Looking for a place for a great walk in the woods? The Benson Preserve, bought by the Narrow River Land Trust in 2014, is a forty-five-acre property with beautiful hillside trails over wetlands, vernal pools, small waterfalls, and a wide variety of vegetation. The property abuts the King Preserve owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The two properties share a well-marked trail system, which affords miles of walking and access to the Upper Pettaquamscutt Pond on the Narrow River.
The Benson Preserve is conserved thanks to the generosity and forethought of Elsie Benson and her family. The property was the home of Elsie Benson for many years and her wish was to preserve the land in its natural state for the benefit of the native plants and animals found in the vernal pools, uplands and small streams. The Benson family worked with the Narrow River Land Trust to fulfill that wish.
The Narrow River Land Trust bought the property with funding from donors and the RI Department of Environmental Management Open Space Fund. The Land Trust also partnered with the Town of North Kingstown to install a small parking lot to access the property on Snuff Mill Road. The Benson property is a vital link in the Green Belt which surrounds much of the Narrow River.
Benson Preserve and the adjacent King Preserve are home to abundant wildlife. The varied terrain supports a wide variety of amphibians, reptiles, mammals and bird species. Common woodland creatures include deer, coyotes, bobcats and squirrels. Birds include chickadees, nuthatches, jays, hawks and owls. Along the water’s edge one will find belted kingfishers, great blue herons and egrets. Ospreys are common, and at least one bald eagle is resident in the area.
Quick Facts:
- A well-marked trailhead can be found at 500 Snuff Mill Road, Saunderstown, RI 02874, approximate address, (Lat x Long: 41.519468, -71.440777).
- There is approximately one mile of trails, equipped with few boardwalks, at Benson Preserve. The contiguous TNC King Preserve hosts a few additional miles of connected trails.
- Hunting is allowed on nearby properties. It is recommended that hikers wear blaze orange during hunting season.
- Dogs should be on leash.
- NRLT maintains the Benson Preserve with volunteers. If you would like to join us for a workday, be sure to get on our mailing list! Work may include trail maintenance, removal of invasive species, and boardwalk construction.