How small is Rhode Island? Very small. The Ocean State is only 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, making it the tiniest state in the nation. Rhode Island is only half the size of Delaware — the second-smallest — and there are more than 500 counties in the U.S. that have a larger land area. On many U.S. maps, Rhode Island is barely visible, and even New Englanders tend to forget it exists. You may be shocked to hear that more than a million people live here, and it still manages to fit in 14 state parks and 400 miles of coastline.
Some might smirk at the idea of a hiking trail across Rhode Island, but the North South Trail is a pretty serious endeavor. At roughly 77 miles, this network of paths and roads stretches from the southern coast to the northwest corner of the state, and most hikers need 5 days to a week to complete it. Drivers can bomb through the state on Interstate 95, transporting themselves from one border to the next in only 45 minutes, while thru-hikers spend long days in fields and forests, small towns and gentle hills. You could easily add this trail to a list of incredible places in Rhode Island you need to visit at least once.
The nature of the North South Trail
The North South Trail was first developed in the early 1990s as a way for hikers to safely walk across the state and explore the abundant natural spaces of Rhode Island’s western border. The trail was completed in 1999, marked throughout with blue blazes (pictured above) and occasional signs. To hike the whole thing, most people start at Charlestown Beach, then head straight north; the meandering route takes you through Burlingame State Park, the Arcadia Management Area, the Georgia Washington Management Area, and many rural villages in between.
The route is largely composed of dirt trails through woods, but many segments run along actual roads, which means walking on the shoulder and watching out for traffic. While Rhode Island doesn’t have an abundance of campgrounds, most of them are located on or near the North South Trail, so thru-hikers should have a place to set up their tents during the warmer months…