Blue Trail Loop (Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge) Hiking Guide

Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter is the largest public property of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, and the Blue Trail is its easy introduction. The loop of about 1.2 miles circles a pond on a string of footbridges, one of them across a small dam, with a short side path to an old family cemetery. Hiking Project's contributor walked it with children aged 6, 4 and 2. Because Audubon allows no hunting, it is also a good woods walk for late fall, when most state land nearby is in hunting season.

no permit neededno dogs
Difficulty
easy
Distance
1.2 mi
Elevation gain
50 ft
Trailhead
Exeter
footbridges around a pond, including one over a small dama historic cemetery a few steps off the loopwhite cedar swamp, upland beech forest and glacial kettle pondsAudubon's largest public refuge, with a longer Red Trail loop across the road
springfallwinter

The Blue Loop

Hiking Project maps the Blue Trail at 1.2 miles with about 50 feet of elevation change and rates it easy, with no drop-offs. The trail leaves the parking area off Pardon Joslin Road and shares its first stretch with the Orange Trail. At a T-intersection, follow the blue arrow right to go around the pond. Signs and painted blazes mark the way. Footbridges cross the water, including one over the dam. Between the bridges, a short out-and-back leads to a historic cemetery. Just past the last pond bridge, if you are walking clockwise, the Yellow Trail splits off as a short extension and rejoins the Blue later.

Adding the Red Trail

For more distance, the Red Trail, signed as the Outer Loop, starts across Pardon Joslin Road from the parking lot. Hiking Project measures it at 1.3 miles with about 133 feet of climbing on dirt single-track with some large rocks and roots, small footbridges and old stone walls. It shares its start and end with the White, or Inner Loop, trail. Doing both loops gives you about 2.5 miles. Audubon says bridges on the refuge carry visitors over a small waterfall and clear streams, and the property also takes in fields, upland beech forest, white cedar swamp and kettle ponds left by melting glacial ice.

Rules: No Dogs, No Hunting

Dogs are not allowed anywhere on Audubon's wildlife refuges, and Audubon explains the reasons on its dogs page. Its trail rules also bar hunting, fishing and trapping, collecting plants or other natural objects, and bikes or motor vehicles past the parking lot. That means you will not share these woods with deer hunters, unlike the state management areas around Exeter, where hikers must wear orange from mid-September through February. Trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Getting There and Parking

The refuge is at 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter. Audubon's directions: take Route 95 to Route 4 to Route 102 north, turn right onto Widow Sweets Road just after the Exeter Town Clerk's office, take the second right onto Pardon Joslin Road and drive about a mile to the lot on the right. Hiking Project's contributor describes plenty of free parking. Audubon lists a portable toilet at the lot. Audubon's posted admission prices are for its Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol, not its refuges.

Wildlife and Seasons

Audubon's species list for Fisherville Brook includes beaver, otter, muskrat, fox, deer, wood frogs and spring peepers, and birds such as barred and great horned owls, wood ducks, hooded mergansers, American woodcock and pileated woodpeckers. The list also includes hooded warblers, indigo buntings and scarlet tanagers. Hiking Project's contributor lists fall colors and wildflowers. In winter the refuge is a popular place to snowshoe and cross-country ski when there is snow.

Hiking tips for Blue Trail Loop (Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge)

  • Turn right at the blue arrow at the T-intersection to start the pond loop.
  • Take the short side path between the pond bridges to see the old cemetery.
  • Add the Red Trail across Pardon Joslin Road for a 2.5-mile outing.
  • Leave dogs at home; Audubon does not allow them on any refuge.
  • Bring snowshoes after a good snowfall; this is a favorite winter spot.

Nearby trails to explore

  • Browning Mill Pond Loop (Arcadia Management Area)
  • Long Pond and Ell Pond Trail (Hopkinton)
  • Salt Pond Unit Trails (Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge)

Hike this trail with TrailMates

Fisherville Brook is a short, easy loop, which makes it a good first hike with new people. Post a Blue and Red Trail walk on TrailMates, set the meeting time at the Pardon Joslin Road lot in the event's group chat, and bring a friend who has never seen the dam bridge. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.