The Story of the Yawgoog Trails
Seven Pond Path - Part II
Back: Seven Pond Path - Part I
The hike soon leaves Canonchet Road by heading right (east) on a dirt road at a gate. The road winds its way to the southern end of Blue Pond, the sixth on the route. The dam, which is just to the right (east), is in disrepair and does not hold as much water as it used to, but the pond is still a beautiful place.
Panoramic view of Blue Pond from the dam
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Postcard of Blue Pond from the southern end, circa 1938
The unmarked road turns left (northwest) and becomes a faint and lightly-used footpath. Hikers can carefully follow the western shore of the pond until the path reaches another dirt road. Turn right (east) onto the road and head toward the stone and concrete foundation of a former cabin. A corner of the foundation has long space that used to have a metal door that could be barred and locked. Perhaps this was a safe used to store hunting rifles or fishing poles.
A safe in the foundation?
A path leads northeastward from the foundation to another view of the pond from a large rock that juts into it.
Panoramic view of Blue Pond from the cabin site
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Another postcard of Blue Pond, circa 1938
The hike returns to the foundation and takes the second dirt road west to Canonchet Road. Turn right (west) onto Canonchet Road, again walking single-file on the left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic. Hikers will soon pass the parking space for the Long Pond fishing area, which was visited earlier on the Narragansett Trail. Canonchet Road climbs Bellyache Hill (as named in the RISPB map), passes Berrie Lane, and reaches an intersection with North Road; turn left (southwest) onto North Road. As a short side-trip, travellers may head right (northeast) from the intersection on Canonchet Road briefly and turn right (east) to the Rockville Cemetery. Josiah P. Palmer, a member of the Rhode Island house of representatives, and his family are buried there. The Palmers were the previous owners of much of what is now Yawgoog.
While walking along North Road a view of Wincheck Pond, the seventh pond of the journey, will be seen. The view looks northward from the end of a cove; on the opposite shore are private residences on Camp Yawgoog Road.
View of Wincheck Pond from North Road
At a horse farm along the way, a whimsical metal sculpture can be seen in a wishing well.
A sculpture lurks in a wishing well
A second view of Wincheck Pond can be seen from another cove off North Road, now a dirt road. The view looks northwestward to Long Cove in Yawgoog. At the end of Long Cove is the dam on Yawgoog Pond, where the hike will eventually end.
Another view of Wincheck Pond from North Road
The route continues southeastward on North Road. It passes the parking area for Long and Ell ponds, and retraces the way back to the Reservation on the Red Trail (see its full description for more detail). The Red Trail will be taken all the way to its end at the Three Point dining hall, taking in more views of Wincheck Pond at Eagles Roost and the nearby campsite.
Driving Directions to Ashville Pond Area from Yawgoog: Turn right (southeast) at the intersection of Route 138 (Spring Street) and Camp Yawgoog Road and immediately veer right (southeast) onto Wincheck Pond Road, until it ends at Canonchet Road (less than 0.25 mile/0.4 kilometer). Turn right (south) onto Canonchet Road for 0.4 mile (0.6 kilometer) and, at the intersection with North Road, veer left (south) with Canonchet Road. In 0.6 mile (1 kilometer) the parking lot for the Long Pond fishing area (on the Narragansett Trail) will be reached on the right (west). The parking area for the Blue Pond fishing area will be to the left (northeast) in another 0.3 mile (0.5 kilometer); a gated road to Blue Pond will be to the left (east) in another 0.4 mile (0.7 kilometer). In less than 0.25 mile (0.4 kilometer) the Ashville Pond fishing area will be to the right (west). After another 0.2 mile (0.3 kilometer), turn right (west) onto Stubtown Road. In just under 0.5 mile (0.7 kilometer), turn right (northeast) into the parking lot of the former swimming area of Ashville Pond; the western terminus of the Narragansett Trail is here.
Driving Directions to Ashville Pond Area from Interstate 95: Take Exit 2 to Route 3 South (Main Street) via Woodville Alton Road. Turn left onto Route 3 for 0.5 mile (0.9 kilometer), then turn right (northwest) onto Canonchet Road. Follow Canonchet Road for 1 mile (1.7 kilometer) and turn left (west) onto Stubtown Road. In just under 0.5 mile (0.7 kilometer), turn right (northeast) into the parking lot of the former swimming area of Ashville Pond; the western terminus of the Narragansett Trail is here. Back at the intersection of Stubtown and Canonchet roads, follow Canonchet Road north for 0.2 mile (0.3 kilometer) to the Ashville Pond fishing area, which will be to the left (west). A gated road to Blue Pond will be to the right (east) in less than 0.25 mile (0.4 kilometer). The parking lot for the Blue Pond fishing area will follow on the right (northeast) in another 0.4 mile (0.7 kilometer). The parking lot for the Long Pond fishing area (on the Narragansett Trail) follows on the left (west) in 0.3 mile (0.5 kilometer).
Trail-related Links
- Ell Pond Preserve
The Nature Conservancy's portion of the area. - Long Pond Woods
The portion owned by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. - Images from the Appalachian Mountain Club, Narragansett Chapter, taken March 31, 1940.
Unofficial