This segment of the trail runs north of Yawgoog Pond and into Pachaug State Forest in Connecticut, and features the remains of an old spool and bobbin mill.
Dogs: Allowed, but must be leashed.
Maps: On an information board at the trailhead.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, with some small hills.
GLOCESTER Man-made ponds pop up almost everywhere in rural Rhode Island.
Farmers built them to irrigate crops and water livestock. Millers dammed brooks and channeled the backed-up water to grind grain in grist mills. Fire wardens and landowners filled reservoirs to protect property in remote areas. Conservationists constructed earthen dikes across streams to create habitats for wildlife and waterfowl.
Each of the ponds you find in the woods has a unique story about how it was formed and for what purpose.