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Schoolhouse Pond Preserve

Charlestown, Town of Charlestown

4.2 miles of trail

1.0 mile

Very Easy

1.0 mile of trail at this site are wheelchair and stroller-friendly, however, these trails may not meet ADA standards.

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Very Easy

Trails that are smooth and relatively level with no steps, no roots, stones or uneven ground. These may be paved, crushed stone, continuous boardwalk and similar surfaces. These trails have a route that is quite obvious such as a single point to point trail or an easy loop or network of trails.

Easy

Relatively flat and smooth trails with a route that is quite obvious such as a single point to point trail or an easy loop or network of trails.

Moderate

May have a few hills or steep sections and multiple surface types including rocks and roots. Trails are generally well-marked but following them requires a trail map.

Difficult

Strenuous trails, trail systems that mostly involve multi-mile loops and trails that are narrow and may have obstacles such as stream crossings or rocky areas, some trails are less well marked.

Hunting is not allowed here but it is permitted on nearby land. Wear blaze orange during hunting season. More information

Click on the "Trail Map (PDF)" button to download a PDF of the trail map that you can print and take with you on the trail.

Avenza maps are special, free maps that you can use in the Avenza app on your smart phone. These maps let you see your location on the map as you walk. Download the Avenza App for free in the Apple App Store or on Google Play

Click on the Avenza Trail Map button to "purchase" the free map for this trail from the Avenza map store. If this is your first time, Avenza will ask you to set up an account to check out. However, all Avenza trail maps listed on ExploreRI are free.

In Rhode Island the primary hunting seasons typically run from the second Saturday in September to the last day of February and from the third Saturday in April to the last day in May, however this can vary from year to year and depends on what game is being hunted. During hunting season you should wear at least 200 square inches (a hat OR a vest) of blaze orange. During shotgun deer season, which is typically in December, you should wear at least 500 square inches of blaze orange (a hat AND a vest). For more information see the RI DEM website.

The Sign at the Entrance off Kings Factory RoadThe Entrance RoadThe Pond

What’s There:

The Schoolhouse Pond Preserve is accessed from Kings Factory Road. You can park in the parking area, with Kiosk and maps, near Kings Factory Road and hike in approximately .5 miles to the pond or drive to a small parking area at the boulders and hike a shorter distance to the Pond. Note that land around the access road and preserve is all private property and Narragansett Native Tribal Land. Please respect their privacy.

The trails are flat. The blue blazed trail initially provides you with pond views. A little further south is the former site of the early log cabin Narragansett Indian Schoolhouse. As the trail heads west, it turns into a network of trails and paths that runs through different forest types. The Schoolhouse Pond ecosystem is a rare community type (Coastal Plain Pond). Nesting boxes for wood ducks and small owls are placed throughout the property. How many can you find?

Note that swimming, off road bikes, and ATV’s are not permitted.

Charlestown Conservation Commission web page

A short piece about this preserve on the Charlestown Citizens Alliance website

Dogs: Must be leashed or under voice command

Getting There:

Kings Factory Road Parking Lot Trailhead

Google Maps is the mapping system used on the new ExploreRI maps and shows the trailhead located on a terrain view, a street map or an aerial photograph. Clicking on this link will take you to the full Google Maps website, which is not part of ExploreRI.org.
Acme Maps shows the trailhead located on a topographic map. The Acme Maps website is not part of ExploreRI.org.

Driving Landmarks: Take the Kings Factory Road exit of Route 1 and go approximately 2 miles, and look for the trailhead on the right.

Parking: Yes: Parking lot, 6 spaces, no overnight parking

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? Yes

Coordinates: 41° 24.466' N    71° 40.774' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Acme Maps


Schoolhouse Pond Trailhead ('The Boulders')

Google Maps is the mapping system used on the new ExploreRI maps and shows the trailhead located on a terrain view, a street map or an aerial photograph. Clicking on this link will take you to the full Google Maps website, which is not part of ExploreRI.org.
Acme Maps shows the trailhead located on a topographic map. The Acme Maps website is not part of ExploreRI.org.

Driving Landmarks: Take the Kings Factory Road exit of Route 1 and go approximately 2 miles, and look for the entrance road on the right. To get to this trailhead drive past the first parking lot and continue to the end of the road. Note that Google gets the directions to this trailhead wrong so use the other trailhead for driving directions.

Parking: Yes: Parking lot, 5 spaces, no overnight parking

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? Yes

Coordinates: 41° 24.241' N    71° 40.133' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Acme Maps


 

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This site report was last updated on April 29, 2020

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