John H Chafee Nature Preserve

Great Place to let your Dogs go in for a dip, anda nice walk to the water…

Five stars for nature preserve. Also negative a million stars because of the people who come here… to be specific the dog walkers. EXPECT to step in dog shit… time and time again. I always want to come back here because its a causal walk… pleasant. Straight shot to a lovely view of the water on a secluded beach. Tiny secret dirt trails in the woods. But the main trail has literal shit stains. The dog walkers are required to pick up the shit by law with a bag but they don’t. Even if they do they leave the bag filled with shit on the path or at the entrance… Wtf… and that’s if your lucky. When not bagged Everyone steps in it. People… families and kids. I work with mentally disabled patrons… I wanted to take them on a nice stroll. Nope again with the shit owners… they stepped in it and had a melt down. Mind you trying to help a disabled person dodge dump piles along the way just isn’t fun. These dog walkers don’t own their Responsibility’s of their animals… It contaminates the land. its a hygienic hazard and its just down right gross. Its extremely offensive and immature if you can’t clean up after YOUR pet. Don’t come here unless you have plastic bags wrapped around your shoes or if your a dog walker bring the bags for your dogs ass droppings so its not stuck to unknowing hiker citizens.

Five stars for perpetual green space in RI. Negative five stars for the killer mosquitos. Run away, run away! Get the holy hand grenade!

After driving by this parking lot for nearly 20 years to/​from Narragansett and always saying to myself «I wonder what’s there,» a few years back I decided to check it out… thank goodness I did! The Chafee preserve is full of numerous hiking trails that lead out to Rome Point and a rocky beach area with sweeping views of Jamestown, the Jamestown bridge, and Quonset. It’s most popular among people who want to hike with their dogs (most off leash), but you can also find some bikers, beach goers, and folks going crabbing/​fishing/​clam digging. The trails are generally well maintained and while you’ll see people, it’s not ever very crowded. There is a main trail that takes you straight to the water (less than mile). However, we love the side trails; the left trail (you’ll see it about 200 yards in from the parking lot just after an abandoned short stone wall) and it will lead you out to the tip of Rome point (where you’ll see cute seals during the spring months); the right trail (a bit further up off the main trail) will take you past some abandoned structures and eventually out to the beach as well. We love coming here with our dog and letting him tire himself out on the trails.
Some advice: no bathrooms or trash cans so plan accordingly, parking can fill up occasionally (lot has spots for maybe 20 – 25 cars) so some folks may win up parking on the main road. Sometimes it can get buggy so having bug spray with you isn’t ever a bad idea! Also, all of the paths are rocky or have roots so wouldn’t recommend a stroller or wagon if you can avoid it!
There is a seal expert, a gentleman who has come for years with his high quality binoculars and keeps a website on the Rome point seals, who if you’re lucky enough to meet you’ll learn a ton about these cute creatures creatures!

My first hike on the West Bay and my wife and pooch had a great time here!
We stopped by on a picture perfect spring day for a long walk/​hike and this nature preserve did not disappoint! You pull into a small lot which takes you to the main path. From there, you’re in forest heaven; a forest with heavy vegetation, tons of tiny little trails, streams crisscrossing all over and at the end of the path, a nice sized, rocky beach with great views of the bay and bridge! None of the trails are challenging and are great for either a casual walk or run. Our pup loved sniffing and checking out every crack and crevice he could find and even found another dog to play with at the beach and go swimming with.
All in all, the loop we took (main path to beach and then looped back) took about a hour and a half. One thing to note with dogs, definitely tick check them thoroughly after your walk; we found a few of them on him when we wrapped up.

I love this park. It is great for an easy, no sweat stroll out to vast views of water, birds, and sometimes (although unfortunately, I have not had the pleasure of this) harbor seals. I have been here now in multiple seasons, this most recent time during Winter. The crunch of snow beneath my feet, the chilling wind coming off of the bay, and the gulls that seemed to be immune to this cold. I also have been in the fall when it was leaves beneath my feet and it was bit warmer. If you are lucky you may just see some seals playing among the rocks and waves. I always cross my fingers as I make my way out to the water. There are several trails weaving throughout the park, and you can check out the interesting, seemingly ancient, structures, rusted cars, and even a memorial to a loved, deceased pooch. I will always enjoy my visits here, as it is beautiful and peaceful. My only gripe is I wish people would follow the leash rules and clean up after their pooches. I love doggies but it is annoying when people aren’t responsible pet owners. So go and enjoy nature with out needing to lace up the hiking boots or worrying about huffing and puffing. It’s perfect for the whole family.

This walk from easy parking off of 1A can be simple or complex. Trails lead to the Bay– a beautiful pebble/​shell beach looking out at Jamestown and the bridge. If you want a walk in the woods or have small children, take the easy path that goes forward, forward, forward. If you are more mobile and adventurous, take one of the rights or lefts from the main path.
Note to parents: kids 3 and over will do fine on the main path to the water but may need to be carried back. The path is not good for strollers unless it is an all-​terrain jogging stroller.

Rome Point is a small peninsula located within the John H. Chafee Nature Preserve, a 230-​acre state-​owned conservation area along the West Passage shoreline in North Kingstown. As one of the few remaining undeveloped stretches of shoreline along Narragansett Bay, this site offers outstanding natural character and is renowned for the harbor seal population which seasonally inhabits the emergent rocks east of Rome Point.
A nice ½ mile walk from the parking area to Narragansett Bay. Rome Point offers the casual walker the chance to experience the Rhode Island coast in a manner probably not too unlike what would have greeted early settlers.
Beautiful rugosa roses dot the landscape and there are literally seashells several feet deep.
A cool place to explore and enjy the scenery and tranquility.
It offers

Water
woods
and
seals
I usually go hiking here in the colder weather but since the rain finally stopped decided to give it a try today. It’s just as gorgeous in the warm weather as it is in the winter.
Lots of sail boats out on the water and beautiful views of both Narragansett Bay and the woods. Great stone walls and foundations of buildings that are now just memories. Bugs weren’t even too bad considering all the rain we had. A great place to hike and visit anytime of the year.