Hiking the North-South Trail

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Trails: 78-mile linear trail runs north through western Rhode Island from the Atlantic Ocean to the Massachusetts border where it links up with the Midstate Trail. The trail is rated mainly easy with a few intermediate sections. Certain sections are maintained by the North-South Trail Council and others by the Narragansett AMC.
Difficulty rating: Some challenging, lots of intermediate and easy
Access fee: None
Nearest towns: Charlestown, Richmond, Exeter, West Greenwich, Coventry, Foster, Glocester, Burrillville, RI
Trail map: Booklet entitled "The North South Trail" by Cliff Vanover (check at EMS). Maps can be ordered from the NST (see the RI Greenway website).
Web site: Rhode Island Greenways
Points of interest: There are a number of abandoned farm foundations from the 1700 & 1800s, as well as various streams and rivers and areas of substantial rock outcroppings.
Facilities: In the state management areas the Trail passes through there are a scattering of different facilities. At some road crossing there are also some restaurants, etc. near by.
Other activities: Mountain biking and horseback riding on certain sections
Lodging:
Camping: Several campgrounds along the trail
Weather forecast: Providence
Tourism info: Blackstone Valley Tourism | Providence Warwick CVB | South County Tourism | RI Tourism
Getting to the trail: The NST starts at the RI/MA State Line in the RI Buck Hill Management Area and runs south through 8 western RI border communities to Blue Shutters Beach, off Rt. 1 in Charlestown.
Map of local region: Charlestown | Coventry | Burrillville
Update submitted by: rhodewalker
from: RI
Date submitted: Feb 19, 2008

Rate this trail

Number of ratings: 6
Average rating: 4.00

Trail Name: North-South Trail
I have hiked there: Several times
I last hiked there in: Sept, 2005
Trails that I hiked: all trails in the management areas of ri
Favorite trails: ben utter trail, carolina south/north.....all of n/s trail
Best time to go: any time except hunting season
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: n/s trail well maintained very peaceful easy hiking
What I disliked: hunters
Additional comments:
Submitted by: jyw
from: barrington, ri
Date submitted: Sept 7, 2005

Trail Name: North-South Trail
I have hiked there: A few times
I last hiked there in: June, 2005
Trails that I hiked: We started at Ninget pd. hiked into Burlingame and stayed the night. The next morning we hiked north to The Carolina Management area and finished at Pine Hill rd.
Favorite trails: I enjoyed all the trails that I have hiked they all had something special.
Best time to go: I belive the Fall would be best.
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: Although the temp. was in the 90's I enjoyed the wooded area's, took a swim in meadowbrook pd. and loved crossing the small rivers and stream's.
What I disliked: Same as everyone else the paved road was the most difficult it was very hot and needed alot of water. Don't forget a lot of water, we used 2.5 gal's each, over the two days.
Additional comments: The only hazard we had was a downed tree about two miles in Burlingame wildlife management area.
Submitted by: T.A.B. and T.J.B.
from: E.P
Date submitted: July 9, 2005

Trail Name: North-South Trail
I have hiked there: Once
I last hiked there in: Oct, 104
Trails that I hiked: All the Rhode Island North-South trail.
Favorite trails: The sections through the Arcadia Management Area
Best time to go: Fall
Trail marking: Poor
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 3.5 stars
What I liked: The natural beauty of the forests, ponds and rivers.
What I disliked: The confusing and insufficient marking.
Additional comments: Some of the road sections could be replaced with wood trails.
Submitted by: Joe Gobbini
from: Hudson, MA
Date submitted: March 14, 2005

Trail Name: North-South Trail
I have hiked there: Several
I last hiked there in: Sept, 2003
Trails that I hiked: The whole North South Trail
Favorite trails: The sections running through State Management Areas
Best time to go: anytime
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: longest trail in RI and has interesting rural areas it pasts through
What I disliked: road sections
Comments: must be very careful when crossing major highways - stick to blazed crossings
Submitted by: AP
from: RI
Date submitted: Nov 24, 2003

Trail Name: North-South Trail
I have hiked there: Several
I last hiked there in: Oct, 2003
Trails that I hiked: George Washington, Buck Hill, Trestle Trail, Mt. Tom
Favorite trails: Buck Hill
Best time to go: Fall
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: Rhode Island's only long distance trail.
What I disliked: Too many paved sections.
Comments: Just blow off the city and get out there and hike it.
Submitted by: JSL
from: West Glocester, RI
Date submitted: Oct 22, 2003

Trail Name: North-South Trail
I have hiked there: Once
I last hiked there in: Sept, 2002
Trails that I hiked: None
Favorite trails: New to this area
Best time to go: Don't know
Trail marking: Fair
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: Continuity and ease of entry exit
What I disliked: Populace
Comments:
Submitted by: WP
from: Kingstown RI
Date submitted: April 21, 2003

Rate this trail