Flintlock Trail is a 2.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near West Greenwich, Rhode Island that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Tillinghast Pond's first trail, highlighted by an old farm, a cemetery, and a boulder garden. The Flintlock Trail takes its name from a 19th century cart path that connected Plain Road to small farm, back in the woods. The trail is blazed yellow, and accessed via the Pond Trail, from the south end of the parking lot. Heading east from the trail junction, note the parallel tracks worn in the ground by a century of horse-and-wagon traffic. The old trail is even clearer where it passes through a gap in a stone wall, indicating that the land was once pastured. About a half mile down the trail, a historic cemetery tells the story of the Ellis family, who farmed the area before the Civil War. Just past the cemetery, the trail winds through the old farmstead, which The Nature Conservancy partially opened up for songbird habitat in 2010. Previous owners of property lived here into the late 1980s, before it was abandoned. The trail turns left at a small farm pond, which was re-engineered as a family swimming hole in the 1970s. Leaving the clearing, the trail passes through a grove of majestic white pines along a wide path covered with soft needles. A side trail offers a look at a larger, secluded pond, which beavers help maintain today. After a half-mile on this wide lane, the trail curves left into the woods, slipping past a red maple swamp. Climbing out of the lowlands, the Flintlock Trail emerges into open woods, where slow-growing oaks are giving way to more vigorous white pines. At the top of a hill, hikers have a choice: check out more of the old pasture to the right or turn left and explore a boulder garden. Either way, this mile-long segment ends where Flintlock rejoins the Pond Trail. Continue straight ahead to complete a 3-mile loop, or turn right for a longer hike around Tillinghast Pond.
Bring insect repellent in the summer months; a hat will help ward off deerflies, which can be a nuisance around the Ellis homestead. The Flintock Trail can be easily combined with the Pond Trail for a longer hike.
February 14, 2021
February 3, 2021January 30, 2021January 24, 2021Flintlock is a nice trail but I wouldn't rate it as "moderate".
January 22, 2021January 12, 2021January 7, 2021January 3, 2021Wonderful! Really well marked and well maintained. First time but we’ll be back.
December 16, 2020December 13, 2020Well marked and very pretty. Easy footing. Wear orange is hunting season and they have guns.
November 22, 2020Enjoyable trail in the WIckaboxet Management Area that is well marked & maintained. Btw, this trail is only 2.4mi
November 21, 2020November 15, 2020November 8, 2020November 8, 2020Beautiful Novemeber day to hike ! We did it as a loop , with stops at Beaver Pond and Tillinghast Pond. Almost 3 miles total with the side stops. Easy, well marked, mild inclines. Would have added Tillinghast Pond loop if we had more time. Dog loved it! Passed only 3 other groups in 2 hours. Enjoyed the various terrains and views.
October 25, 2020Im a beginner doing this to lose soem weight and this trail was perfect. The terrain is rough enough to give you a decent workout but it wont kill you, it was an actual hike, not a walk like other trails ive done, but it was still easy enough to be enjoyable. There are enough paths and different trails to revisit plenty of times and have a different adventure each time. The trail is well marked, and easy to follow and there are maps at all of the intersections, there is one fork in the road on the yellow trail and the faded signs say north and south spur, but they both lead to the same place so just pick one and go. Also, this says it is an out and back trail but it is a loop, and there are multiple loops to go through.
October 8, 2020October 7, 2020September 29, 2020September 13, 2020I normally do loop trails and have been to Tillinghast to do the pond loop trail. It's always nice to change it up. A note about the lack of shade for a lot of the trail- I'm hoping I didn't get sun burned, as I'm not used to a lack of tree cover. I was happy I was wearing my baseball hat. This location requires 200 sq feet of florescent orange from the second Saturday of Sept until the last day of February. They warn a 100$ fine. Almost everyone I saw wasn't wearing any...but I was! :)
September 13, 2020June 7, 2020June 7, 2020Very nice hike. Do not recommend wearing shorts. Some parts were very narrow and over growth will contact your legs.
May 26, 2020March 28, 2020Great hike with some interesting terrain. The boulder garden was not as exciting as we had hoped though. Lots of traffic on these trails right now.
February 23, 2020Perfect day for a hike. Trails are in good shape, Flintlock has a section that was recently cleared and there are some branches and twigs that can trip you up but it’s still a great place to hike.
January 1, 2020This is a beautiful & scenic trail. I extended it a bit to a 4 mile loop which made it a little more challenging with moderate elevation changes. Will definately do it again !
November 10, 2019This was a great trail. There are many options to make this a loop. I parked in Tillinghast pond parking lot and connected on .2 miles in and did flintlock trail and then finished back Tillinghast pond. About 4 miles. Find maps on nature conservancy website. Some of my favorite trails are in Tillinghast pond management area. Great autumn hike. Went by Ellis homestead, mix of pine and oak forest, multiple geocaches. Make sure to wear orange during hunting season. Will be back!
August 12, 2019Very overgrown in some spots but overall gorgeous and very well marked. Challenging hills for running always a plus :)
June 8, 2019Beautiful mix of pines, ferns, low growth native blueberries, meadow and pond. Easy walking, trail impossible to lose, air scented strongly with sun on pines. Will definitely return.
