Queen's River Preserve Trail

A wonderful place for an easy stroll along forested pathways to one of Rhode Island's most pristine streams. The Queen's River Preserve is bisected by a wide, flat dirt road, beginning at the preserve's easterly boundary at School Land Woods Road and running west across the river. The road runs past a dense shrub bog, visible on the left at the beginning of the walk, through white pine stands, and on down to the river. As you stand on the bridge which spans the Queen's River, look for brilliant red cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) blooming along the stream banks and jeweling damselflies dancing over the water. Just before making its descent to the river, the road passes a small area of pitch pine barren on the right. Across from the pine barren you can take a left turn along the dirt road which takes you southward into the property along white pines and mountain laurel. Along this trail you will pass a hayfield, then you will take Howard's Trail which winds downward toward the Queen's River.