Scenic Rhode Island

600-680 Great Road
Lincoln, RI, 02865

This is one of my all-time favorite places to visit in RI. Discovered only a few years ago by my dad and myself, this is a spot few people know about. It doesn't have its own address, but it's right next to the historic Hearthside House and Chase Farm House. The park was originally a dairy farm owned by the Chase Family from 1867 to 1979, and it was dedicated to the town of Lincoln for the preservation of open space, something rarely found in the more urban Northern Rhode Island.

There is only parking for maybe a dozen cars, but the vast fields stretch up and around a huge hill with beautiful views from the top. I'm unsure how much land the park actually occupies, but let's just say it is every dog's idea of paradise. On your way up the dirt and gravel path, you pass my favorite tree in all of Rhode Island (shown above). It is massive--it takes maybe three or four people to wrap arms all the way around it, and it towers above all the trees in the area. Next you'll pass the beautiful Butterfly Gardens, highly manicured and kept up by local volunteers. And further up the path is the giant hill which curves into a natural amphitheater, complete with makeshift stage at the bottom (apparently, outdoor concerts are held here, but I've never been to one and I have no idea where everyone would park). It also makes a great sledding spot in the winter.

At the top of the path, to your left is a small pond, and all around the back of the park there is a trail that loops around. If your dog is as energetic as mine, this is a great place to run, but be mindful of other dogs, as there are usually several. Keeping your dog on a leash is "enforced" here, but between me and you, I haven't seen the dog catcher in a while and we all know how dogs just need to run sometimes.

These photos were taken by me in Summer 2009.