Boston Neck Road, Route 1A Between Hamilton Allenton Road and 138
Wickford, RI
My Dad and I stumbled upon this little walkway to the ocean quite a few years ago by accident. We were driving in the area and we saw cars parked along the side of the road. At this point, there was no parking lot, no sign, no name---the entrance itself was sort of hidden. But as of two or three years ago it has become official, and unfortunately more people now visit the path.
The preserve itself mainly consists of a wide, well-traveled path about a mile long. It takes you to a rocky beach with a great view of the Jamestown bridge. It's not a beach for swimming or sunbathing, but it is less busy and still just as scenic. You can walk up and down the beach either way; the left direction will eventually lead to a small inlet/marsh area.
Just recently, I discovered some of the other smaller paths off of the main one. It might seem like you're wandering lost at times, but all of the paths eventually lead back to the main one. This park is one of my favorites because few people travel there, and most of them just go down to the beach and back. The smaller paths lead you through a variety of landscapes, without traveling too far.
The main path is good for the elderly and small children since it's relatively short and easy to travel on, although sneakers are recommended. Like all other RI parks, all your trash is carry-in, carry-out and there are rules against camping and building fires. Last time I was there I actually saw a volunteer park ranger type person walking around the minor paths. But despite how much it's grown, it's still a great out-of-the-way place to visit, especially if you like being by the ocean.
RI Parks website
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