The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

The ponds, wetlands, and wooded uplands of both Grass Pond and Pasquiset Pond Preserves provide habitat for a number of unusual dragonfly and damselfly species, including the rare Ringed Boghaunter. © Virginia Brown

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Come see some of Pasquiset Pond's native plants and animals. View All

Plan Your Visit

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

Get Directions

Why You Should Visit

The wetlands support the rare ringed boghaunter dragonfly and an Atlantic white cedar swamp.  A short loop trail leads through an impressive stand of mature white pines, while further south the Narragansett Trail runs through the property passing by numerous wetlands, mountain laurel, and a field.

Location

Charlestown, in southern Rhode Island

Size

200 acres

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing

The property was acquired in 2000 with help from The Champlin Foundations, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Town of Charlestown, and many private donors. 

A short loop trail along Old Coach Road travels through a white pine grove and a small pine barren.  The Narragansett Trail is accessed along Old Coach Road near pole 28. This trail travels through pine forest, passes by several vernal pools, dense mountain laurel and a field. For more information on hiking trails at Pasquiset, contact the South County program office.

Map of the Pasquiset Pond Preserve

Things To Do

What to See: Plants
Upland vegetation is an oak-white pine forest, with sweet pepperbush blooming in July. Large white pines grow along the pine grove trail and mountain laurel is along the Narragansett Trail.  Atlantic white cedar is an interesting plant of the wetlands.

What to See: Animals
Look for hawks, a number of forest birds, dragonflies and damselflies that use the wetlands and forests here.

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 the North: From Route 95 south, exit at Route 138 east. Follow 138 until you come to Route 110 south (Ministerial Road). Take Route110 south, and turn right on Worden Pond Road (also known as Tuckertown Road), following it until its end. At the "T" intersection, turn left on Shannock Road, then take the first right onto Old Coach Road. Follow Old Coach Road about 0.8 miles. On the right is a wooden gate marking one end of the Pine Grove Loop Trail. Park in this area along the road. The Narragansett Trail is about 0.3 miles farther south near pole 28, but parking is not available here.  Park along Old Coach Road near the pine grove.
• From the South: Take Route 1 north to Narrow Lane. Go north on Narrow Lane about  and veer right onto Old Coach Road. Follow Old Coach Road about 1.5 miles and the preserve will be on your left. On the left is a wooden gate marking one end of the Pine Grove Loop Trail. Park in this area along the road. The Narragansett Trail is back to the south near pole 28, but parking is not available here.  Park along Old Coach Road near the pine grove.

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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