor employees of Esmond Mills who served
in World War I and other men and women in the village who saw service in
that war, and now it adds pleasing new touches with a shady flowery
sitting area and a walking path. Another boulder plaque says the park is
dedicated to the late Leo Bouchard, "Mr. Conservation", who grew up in the
area.
Visitors can now cross the
Woonasquatucket River on an
arching footbridge just above a curving stone structure that creates a
scenic little waterfall in the river (See below). Just above the waterfall is a small
cattail marsh that attracts numerous birds in the spring and summer. On
the far side of the river, the walking path runs on what was the old
Providence to Springfield railroad bed that once served the mills. In the
future, this segment of the path may become part of a bicycle trail that
will link with other bike paths in
Providence and Lincoln.
The Woonasquatucket River & arching footbridge at Esmond Park
Photo by Richard Mello (2004)
4. Stillwater Scenic
Trail
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Access:
Park in a gravel lot off Farnum Pike (Route104) between Washington Highway
(Route 116) and Stump Pond dam. The walkway runs under Washington Highway
and along Stillwater Pond all the way to Capron Road.
Google Maps
Features:
An open flat lane; excellent river and pond views on one side, forest
views, rocky slopes and open fields on the other; fishing spots; water
birds and songbirds; two dams; remains of the old Stillwater Mill; a
plaque honoring World War I soldiers.
Once the bed of a railroad that linked
Providence with Massachusetts towns, the walkway now presents a place for
easy, leisurely strolls. In addition to the idyllic scenes of the
Woonasquatucket River as it leaves Stump Pond
and then flows into Stillwater Pond, you are likely to see water birds,
song birds, turtles, frogs and butterflies. Depending on the season, you
may also see wildflowers and songbirds beside the lane, or energetic
squirrels and deer tracks.
Stillwater Pond
About a half mile from your start, you
reach Stillwater Pond and, looking across the water, you can see some of
the buildings remaining from Stillwater Village, once a thriving mill
town, along with the modern homes of current residents. Beyond the dam
that created the pond, look in the river for more foundations and
stonework left from a railroad spur that served the mill complex. Then you
reach another, much smaller pond and a second dam near Capron Road. Often
the water flows over this dam in a lovely waterfall.
Capron Road dam
If you continue to the road and turn left
to a bridge you can find two plaques, one honoring Adin B. Capron, for
whom the road is named, and the other commemorating the 11 men from
Stillwater Village who served in World War I. A walk the length of the walkway to
Capron
Road Bridge and back is about
21/4 miles. If you wish, bring along a fishing rod and try your luck.
There are many good places to sit and cast your line while you enjoy the
surroundings. You probably won't care if you catch any fish or not.
Stillwater Scenic Trail |
5. Connors Farm
Conservation Area
Top of page
Access:
From Greenville, take Pleasant View Avenue
(Route 116) north to Swan Road, then follow Swan Road to its end, about
1.5 miles. At the T junction with
Mann School Road, go right and
then almost immediately take a left onto Connors Farm Road. After about
0.3 miles, look for a small parking area on the left between houses
numbered 20 and 24.
Google Map
Features:
Walking trail, pond, brook, dams, an old
stone bridge, beech groves, rugged glacial ledges.
Hidden in the forest at the far end of a
residential tract, this 66 acre property may be a surprise to even
long-time Smithfield residents. Once part of the Connors family farm, it
looks nothing at all like a farm. The inviting trail, which is a bit
strenuous in places, is just under 2 miles long. Built by the Boy Scouts
in 1994, it takes visitors to the top of one of the most rugged ledges in
the area. Here you can see unique rock formations and stone slabs that
seem to have spilled down the steep slope yesterday. They were, however,
left this way by the retreating glaciers thousands of years ago.
You'll also see attractive groves of beech
and oak trees, and at the base of the slope, a brook with a stone bridge
and two old dams built for a nearby cranberry bog. The brook and trail
lead to a tranquil pond that frequently harbors ducks, turtles and frogs.
