Rhode Island is not supposed to have hikes like this. The smallest state is mostly coastline and gentle woods, and most of its trails ask very little. Then there is the stretch of forest around Long and Ell Ponds in Hopkinton, where the ground turns to boulders and bedrock, the route climbs over ledges using footbridges, stone steps, and at one point a small ladder, and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island calls it arguably the most challenging hiking on any of its refuges.
The Long Pond Woods Trail runs through the heart of it. AllTrails lists it as 3.3 miles out and back with 318 feet of elevation gain, which sounds like nothing but isn’t. The first section is known in hiking guides as the magnificent mile for its boulders, ledges, and huge rock outcroppings, and the whole route passes through groves of hemlock, Atlantic white cedar, mountain laurel, and giant rhododendron that make the place feel far more remote than it is.
Of every fall trail we picked by state, this is the one that does the most with the least elevation. In October, the mixed hardwood and pine forest around the ponds turns into what The Nature Conservancy calls a mosaic of colors and textures, and from the ledges above Long Pond you look down on all of it reflected in the water. Rhode Island peaks around mid-October, north and south alike.
What to Expect When Visiting Long Pond Woods in Hopkinton, Rhode Island
The trail is part of the Narragansett Trail, blazed yellow, which was laid out in 1932 from Lantern Hill in Connecticut into Rhode Island. From the North Road trailhead, it enters a lush forest of Atlantic white cedar and rhododendron almost immediately, and the terrain gets serious soon after.
Expect to use your hands. The route crosses slanted rock slabs, climbs boulders, and in places squeezes between outcrops, with built steps and a ladder over the worst obstacles. One of the highlights is a large boulder with a real drop below it and a commanding view over Long Pond, and it is slippery when wet, so treat it with respect.
Autumn adds its own hazard. Fallen leaves pile up on the rock and hide gaps between boulders, and the moss stays damp in the shade, so the trail is slicker in October than in summer. Sturdy boots with real tread are not optional here, and this is not a hike for small children or anyone uneasy on uneven ground…