Another "old school" cache - a nice
walk, an easy find, and cool swag.
This walk will take you to the Burlingame Wildlife Management
Area (not to be confused with Burlingame Park) in Charlestown.
Shumunkanuc means "High enclosed place; place of refuge high
up". As you get further into the area, you will see lots of
outcrops off both sides of the trail. I believe I have placed the
cache at the "place of refuge high up."
There are several paths that will lead you to the cache and
back. I recommend going in via the Clawson and Ledge Trails. This
way is blazed in blue and as part of the North/South Trail.
Following the signs for the N/S Trail will get you within 100' of
the cache.
As an alternate return trip, as you head back from the cache, at
the first intersection, continue going straight. Stay on the dirt
lane at the gated path going off to your right. Follow the lane
around the big U Turn until the next intersection, turning right.
Stay on this lane until you pass the dam at P1, and then hit the
trail you came in on, again heading right. This will get you back
to the parking area.
Overall length of the hike is about 3 miles, and all trails are
wide dirt lanes which are mountain bike friendly. After a heavy
rain or thaw, parts of the trail will have streams overflowing them
- wear your boots!
At the final, go past the outcrop before heading off trail for
the final 100'.
These trails are described nicely in Ken Weber's Walks and
Rambles in Rhode Island. Maps are available at DEM's
Website. Be sure to let someone know where you are headed, and
bring a cellphone. An emergency card such a
this one is also a good idea.
All users of state management areas, and all
hunters statewide, must wear at least 200 square inches of solid
daylight-fluorescent orange material from the first Saturday of
October through the end of the season, February 28. Additional
information for Turkey Season!