Parking on North Road, Rockville Hopkinton, RI ~ 5.875 miles and 2hrs 50mins
Mike picked this hike out of a book where it was simply labeled Long Pond – Ell Pond, but we didn’t actually see Ell Pond. Instead we followed the yellow blazed trail next to Long Pond and then looped down and around Asheville Pond and back. Sections were definitely marked as part of of RI’s Narragansett Trail. I did some google searches and found the Long Pond Woods Trail, which seems to be what we did, so that is the name I am going with.
Regardless of the name, it was a fantastic hike, and definitely one I want to come back to when the Rhododendrons are in bloom. Almost immediately past the entrance the trail became a really beautiful (and fun) landscape of roots and rocks surrounded by lush green. It looked like a jungle to me.
We got to scramble up and down rocks, walk a boardwalk and cross wooden plank bridges. There were a few lookout points over the water and awesome rock faces combined with gigantic boulders (including one that is kissing a tree). The trail has sections of exposed rock ridge with smoky quartz jutting through.
I loved every aspect of this hike and look forward to hiking it again in early summer.
Adventurers included: Jes & Mike