1445 Providence Pike (Route 5), North Smithfield, 401-949-5454

With its variety of trails, beautiful ponds, and diverse wildlife, Fort Nature Refuge is wonderful any time of year. The Fort family donated these 235-acres to the Audubon and the trails are wide and well marked.

From the parking lot, start on the blue trail. Very soon you will reach a fork; take the blue trail to your right. Follow to the Pond Overlook sign and make a right. You can turn around here, or extend your hike by continuing around the blue trail loop. There are also two other trails for a much longer hike (see map).

Length: 1 mile; about 1.6 miles if you extend your hike all the way around the blue loop
Difficulty: easy for children
Map: FortNatureRefugeTrailMap
Dogs: to protect the fragile ecology of the refuge, please leave your dogs at home
You might want to bring: binoculars to view the beaver dam across the pond

Click here for an extensive list of guidelines for hiking with kids.
Click here to visit the Fort Nature Refuge website.

Get directions or follow ours: From Route 295, take exit 8B for Route 7 north. Follow Route 7 north for about 2.3 miles. Bear right onto Branch Pike/Providence Pike and travel 2.3 miles. The entrance to the refuge will be on your left just after the fire station (on the right).