Rhode Island hiking: 5 trails you should try

Rhode Island doesn't offer giant elevation, but its hiking options include impressive vistas. (Getty Images)

Rhode Island is the nation’s smallest state, but that doesn’t mean it lacks for quality hiking options.

The Ocean State, while lacking some of the elevated hiking trails of its New England neighbors, offers many colorful options for hikers throughout the year.

Whether it’s scouting the mansions in Newport or traversing a trail that scoots from Rhode Island through two adjoining states, hikers — especially who seek less challenging options — will find terrain that works for them.

Here are five trails to get you started.

MORE HIKING GUIDES: 5 hikes in New Hampshire | New England’s best hassle-free hikes | 5 great off-the-beaten-path hikes | 10 family-friendly hikes

1. Cliff Walk, Newport

Difficulty: 2/5 | Trail info

In a state where the highest peak is only 811 feet in elevation, Cliff Walk promises a bit of ruggedness — albeit without much climbing to speak of. This 3.5-mile trail is a one-way route that runs along the coast of Newport, giving you views of the opulent Newport mansions from the city’s Gilded Age to the right and the open Easton Bay to the left.

The first two-thirds of a mile is paved and accessible to all. Past this, the trail gets a bit more rugged and the footing more complex. Expect a rocky yet beautiful New England shoreline with panoramic ocean views and natural features.

Parking is best attempted at First Beach and between Ochre Point Avenue and the Cliff Walk on Narragansett Avenue.

2. Steere Hill Farm Conservation Area, Glocester

Difficulty: 2/5 | Trail info

Set on 447 acres of protected land, this 6-mile hike features gentle slopes and visual treasures along the way, including old stone walls, an open meadow, and ample wildlife. As you start from the parking area, you’ll pass time-worn barn structures from an old orchard and dairy that fell into disrepair in the mid-1900s. Farther along, you’ll pass vernal pools, trout streams, and grandstands of American beech trees.

Open year-round, Steere Hill Farm Conservation Area features easy parking. In the winter, the land is groomed for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

3. Dr. John Champlin Glacier Park, Westerly

Difficulty: 3/5 | Trail info

Though there isn’t a glacier in sight, the 134 acres of Glacier Park offer living proof of how glaciers once shaped the Rhode Island landscape. This recessional moraine topography showcases kettles and kames, erratic boulders and canyons and a glacial outwash plain. As you walk the 2-plus miles of this trail, keep in mind that having all of these features in one site is quite a unique privilege.

Take water and bring your dog — this is the perfect spot for a human-canine romp.

While this trail is not difficult, it does have hills, some steep sections, and natural terrain elements like roots and rocks.

4. Wolf Hill Forest Preserve, Smithfield

Difficulty: 3/5 | Trail info

The Wolf Hill Forest Preserve is northwest of Providence, with over 300 acres of rocky woodland featuring mature maple and oak forest. This 6-miler offers plenty of enjoyable landscapes and runs over rolling terrain. The only real challenge is part of the Mary Mowry Trail, which is quite rocky and steep — other trails won’t pose much of a challenge to experienced hikers.

From the trails, look for lowbush blueberries and huckleberries, as well as vernal pools hidden in the trees. At the center of the property is the historical site where three airmen died in a 1943 plane crash. Also, look for the rocky ledge of Wolf Hill as you walk the Ken Weber Trail.

Parking is usually not an issue, and you can bring your dog.

5. Tri-State Loop, Pascoag

Difficulty: 3/5 | Trail info

Set in the northwestern corner of Rhode Island, the Tri-State Loop passes through its home state plus Connecticut and Massachusetts. Taken on its own, the loop is just 1.7 miles. However, you can extend it to nearly 7 miles by adding on the Benson Mountain loop.

As lovely as it is accessible, you’ll find this trail system varies between handicap-accessible and rocky/challenging. The first section of the trail is straight, but once you turn and head up to the trail marker, things go up and down throughout. So bring some water and your hiking shoes, and choose your own adventure.