Category: Our Preserves

In December 2001, the Winter family deeded 51.75 acres of beautiful woodland, fields, wetland with historical features to the Narrow River Land Trust (NRLT). The property is one-half mile wide, spanning from Middlebridge Road to Tower Hill Road (Route 1). Purchase of the property by NRLT was possible in part due to a $200,000 grant from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

This property is accessible to the public on a trail that begins right across from 793 Middlebridge Road. Look for the small plank bridge over the drainage swale, and the indentation in the stone wall. You will need to park on nearby Riverside Road or a little farther south at the playground. The trail takes you up the hill to the location of an old graphite mine.

The Coojoot Graphite Mine was used commercially by the landowners from the 1700s until the early 1900s but was never a great financial success. The term Coojoot can be attributed to the Narragansett Indian Tribe though the exact meaning is not recorded in historical records. It was a graphite mine, never a lead mine, but there existed confusion on this point in the early Colonial Days.

What remains of the mining enterprise now is an open pit, old stone walls, and an entrance or two. Use extreme caution if you explore this area and keep a safe distance away from the edges of the pit. For more about the Coojoot Mine, see this 1939 article about the mine and this 2003 discussion of the history of the mine prepared for the NRLT.

In 2023, NRLT recruited the Youth Conservation League (YCL) to improve the main trail. A full day was devoted by board members and the YCL to removing invasive species and grading and widening the trail for an easier and safer hiking experience. The trail is now in excellent shape.

The property is home to the typical woodland creatures, including abundant deer, coyotes, and bobcats. One can expect to see chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, catbirds, and turkeys. Barred owls also live in the area as do red-tailed hawks. If you are visiting, remember to protect against ticks.

Deer hunting is allowed from September 15 to January 31^st annually on this property (by permission only). Wear the appropriate blaze orange garment when hiking during this period. Always be considerate of the neighbors and respect their property boundaries.

Quick Facts:

• The trailhead can be found on the west side of Middlebridge Road in South Kingstown, between 784 and 806 Middlebridge Road.
• Access to this property is only allowed from Middlebridge Road.
• The closest parking is at Treaty Rock Park, a short distance away from the trailhead.
• The trail can be muddy after heavy rains.
• Dogs should be on a leash.
• This is a residential neighborhood; be considerate when using the trail.
• Hunting is allowed from September 15 to January 31^st. Wear blaze orange during that period.

Garrison House Acres is a beautiful 26-acre coastal property nestled along the Narrow River in South Kingstown. The area is rich in both history and nature. Long part of the lands of the Narragansett Tribe, the area became a flash point during King Philip’s War. A garrison had was built nearby and was occupied by fifteen people (some accounts say seventeen). It was the intended rendezvous point for armies led by Plymouth’s governor Josiah Winslow, Major Samuel Appleton of Massachusetts, and Major John Treat from Connecticut. However, when these troops arrived on December 16, 1675, they found that the fort and trading post was destroyed, and the people sheltering there were killed by the defending Narragansetts.

In the 1900s, the property was owned by Avery Brooke of Noroton, Connecticut, who created a small two-home subdivision with preserved open space. In 1990, Ms. Brooke donated the open space property to the Narrow River Land Trust (NRLT), along with a bequest for the maintenance of the property for mowing of the fields.

The property has an approximate one mile walk that follows a loop trail through deciduous woodlands, along the salt marsh that fringes the Narrow River, past open fields, past a man-made farm pond and through freshwater marshes. This property is of ecological interest because of its variety of habitats. It abuts other conserved lands including the 554-acre John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge at Pettaquamscutt Cove (managed by US Fish & Wildlife) and land conserved by the Audubon Society. Together these conservation properties form a contiguous band of wildlife habitat along Pettaquamscutt Cove and the lower Narrow River. The well-maintained trails are relatively flat and easy to walk. However, they border salt and freshwater marshes so be prepared to encounter potentially wet, muddy terrain. Also, be prepared with bug repellent to thoroughly enjoy the hike!

Quick Facts:

• Trailhead is on Middlebridge Road, South Kingstown, RI 02879 on the west side of the Middlebridge.
• It is a flat trail through coastal forest and meadow.
• The trail is approximately one mile long.
• The meadow periodically mowed to support native plants and bird habitat.
• There is an osprey nest site in SE corner of the property.
• There is a freshwater pond and wetland in SE corner of the property.
• The property boasts spectacular views of the Narrow River and Pettaquamscutt Cove.
• Dogs should be on a leash.
• Parking at the trailhead is limited, but ample parking is available across the bridge at Middlebridge Marina, 95 Middlebridge Road, Narragansett.

Looking for a place for a great walk in the woods? The Benson Preserve, bought by the Narrow River Land Trust in 2014, is a forty-five-acre property with beautiful hillside trails over wetlands, vernal pools, small waterfalls, and a wide variety of vegetation. The property abuts the King Preserve owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The two properties share a well-marked trail system, which affords miles of walking and access to the Upper Pettaquamscutt Pond on the Narrow River.

The Benson Preserve is conserved thanks to the generosity and forethought of Elsie Benson and her family. The property was the home of Elsie Benson for many years and her wish was to preserve the land in its natural state for the benefit of the native plants and animals found in the vernal pools, uplands and small streams. The Benson family worked with the Narrow River Land Trust to fulfill that wish.

The Narrow River Land Trust bought the property with funding from donors and the RI Department of Environmental Management Open Space Fund. The Land Trust also partnered with the Town of North Kingstown to install a small parking lot to access the property on Snuff Mill Road. The Benson property is a vital link in the Green Belt which surrounds much of the Narrow River.

Benson Preserve and the adjacent King Preserve are home to abundant wildlife. The varied terrain supports a wide variety of amphibians, reptiles, mammals and bird species. Common woodland creatures include deer, coyotes, bobcats and squirrels. Birds include chickadees, nuthatches, jays, hawks and owls. Along the water’s edge one will find belted kingfishers, great blue herons and egrets. Ospreys are common, and at least one bald eagle is resident in the area.

Quick Facts:

• A well-marked trailhead can be found at 500 Snuff Mill Road, Saunderstown, RI 02874, approximate address, (Lat x Long: 41.519468, -71.440777).
• There is approximately one mile of trails, equipped with few boardwalks, at Benson Preserve. The contiguous TNC King Preserve hosts a few additional miles of connected trails.
• Hunting is allowed on nearby properties. It is recommended that hikers wear blaze orange during hunting season.
• Dogs should be on leash.
• NRLT maintains the Benson Preserve with volunteers. If you would like to join us for a workday, be sure to get on our mailing list! Work may include trail maintenance, removal of invasive species, and boardwalk construction.