At the far end of the pond is an earthen dam. The border-strewn forest
contains plenty of wildlife in the form of songbirds, squirrels,
chipmunks, deer and sometimes hawks and foxes.
Walk the entire trail and you'll get two
very different perspectives, one from the lively little brook in the
valley and one from the top of the boulder field. And you will get a new
perspective on a hidden part of Smithfield.
6. Georgiaville Town
Beach, Dam and Gorge
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Access:
At the end of Stillwater Road just beyond
Homestead Avenue; turn off Route 104 across from St. Michael's
Catholic Church.
Features:
Boat ramp, beach, fishing, high dam,
spillway, gorge, huge old trees, picnic tables, benches, restroom
facilities (open in summer).
Google Map
Renovated in 1991 with help from
Open Space and Recreation Bond funds, the Town Beach has been a fixture in
Smithfield for decades. In addition to the swimming, fishing and boating
activities, and the picnicking and sitting facilities, the park offers
good views of picturesque pine-covered islands in the 92 acre pond and
an inviting walk along a high earthen dam that ends at a spillway and a
scenic gorge.
The pond and beach have long been the
chief attractions, and rightly so, but the dam and gorge also should not
be missed. The original dam was built about 1850 and while renovations
over the years have kept it solid, it remains an open lane ideal for
strolling. Walk the length of the dam; the gorge is just below the
spillway. After heavy rains or spring thaws, water roars through the
narrow but deep gorge, which feeds a small stream that curves back toward
the beach area. Even in more tranquil times, the gorge is lively with
water splashing over the rocks.
It is possible to return on a narrow path
that follows the stream, then cuts through former picnic area left over
from an earlier era. There are still a few old stone fireplaces standing
beneath large, venerable trees, mostly beeches, many carrying the initials
carved by the youths of another generation. A walk from the end of the
beach to the spillway and then along the gorge and stream back through the
former picnic area would be about a half mile. No dogs, please.
7. Mercer Lookout
Top of page
Access:
From Mountaindale Road, 1 mile from
Pleasant View Avenue in Greenville or 11/2 miles from Old County
Road in Esmond. Enter on a dirt road, Wolf Hill Trail, in an open
power-line strip beside a Narragansett Electric power substation.
See "note" below.
Google Map
Features:
Quiet woodland trails, second growth
forest, a chimney and fireplace remaining from a Boy Scout cabin,
blueberry bushes and a panoramic view of the Providence skyline.
This property was acquired in 1997 through
a bequest by the late Hester Hastings who wanted it named for her
relatives, the Mercers. Consisting of 24 acres, the high, rugged land was
used for years as a summer camp by members of a Providence Boy
Scout troop. However, after the Scouts' cabin burned, probably in
the 1940s, the property was virtually forgotten for decades and the grand
view became obscured by growing trees. Since the town took over the land,
the vista has been reclaimed and it is once more possible to stand at this
spot and enjoy the long views over Providence. On clear days, you can see
far beyond the city, down Narragansett Bay as far as the Mount
Hope Bridge.
The walking route, marked by blue paint
spots on boulders and trees, is rocky in places but also presents looks
at songbirds and wildflowers, particularly where it follows ancient
Wolf Hill Trail, which before 1-295 was built connected this area with
Esmond. From the parking area in the power line strip, the trail turns
east (right), toward 1-295, then follows a second power-line strip along
Wolf Hill Trail. Two paths lead from the old road to the cabin site, going
to the right at poles numbered 0511 and 0514. Going in on one path and
returning on the other makes a pleasant little loop. The walk from your
parking area to the outlook and then back down is just under one mile.
Note: (from a visitor)
"in it's current condition, the road to
the parking area can only be accessed with a 4 wheel drive vehicle with
plenty of clearance underneath. The dirt road has several heavily eroded
spots where the rocks stick out a good 1 to 2 feet out of the ground.
Anyone with a normal passenger car would have to stop after about 50
feet and back out again". July 14, 2004
For more information on
Smithfield and the Blackstone River Valley, contact the
Blackstone Valley
Tourism Council at 401-724-2200.
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