The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Volunteers help with trail maintenance at Canonchet Brook Preserve. © The Nature Conservancy

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Come see what Canonchet Brook's nature has to offer. View All

Plan Your Visit

Follow our preserve guidelines and your visit will be pleasurable. View All

Get Directions

Why You Should Visit

Two distinct forest types - old and young - tell the story of this land. Large oaks, tulip poplar, and white pine that have stood for several generations speak of the past. Other areas of the preserve were more recently cleared for agricultural use, causing a young forest of mixed hardwoods and evergreens to spring up. Streams and wetlands are scattered through the forests.

Location

Hopkinton in southwestern Rhode Island, just south of the Ell Pond Preserve.

Size

600 acres
Map of Canonchet Brook Preserve

Why the Conservancy Selected this Site

This preserve adds a link to a chain of protected lands to make one contiguous preserve. To the east is the State of Rhode Island's Rockville Management Area, and to the west is Connecticut's Pachaug State Forest. Canonchet is one of the largest natural areas in southeastern New England and is part of the Pawcatuck Borderlands site, where the Connecticut and Rhode Island chapters of the Conservancy partner with state agencies, local land trusts, municipalities and individuals to protect the region's forests and promote enduring ecological management.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing

There are a number of trails on the property, but at this time we have been able to map only one. It is a long loop on the western (North Road) side of the property. 

In places the terrain is steep and rocky, and the downslopes are littered with large boulders, so wear sturdy hiking boots. Use caution and wear orange if walking the preserve during hunting season. Some hunting activity has occurred in recent years even though The Nature Conservancy prohibits hunting on this preserve.

Things To Do

What to See: Plants
Oak, tulip trees, white pine, American beech, hickory, maple, witch hazel, blueberry, huckleberry, mountain laurel

Plan Your Visit

We hope you enjoy visiting our preserves in any season. We ask that you please observe the following guidelines:

• Stay on the walking trails, using marked trails wherever they exist.
• Respect preserve open hours (one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset). Overnight camping is not allowed.
• Do not ride horses, bikes or any motorized vehicle through preserves or on the trails.
• Do not disturb bird nesting areas. Between April 15 and September 1, nesting areas may be off-limits to visitors. People or dogs can easily destroy a nest with one misstep.
• Leave your pets at home, for the safety of the fragile ecology of preserves and as a courtesy to other visitors.
• Contact our office in Providence to visit those preserves that have restricted public access because of their very sensitive flora and fauna. These places deserve special respect and are best visited only on guided field trips.
• Do not remove any living materials from a preserve or disturb any vegetation.
• Remove any trash you create and, if possible, any garbage that you see left by someone else.
• When visiting Block Island or Prudence Island in the spring, summer and fall, dress in long pants and socks to avoid deer ticks. After any walk on a preserve, it is a good idea to check for ticks when you return home.
• Be careful! Your safety is your responsibility.

Thank you for your help.

Preserve Visitation Guidelines

Directions

• From 95 South, take exit 1, turn right at the end of the ramp, continue for 1.1 miles and immediately after the blinking yellow light, bear left onto North Road. The parking lot is located on the right side 1.6 miles down the road.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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