Norman Bird Sanctuary is a 1.8 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Middletown, Rhode Island that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round.
kid friendly
birding
hiking
nature trips
trail running
walking
forest
lake
river
views
wild flowers
muddy
rocky
scramble
no dogs
7 miles of marked trails at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, RI. Varied and well-marked trails, coupled with tranquil surroundings, make this an excellent hiking or trail running destination. Beware muddy areas during rain, and some of the rocks can get a bit slick.
This is a really easy hike any time of year. I don’t know who is rating this as “moderate!” Beautiful scenery all year round.
L A.
nice views, lots of wildlife, and lots of birds! be on the lookout for poison ivy, and there are ticks here in the summer.
There are 7 miles of trails here to connect for longer hikes. Several of them are out and back. There are trail fees here to help support the land conservation and animal sanctuary. There are also no dogs allowed so wildlife isn’t scared off. Excellent spot for birders. Not much elevation, but Hanging Rock and the ridge trails can be challenging.
Nice views from hanging rock.
Mary T.
great day.
Was surprised with difficulty, the pond was best part of the walk
Love this park. Great hiking trails. Lots of rocks to climb. Keeps it challenging.
Beautiful trails. I recommend the Red Fox, Nelson Pond trail loop. Great for introducing kids into hiking.
Ended up here by default since another trail in the area was closed. I didn't mind the $6.00 per head after hiking this area, I'd rather spend my money here than on something else. Anyways, nice terrain, well marked and a good trail map available,plus rest rooms which can be appreciated. Overall a nice place especially if you live on Aquidneck island.
I had chosen this trail without expecting much. I had gotten the idea that it might be like Sachuett and/or Ninigret, that is, a little too manicured. Still, after a long period off the trails, due to bad weather and illness, I supposed a gentler trail would do for this Sunday.
I was pleasantly surprised. The diversity on this relatively small area is beyond belief -- forest, pond, field, and ocean view. I also found a lot of ridge climbing, including a rocky chute reminiscent of Long/Ell Pond. This refuge is also distinctive for the puddingstone type of rock formations.
It is also still clear that this area was hard-hit during the storms. On a number of occasions, the trail was blocked by fallen trees.
I did take off a star for the fact that through a significant part, you do have a view of the road.
NB: There is a $6 admission fee for adults, and $3 for children under 12. Still, it was well worth it.
The trail description is way off - there are actually over 7 miles of trail looped very nicely in this preserve. Trails are well-marked, very dynamic (lots of ups and downs, some scramble), and extremely beautiful. I was on a 2-week trip to Newport recently and made the trip to trail run the preserve 3 times during just because it was so much fun. Don't let the trail description dissuade you, this is a moderate level trail and you can easily go along all the trails for a solid 7-8 mile hike/run.