There are two trails. The main trail which is about .5 mile long starts at the parking area gate and ends at the confluence of the Wood and Pawcatuck Rivers (You will be in Charlestown, across the river is Hopkinton (left of Wood River) and Richmond is between the Wood and Pawcatuck to your right. There was a small cabin there years ago. The only thing there now is the remains of the cabin foundation and at water’s edge the remains of a concrete support for a deck. This is still a great fishing hole.
On your way in you pass under some high power lines. There is a trail alongside the power lines running almost east/west. Look up the hill to the east you will see a pole set up with a nesting box on the top. During the summer months this is the home to a pair of Osprey (fish hawks)
Heading west is also a hill. If you follow the trail west, once you reach the peak, you will see another nesting box with another pair of Osprey. This trail also ends at the Pawcatuck River.
You might also notice a small trail on the right side of the parking area. This trail runs along the bank above the rail road tracks splitting about 200 feet in. The right trail continues along the tracks until it joins up with the east/west trail at which point you climb the hill to the west to return to the main trail. The left trail also leads to the power line trail however this trail come in at the top of the hill so it’s all downhill from this point. I use this trail so save climbing the hill.
I have been monitoring these Osprey nest for the Audubon Society for the last 4 or 5 years as part of the Rhode Island Osprey Monitoring Program. If you interested in finding out about this volunteer program go to: http://riosprey.info/
You can pull you car off the road into the parking area at the trail entrance. BYOP/P
While you are here you could also solve the CHARIHO Mistory cache, but you will need to do your homework first. The first question I found with a google search. The others answers can be found on the CHARIHO Regional District web site.
DEM Trail map: http://www.dem.ri.gov/maps/mapfile/huntingatlas/19.pdf
Please wear orange during hunting season.