Rhode Island Hiking Club "Walks and Rambles"

Event Rating: Level 2+ (Moderate)
Distance: ~6 Miles
Time Duration: ~3 Hours
Blaze Orange: Required

Before signing up for this event, please read and understand the entire Write-Up and the Liability Waiver. By signing up for this event you agree to the terms of the write-up and the waiver. Please sign-up only if you are sure that you can attend.

COVID-19 Instructions: Do not attend a hike if you or a person with whom you have been in close contact have tested positive for COVID-19 or has been experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.

Description: Sprague Farm is hike #24 in Ken Weber’s book, “Weekend Walks in Rhode Island". The Glocester Land Trust, in cooperation with the Rhode Island DEM, administers Sprague Farm. The distance we will be hiking is about 6 miles, hiking much of the main loop trail featured in Weber's book, plus hiking into the adjoining Klutz property and Huckins Woodland.

Sprague Farm was a working farm many years ago, but now it is mostly woodlands. There are foundations left from those early farms, and stone bridges also remain that cross the streams in several places on the property. The terrain is mostly flat, with some mild hills. We will be walking on old farm roads and single-track trails. There may be some wet spots, so boots are recommended. As always, bring water (mandatory) and snacks for the hike. We will be hiking at a moderate pace, not an easy pace.

Directions: From the Providence area, take Route 44 West, passing through the village of Chepachet. About two miles west of Chepachet, take a left on Pine Orchard Road. You will pass by a sign for Sprague Farm with a small turn-in area before reaching the parking lot that we will use. You will travel slightly under one mile on Pine Orchard Road, before coming to the parking lot on your right for Sprague Farm.

Liability Waiver: As a condition of your voluntary participation in this activity, you acknowledge and agree to the following: this activity involves inherent risks that can cause property damage, injury, illness, disability, and/or death to participants and/or others; you assume all risk associated with this activity; you are responsible for having the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, clothing, and equipment to safely participate in this activity; you know and will follow the Hiker Responsibility Code described at www.hikesafe.com; the leader(s) of this activity are volunteers; and you for yourself, your heirs, executors, and administrators release, hold harmless, and indemnify the leader(s) and all members of this group from all claims for property damage, injury, illness, disability, and/or death - including those caused by negligence and/or other reasons. The RIHC will not be held responsible for any COVID-19 issues including but not limited to the transmission of the disease, the cost of medical treatment, and/or death.

Safety First!

Hike difficulty; 2 Moderate
Duration; 2- 1/2 hours
Distance: 5 Miles+-
Hunter Orange; not required
The trail through the Ballou Preserve is brief and follows an old farm path to the larger Blackall property which is a popular local walking area with multiple trails. The Blackall Preserve consists of 184 acres and contains some newly created, well marked trails, some traversing wooded lands containing visible remains of the state rock "Cumberlandite". Called "Ironrock" by the colonists and Native Americans, a magnet will stick to this rock as it can contain as much as 70% iron. The mostly singletrack trails meander through gently rolling hills. Expect to see small ponds, stone walls, mixed hardwoods, and bird species, especially bluebirds. Special thanks to the Cumberland Land Trust volunteers for creating and maintaining these trails.
Bring water, proper footwear, maybe a snack. Hiking poles could be useful, bug spray.
Blaze orange not required. Pace will be moderate with occasional breaks.

Liability Waiver:
Before signing up for this event, please read and understand the entire Write-Up and the Liability Waiver. By signing up for this event you, and any guests that accompany you, agree to the terms of the Liability Waiver.
As a condition of your voluntary participation in this activity you acknowledge and agree to the following: this activity involves inherent risks that can cause property damage, injury, illness, disability, and/or death to participants and/or others; you assume all risk associated with this activity; you are responsible for having the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, clothing, and equipment to safely participate in this activity; you know and will follow the Hiker Responsibility Code described at www.hikesafe.com; the leader(s) of this activity are volunteers; and you for yourself, your heirs, executors, and administrators release, hold harmless, and indemnify the leader(s) and all members of this group from any and all claims for property damage, injury, illness, disability, and/or death - including those caused by negligence and/or other reason.

Park near the trailhead sign to the right of the Dollar Tree store.