Hiking Rhode Island’s North-South Trail: A Practical Guide

When I planned my Walk Across New England for the fall of 2025, one of the hardest segments to plan was, oddly enough, Rhode Island’s North-South Trail (NST).

With no official trail organization currently existing, and many older resources outdated or no longer available, I had to piece together information from disparate sources. Not a huge problem, but at this point in my hiking ‘career,’ I know how to cobble together a route from different resources fairly easily.

However, over the past year, I noticed that many people found taking on this ~75-mile route confusing because there were no simple resources that pulled everything together. And, frankly, there were some things I found out about later that I wish I’d known!

• What maps do I need?
• Where do I find a good GPX track?
• How can I legally camp?
• What about water? Resupply? Do I have to wear blaze orange? And when?
• What are some nearby side trips that might prove interesting?

With some time available, I decided to write a practical guide for this trail that goes through my home state.

It is not a guide full of lengthy trail descriptions, natural history, and turn-by-turn instructions. Instead, I hope it gives a prospective NST hiker the relevant information needed to put together an enjoyable hike without spending hours hunting down information scattered across different resources.

Though I have not lived in Rhode Island since 1999, I still consider myself a Rhode Islander first and foremost. The occasional dropped “R,” the quick and sometimes blunt talk, and lamenting the lack of good bakeries where I live all point to my roots.

Walking through my home state in autumn showed me the beauty, the history, and a bit of the wildness I had not known or appreciated growing up.

And seeing a sunrise over the Atlantic a few hours before my brother picked me up? One of my genuine favorite memories from my time spent in the outdoors.

I hope this guide helps any North-South Trail hiker plan their own journey, be it their first thru-hike or part of a 500-mile jaunt through the place that shaped them.

I’ve received a lot of generosity over the years during my hikes. This guide is one small way of trying to repay that kindness.

Thanks to –

• Many people in the de facto official Rhode Island North-South Trail Resources Facebook group provided lots of information that made its way into this guide.
• Dan Scotina for mapping out the NST track in Gaia GPS and sharing it publicly. His track formed the backbone of my CalTopo version.
• Melissa Masse for herding all the hiking cats in the above NST group and helping coordinate all the information.
• Ginnie Leslie for helping forge this trail right around the time I started backpacking. I knew someday I’d hike the NST…it only took me almost thirty years!
• And, finally, the late George Ernst, who proposed the idea back in the 1970s and first envisioned a long walk through Rhode Island’s woods.

Guide Sections

• Overview of the North-South Trail
• When to Hike
• Ticks
• Hiking with Dogs
• Hunting Season and Blaze Orange
• Maps & Navigation
• Getting There, Transport, and Parking
• Mobile Service
• Water
• Road Walks
• Camping & Lodging
• Food and Resupply
• Side Quests
• Additional Resources
• Final Thoughts

Overview of the North-South Trail

The NST is a ~75-mile trail spanning Rhode Island from the Massachusetts border to the Atlantic Ocean.

It’s mainly flat, with a few bits of rough terrain here and there and relatively little elevation gain.

Perhaps the most Rhode Island trail imaginable: no official trail organization, no real infrastructure, just a cobbled-together route stitched across the state and kept going with a bit of Rhody determination.

Picture some seventy-something guy named Sal shrugging, muttering “Waddaya gonna do?” and heading to the hardware store for blue paint because somebody has to do it. And somehow…it works.

Expect roughly a one-third mix each of singletrack, old roads and rail beds, and mainly quiet paved road walking (Rhode walking? Ha!), with surprising pockets of wildness, lots of history, and, of course, the Atlantic Ocean at the end.

I returned to my home state, walked through its remaining wild places, and had a journey that proved very memorable and satisfying.

I hope you do, too.

When to hike the North-South Trail?

Theoretically, you can walk the NST all year. Other than during snowstorms, the NST is essentially a four-season trail. Summer can get hot and muggy, of course. Overall, spring and early fall, in my opinion, are the most pleasant times to hike the trail, with spring flowers or autumn colors adding to the experience.

