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The Story of the Yawgoog Trails

Quick Reference Summary: Totally Tippecansett Trail

Total distance: approximately 10.2 miles (16.4 kilometers)
Total hiking time (one-way): approximately 5 hours

Caution: Hikers should be very careful, by wearing at least 400 square inches (2,580 square centimeters) of blaze orange material, such as a vest, when hiking north of Route 138 during hunting season. The Rhode Island hunting season starts on the second Saturday in October and runs through the end of February. Please also note that the portion of the Tippecansett Trail near Tippecansett Pond is on land owned by South County Rod and Gun Club; that portion of the trail is closed to hiking during the hunting season.

The AMC Tippecansett Trail begins at Stepstone Falls in West Greenwich, Rhode Island. The yellow blazes of the Tippecansett and Ben Utter Trails leave the parking area near the falls and share the first stretch with the blue blazes of a bypass of the North South Trail, called the Washout Trail. About four minutes from the parking area, the yellow and blue blazes reach a large shelter. At the shelter, the yellow trails diverge. The Ben Utter Trail leads left (southeast), behind the shelter, to descend to the river. The Tippecansett and blue-blazed Washout Trail turn right (southwest) rising to the paved Wickaboxet Road at an old pump house. The Washout Trail heads left (southeast) on the road, while the yellow-blazed Tippecansett Trail heads right (northwest). The trail reaches the end of the Wickaboxet Road loop and climbs Escoheag Hill on a footpath.

In about 4 minutes, the footpath reaches Falls River Road (dirt) and turns left (southwest) to follow the road, climbing to the paved Escoheag Hill Road in about 4.5 minutes. The trail turns right (west) and follows the road for about 2.5 minutes until it leaves the road by turning left (south) at a gate opposite a cemetery. The AMC Canonicus Trail meets the Tippecansett Trail here; the white blazes of the Canonicus Trail follow Escoheag Road ahead (west).

From the gate the yellow blazes of the Tippecansett pass by the Escoheag Fire Tower. Do not attempt to climb the tower as it is not maintained. Look carefully for the yellow blazes on trees; do not follow the road to the transmitter station. The trail passes behind the outhouse that used to service the tower and then descends the hill, entering the private property of the South County Rod and Gun Club.

About 13 minutes after passing the tower, the trail crosses Parris Brook then reaches a dirt road near the northeastern corner of Tippecansett Pond. The trail turns left (south) onto the road and then immediately encounters a three-way intersection of dirt roads; the trail veers right (south). A four-way intersection is reached within a few yards; the trail veers right again (southwest) and becomes a footpath. After about 10 minutes, an intersection with a dirt road (Old Voluntown Road) is found at the edge of the Club's property; the trail follows the road left (southwest).

In about 2.5 minutes, the yellow-blazed Tippecansett Trail passes the white-blazed Wildcat Spring Trail to the right (southwest) and follows Old Voluntown Road south. The road passes a dead-end dirt road on the left (east) and then climbs to a cemetery, also on the left, about 3.5 minutes after leaving the Wildcat Spring Trail. The road/trail passes two more dirt roads to the left and then reaches a three-way intersection, all in about 2 minutes. To the left, Old Voluntown Road and the white-blazes AMC Deep Pond Trail bend to the east. The yellow markings of the Tippecansett Trail veer right (southwest) on an old road and cross a gate.

The trail soon meets an intersection with the northern Pachaug-Tippecansett Crossover, about 2.5 minutes after leaving the gate. The yellow-blazed Tippecansett Trail proceeds left (south). Hikers should be aware of unmarked trails and dirt roads that can be found in the Beach Pond area. About 8.5 minutes after leaving the Crossover, the Tippecansett Trail reaches a five-way intersection to meet the CFPA Pachaug Trail. A dirt road leads left (east) and right (southwest), the blue-blazed Pachaug Trail diverges to the immediate right (north). The Tippecansett and Pachaug trails combine to cross the road and proceed south. The trails reach the former swimming area at Beach Pond on Route 165 (Ten Rod Road) in about 9 minutes. The blue markings of the Pachaug Trail follow Route 165 right (west), to eventually end at Green Fall Pond (see the quick reference summary for The Beachgoer, in reverse direction). The yellow markings of the Tippecansett Trail cross Route 165 and head south to Yawgoog. For the rest of the route to camp, please see the quick reference summary for the Yawgoog-Beach Pond portion of the Tippecansett Trail (in reverse direction).

For the full description of this hike, please see the Totally Tippecansett Trail.