off Rte. 112 and Old Mill Rd, Charlestown,
401-331-7110 ext. 17

The Nature Conservancy’s Carter Preserve boasts more than 5 miles of well-marked hiking trails through rare pitch pine/scrub oak and a 35 acre grassland. As one of the largest protected areas in RI, it contributes to an 11-mile corridor of open space running from the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge to the state’s Carolina Management Area.

The Narragansett Trail from the Old Mill Road entrance leads to the grassland which you may choose to simply view or hike around. Return via the utility line which leads to vernal pools and look for tadpoles and other critters in spring and early summer.

Length: 1.25 mile roundtrip to grassland; 2.1 miles if you include the Grassland Trail
Difficulty: easy for kids
Map: FrancisCarterPreserveTrailMap
Dogs: are welcome, so long as they are leashed and you clean up after them
You might want to bring: binoculars for the grassland, a camera
Note: fluorescent orange requirements apply for all users during the hunting season (learn more)

Click here for an extensive list of guidelines for hiking with kids.
Click here to visit the Carter Preserve website.

Get directions or follow ours: From Route 95, take exit 3A for Route 138 East. Bear right onto Route 112 and continue south through Richmond, past Route 91 and over the railroad bridge. Drive past the preserve sign on Route 112 and take the next right onto Old Mill Road. Bear right onto the dirt road at the sign just before the road curves sharply to the left. The parking area is straight ahead.