The Exhilarating Woodland Hike In Rhode Island That Everyone Must Experience At Least Once
By Tori Jane|Published October 06, 2021
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
So, when people think of Rhode Island, maybe the first thing that comes to mind isn’t epic hiking trips like what might come to mind when envisioning somewhere like, say, Colorado or Washington state. Perhaps they ought to, though, because Rhode Island has its very own fair share of delightful and breathtaking hikes that you’ve simply got to see to believe. One such hike is an invigorating, incredible adventure that you won’t soon forget! This awe-inspiring forest hike in Rhode Island is one you’ll find yourself drawn to again and again.
Bates Loop Trail is a 2.2-mile loop trail nestled in the woods near West Greenwich.
For most of the year, it's immaculately lush and perfectly green, offering a bit of peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
This peaceful, quiet trail is a part of the Tillinghast Pond Management and it's easy enough that most folks should be able to conquer it without issue.
There is a bit of an incline in a few spots, however, it's nothing terribly difficult; plus, the scenery is so amazing that you probably won't even notice!
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You'll begin your hike at Hell's Gate trailhead (but trust us when we say this hike is nowhere near as scary as that makes it sound like it should be).
You'll follow the brightly-marked, red-blazed trail to some intriguing historic buildings and homesteads, and eventually, you'll come upon a waterfall treat as well.
This trail is one of the lesser-appreciated hidden gem hikes in Rhode Island; for extra peace and quiet, we recommend a visit during the middle of the week.
There's nothing quite as restful for the soul as a long, lazy afternoon spent walking along a quiet trail smack in the middle of beautiful woodlands, especially when you're one of the only folks out there.
Though the trail is best trekked from March until November, it's open year-round - and during winter, it takes on a special beauty.
...of course, being Rhode Island, it's beautiful always - so no matter when you decide to show up, you're in for a treat.
Among the places and things you'll encounter along the way are the old Bates Family Homestead, Phillips Brook, and numerous small waterfalls (depending on the time of year, of course).
You'll find benches and excellent places to stop along the way. We suggest taking a seat and a few mindful breaths surrounded by the perfect natural splendor that is Bates Loop trail.
You'll have the opportunity to continue along the same trail for your entire adventure, or if you'd like, you can branch off onto any of the other trails you'll stumble upon during your hike.
So, what do you think? Do you have a favorite forest hike in Rhode Island you’d like to see us feature? Tell us about it using this form and you might just see your idea turned into an article someday! For a complete map, more photos, and directions to reach Bates Loop Trail, take a look at the AllTrails page.
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