Canonchet Brook Preserve

You Can See the Forest for the Trees

Canonchet Brook © The Nature Conservancy

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

How to Prepare for Your Visit
Preserve Visitation Guidelines

What to Expect
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.

Directions

• From Route 95, take exit #2 and go north and west toward Route 3
• Turn left on Route 3 south and go about 1.25 miles
• Take a right onto North Road and go about 1.5 miles north
• The preserve will be on your right.

Pileated woodpecker © The Nature Conservancy

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

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.