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The Story of the Yawgoog Trails

Quick Reference Summary: Totally Tippecansett Trail

Total distance: 10.4 miles (16.8 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 third Saturday in October and runs through the end of February. The Rhode Island hunting season starts on the third Saturday in October and runs through the end of February. Orange is also required in Rhode Island from April 24 through May 31. In Connecticut, the hunting season starts on September 1 and runs through the end of February.

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 reaches the summit of Escoheag Hill at a cemetery. a cemetery. The yellow-blazed Tippecansett Trail now overlaps a portion of the white-blazed Canonicus Trail. Look for both blazes on utility poles while descending west on Escoheag Hill Road. The route reaches the posted private property of the South County Rod & Gun Club at the corner of Escoheag Hill Road and Hazard Road. About 3.5 minutes after leaving the top of Escoheag Hill the Tippecansett and Canonicus trails leave the paved road to cross a gate and follow a dirt road west. Be sure to stay on the road, as it is property of the South County Rod & Gun Club; private residences exist to the right (north). The road eventually reenters the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area.

After about 11 minutes, at a three-way intersection of dirt roads, the trail enters the Pachaug State Forest in Connecticut. After bearing left (west) at the intersection, the road bends left (southwest) and two other roads/trails enter from the right (north). The white and yellow trail markers, as well as the red arrows of the enduro trail for motorbikes, follow Bitgood Road southwest; the road ends at another three-way intersection, about 15 minutes after crossing the border. It is here that the Tippecansett Trail parts company with the other trails. The white blazes of the Canonicus Trail and the red arrows of the enduro trail lead right (west) on the dirt Tippecansett Road. The yellow blazes of the Tippecansett Trail lead left (east) on Tippecansett Road to reach the Rhode Island/Connecticut border in about 6 minutes; in Rhode Island the road is known as Old Voluntown Road. The land to the left (northeast) of the road (and Tippecansett Pond) is posted private property of the South County Rod & Gun Club while land to the right (southwest) of the road is part of the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area.

The trail bends to the right (south) and passes the white-blazed Wildcat Spring Trail to the right (southwest - about 10.5 minutes after re-entering Rhode Island) 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). The Tippecansett Trail ends at the state border on Camp Yawgoog Road.

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