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Tillinghast Pond Management Area
Become a "Friend of Tillinghast Pond"
Open to the Public
Yes
Things To Do
Excellent opportunities for hiking, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. View All
Plan Your Visit
Get Directions
Why You Should Visit
Surrounded by protected forest, Tillinghast Pond Management Area offers serenity and natural beauty that rank among the best in southern New England.
Tillinghast Pond’s waters are clear and shallow, perfect for a family paddle. Cast a line, explore the coves, or just float around and let the solitude recharge your batteries.
Location
West Greenwich, in western Rhode Island
Size
1900 acres
Map of Tillinghast Pond Management Area
Trails
The Conservancy, RIDEM, and the Town of West Greenwich are working closely together to establish Tillinghast Pond as a top hiking destination. Three interconnected loop trails provide for a wide range of options, from a short walk in the woods to a half-day six-mile hike.
The Flintlock Loop trailhead is at the large kiosk at the south end of the Plain Road parking lot. The trail winds for 3 miles through the open woods east of Tillinghast Pond, and is highlighted by a glacial “boulder garden,” a historic cemetery, and an 1830s-era farmstead. The trail is also accessible from the small parking lot on Plain Meeting House Road, via Narrow Lane.
The 2.3-mile Pond Loop starts from either end of the Plain Road parking lot. The trail passes over easy, flat terrain around Tillinghast Pond, with ample opportunities to look for wildlife or simply enjoy the long views across the water. An observation platform is located roughly half way around the pond. The Pond Loop also includes three hayfields, which are leased to a local dairy farmer.
The Coney Brook Loop takes hikers through a forest restoration site, past the stone walls of an early 1800s farm, and along the tops of glacial ridges, shaded by hemlocks and beeches. Coney Brook highlights the 2.3-mile route, rushing over a dam and through a small ravine. Start on the Pond Loop (white blazes) from the north side of the Plain Road parking lot and watch for the sign to Coney Brook.
Please note: The red barn on Plain Road, and the house and garages across the street, are private property. There is no public access on the farm roads that pass next to those buildings.
Volunteers
The Nature Conservancy established a volunteer group called the Friends of the Preserves. We hope that volunteers assist with ongoing stewardship projects including trail maintenance, litter cleanups and removal of invasive plants. If you would like to become a friend of Tillinghast Pond, please get in touch with Tim Mooney at tmooney@tnc.org or (401) 529-1072.
Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The property abuts URI's Alton Jones campus, and lies just north of Arcadia Management Area and west of Wickaboxet Management Area. It connects a block of protected forest that spans more than 40,000 acres across the Rhode Island/Connecticut border. Its preservation was integral to the conservation of the forest and the streams that pass through it.
What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy is implementing a five-year trails plan that we co-wrote with our partners and the National Park Service, aiming to showcase the natural beauty and rural character of the area.
In 2010, we worked with two Rhode Island loggers to open up 40 acres of early successional wildlife habitat. These projects will increase habitat diversity on the property and are already benefitting hawks, eastern bluebirds, and American woodcocks.
Over the past year, we have built a great new partnership with APC by Schneider Electric, located in West Kingston. In 2010, APC employees installed six-foot wide steps to the pond’s edge, improving access for kayakers and canoeists, and reducing erosion. This year, the volunteers came back to install railings and boardwalks that allowed us to open the Coney Brook Loop to the public. In both cases, APC donated all the materials and helped with the design. Many thanks to APC by Schneider Electric – a tremendous community partner!
A trailhead kiosk greets visitors with an introduction to the preserve and its natural features. In addition, there is a public fishing area and canoe/kayak launch, located at the north end of the Plain Road parking lot.
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.
Things To Do
What to See: Plants
Both parking lots are surrounded by tall white pines, with occasional oaks and red maples. Several tree species are identified along the walking trail. Elsewhere on the property, there are pockets of Atlantic white cedar swamp, rhododendron, and hemlock, with another 60 acres maintained as open hayfields.
What to See: Animals
Birds such as the Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, and Belted Kingfisher are fairly common around Tillinghast Pond during the summer. The property's ponds and wetlands also support beavers, otters, and numerous frogs, salamanders, dragonflies, and damselflies.
Plan Your Visit
Directions
- From I-95, take Exit 5B - Route 102 North
- Follow Route 102 for 3 miles, past the West Greenwich Town Hall
- Turn left onto Plain Meeting House Road, follow for 3.5 miles
To the Narrow Lane entrance:
- Pass the Wickboxet Management Area
- Look for a small parking lot on the right
- The trailhead is a swing gate at the start of Narrow Lane
To the Plain Road entrance:
- Pass the Wickboxet Management Area and the entrance to Narrow Lane
- Turn right at the next intersection, onto Plain Road
- Follow Plain Road for 1/2 Mile to the parking lot on the right
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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