Arcadia: Breakheart and shelter trails

Breakheart Pond Arcadia

On a crisp mid November morning I decided not to go bike riding and instead hike one of my favorite trails: breakfast trail in Arcadia forest in Exeter Rhode Island. 

First let me warm you,  Arcadia is big! If it's small compared to parks in new Hampshire or Maine.  But one wrong turn, and you could be hiking a few more hours than you planned.

I parked at Breakheart pond which is located off ft 165. There are plenty of areas to park.  The trails are well marked. Breakheart has yellow blaze markings and shelter tall is white. Break heart pond has a nice dam and some interesting rock formations to check out.

Trails are well marked

Follow the yellow trail,  which is break heart,  around the pond and you will get on a small single track tail.  You might still see some mountain bikers on this trail, but it's mainly good for hiking. I know when I've mountain biked it, I had to dismount a few time because of the rocks. 

After about 3 miles on the yellow  tail,  you will see markings for the white trail which is called shelter trail and that is also clearly marked. Shelter trail will take you back to plain road which is a dirt road that you can easily take to 165. There is an interesting abandoned campground on shelter trail and be careful to stay on the white trail at this location. I found myself getting off the train a few times because it was not marked very well and the leaf litter made finding the trail difficult.

Overall Breakheart and shelter trails are very difficult to hike. They are well marked, not many steep climbs and not too rocky. These trails are good for trail running and average for mountain biking. If you are in Arcadia in the fall, make sure you wear orange! There re plenty of hunters! 

One of the many creeks

On Shelter trail (the white blazed trail), on top of a hill, there are the remains of an old campground. there are many run down cabins and this impressive fire place. 

You'r friendly trekker

Pelloni Preserves: Hopkinton RI

On the morning of Veterans day I decided to check out a new (to me) preserve in Hopkinton RI. Located between Collins Rd and Diamond Hill RD in Hopkinton is Pelloni Preserves. It was a crisp cool November day, all of the leaves have fallen off the trees and there is a lot of leaf litter on the trails.

Parking for the preserves is located off of Collins RD on a side street called Cedar Knoll Lane. The parking area is well marked from the Hopkinton Land Trust. The parking is located in between two homes.

Here's the map: pelloni preserves

Wide unmarked paths!

This is a small hiking area and the trails are mainly double


ride trails. It offers some nice views of the Tomoquag valley and some interesting rock formations. There are lots of beech, maples and oak trees.

The trails could be marked a little better. There were many times I was wondering if I was actually on a marked trail or if I got off the trail onto one made by a teenage dirt biker. Many of the trails I used ended up with a 'private property' sign, or I ended up in someone's backyard.

The most interesting this that happened to me: I was hiking along a ridge. One my left was a higher elevation and too my right was the valley. I heard some running uphill to my right and as soon as I turned my head, 4 female deer ran around me. They were so close I could have touched them. I then turn towards my left to see what they were running from and over the hill came a 5 point buck. He stopped when he saw me, lifted his head and grunted a few times. He then walked in front of me about 20 feet.

Pelloni Preserves is a nice short hike. There are some interesting features, but I wouldn't make any special trips to it. I would combine this hike with some of the other hiking paths locally and make a day of hiking in Hopkinton. This area would be very good for trail running!

Located on Old Truck trail!