Catamint Brook Preserve
(new trail for 2024)
The 84 acre Catamint Brook Preserve was acquired by the Cumberland Land Trust in 2023 and is located in the Tower Hill Road Historic District. As you drive to the trailhead, be on the lookout for nearby homes dating from the 1700’s. The property was acquired with financial assistance from RIDEM, the Pawtucket Water Supply Board, the Town of Cumberland and of course our members.
The Preserve includes 2.7-miles of trails for pedestrian use only. The terrain is wooded, hilly, rocky, and is rated as a moderate hike. Your hike will include views of Catamint Brook, freshwater wetlands, natural landscapes and historic sites including stone walls, a farmer’s dam and an abandoned stone slab quarry all dating from the 1750’s. The site of an early 1800’s single room schoolhouse is also located in the Preserve.
Be aware that the Preserve borders the state managed Diamond Hill Management Area where hunting is allowed. Additionally, the yellow blazed Catamint Loop Trail
briefly
traverses onto the State Management Area so
bright orange
should be worn during hunting season.
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: There is one trailhead off Tower Hill Rd. Drive up Tower Hill about 1.3 miles west of the Diamond Hill/Tower Hill intersection or drive 1.0 miles east from the West Wrentham/ Tower Hill Rd. intersection.
Parking: There is an 8 space lot off of Tower Hill Rd. in Cumberland, RI. There is no overnight parking in the lot.
On-street parking is prohibited.
Mercy Woods Preserve
In 2018, the religious order of Sisters of Mercy sold 229 acres of open space to the Town of Cumberland. 18 acres are to be developed into athletic fields and the remaining 211 acres will remain as undeveloped open space managed our organization.
The yellow blazed Mercy Loop is relatively easy to walk with gently rolling trails about four feet wide. A vista overlooking the forest and reservoir is at the southeast tip of the trail loop.
The blue blazed Ridge Trail (moderate) is a more challenging walk with several steep ridges. The Ridge Trail has vistas at the southeast and northeast sections. Some of the Ridge Trail and most of the red blazed connecting trails are wide farmers cart paths.
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: There is access to the yellow trail head/parking lot 200 yards off route 121 and Sumner Brown road and there are just under 6 miles of trails. Trail head is across Sumner Brown Rd. from lot.
Parking:
10 space lot, no overnight parking