Power Mill Ledges

The Audubon Society of RI Headquarters are in Smithfield, RI. At the site, there is a wonderful set of hiking trails that we recently tried out. There are maps of the trails available at the trail header, but you have to go behind it to find the maps in a plastic holder. Luckily there was an employee there to lead a van tour that we could ask. Right now, because of budget cuts, the building isn't staffed on the weekends, which is a shame because I imagine most of the families wanting to walk trails come on the weekends. She said that they were hoping that they would be able to be open on the weekends soon.

Sophia was in the backpack. If you don't have a frame backpack for hiking, I would recommend one. I have used mine MANY times over the years and find it comfortable and easy to use. I use one I bought at EMS years ago. Ours is a Kelty brand backpack and I can put it on and off with Sophie in it without help, although it is easier with help. Sophie is two and although she could have walked, we wouldn't have been able to go nearly as far as we wanted to.

There are three trails, orange (pretty short loop around the field  near the trail head), blue (a longer loop that goes up onto the ledges, and yellow (which you can't begin until you have hiked halfway around the blue). We did the orange and blue that day. The orange trail is very easy, although in some places the bushes had overgrown a bit, but nothing dangerous (like poison ivy).  The orange trail is also sided with wooden markers so that you don't go off the trail. There are only slight hills. This trail is only about a mile long. The blue trail shoots off of the orange and takes you up onto the "ledges". The trail is wide and sun peaks in between the tall tall trees- lots of pine, spruce and hardwoods. The floor is often softened with pine needles. I pointed out to Ben and Sophie the names of the trees based on their barks- birch, maple, spruce, and others. We looked at all kinds of mushrooms and low lying plants like ferns and sassafrass. Sophia pointed out the markers on the trees easily- keeping us on the trails.  There are even benches in great places to stop and rest (which I needed with Sophie on my back).

We walked about 3 miles, I think, which took about an hour and half. At the end, we rested under a tree. We only saw two other sets of hikers the whole time. And despite the fact that you can see route 44 in places, the woods were quiet and peaceful. It was a wonderful way to spend part of the afternoon.

Bring water and snacks... there are no facilities (like bathrooms) on the weekends. Although, driving out of the parking lot, there are all of the shops and restauants along rt 44 and rt 5.  There were no bugs like mosquitos when we went, but I still put bugspray on the kids. It is shady enough that you really don't need suntan lotion- perhaps the face only.