Also note that many campgrounds and other seasonal services typically close in October and don’t reopen until April or May. If hiking outside the main season, confirm what’s open before your trip.

Because of its length and relatively easy access compared to more remote trails, day hiking while spotting cars or having someone pick you up (or using pre-arranged rideshares; see below) works well, too.

It can be a very enjoyable way to complete the trail, especially if you’d rather not camp or can’t comfortably make the miles between legal camping options.

What about ticks?

Ticks are a major concern for hiking in New England, and Rhode Island in particular.

Ticks aren’t just a summer concern, either, so take precautions during much of the hiking year.

What can you do? Wear long sleeves and pants, treat your clothing with permethrin, and regularly check your body for ticks.

My good friend Cam Honan gives some excellent advice about hiking in tick country if you want more detailed information.

And if you hike with a canine companion, you should take some precautions for them as well.

What about dogs?

Speaking of dogs…

The NST can make a good hike with an experienced trail dog, as the terrain is certainly canine-friendly. But there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, dogs are like humans. Going from a comfy dog bed and eating Scooby Snacks all day to hiking 5, 10, 15, or more miles a day would be a shock to the system. Like you, make sure your dog is ready for the hike.

Dogs need to be leashed on RIDEM Management Area roads and trails, and other state park areas have their own leash requirements. As always, pay attention to posted regulations as you pass through different public lands.

Perhaps more importantly for an NST thru-hike, not every campground allows pets. George Washington and Burlingame State Campgrounds allow dogs, but East Beach Campground, adjacent to the southern terminus, does not.

And if you envision you and your canine companion triumphantly finishing the NST together at the Atlantic, Blue Shutters Town Beach does allow dogs, but with seasonal restrictions. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, dogs are not allowed on the beach between 9 AM and 5 PM. Outside those hours, dogs are allowed but must be leashed or otherwise restrained. The adjacent state-managed East Beach has different and more restrictive rules, so don’t confuse the two.

You’ll also want to check the individual private campgrounds you plan to use for their current pet policies before putting together your itinerary.

Finally, remember that the NST includes a fair amount of walking on paved roads. Keep your dog under control around traffic, bring enough water for them in warmer weather, and consider whether they’re comfortable doing repeated miles on pavement.

In short, the NST is certainly doable with the right dog, but you’ll want to plan the trip around your canine companion rather than simply bring them along.

The American Kennel Club has some excellent information about how to hike safely, respectfully, and enjoyably with your dog.

Hiking during hunting season and blaze orange requirements

Rhode Island is somewhat unique in that it is one of the few states that requires blaze orange clothing for hikers and hunters during certain times of the year.

While it’s tempting to eschew this requirement, RIDEM is strict, fines may be issued if you’re caught, and other public land users appreciate the compliance for all-around safety.

In brief –

• Part of September through November requires 200 sq. inches of blaze orange (hat OR vest).
• December requires 500 sq. inches (hat AND vest).
• January and February are back to 200 sq. inches.
• Part of April and all of May are back to 200 sq. inches after a break in March.

This graphic from RIDEM is useful –

Beyond the minimum requirements, a hiker may want to consider fuller coverage for safety and effectiveness.

Put succinctly –

• Cover the head – Wear a blaze-orange hat, or put a blaze cover over your hat, such as a Buff.
• Have torso coverage – Wear a blaze vest or a bright, visible layer like a hoodie or base layer.
• Make the pack visible for full coverage – Put something visible on the back of your pack: a blaze bandana, vest, pack cover, or panel.

You have safe, versatile, and lightweight (in ounces/grams) coverage for hunting season at a small monetary investment.

During hunting season, don’t forget about blaze orange for your dog, too!  Keep your dog leashed and visible, and consider a blaze-orange vest or an attached panel for your canine companion.

You can take a deep dive into hiking during rifle season in something I wrote earlier.

Maps & Navigation

Overall, the trail is easy to follow and marked well with distinctive blue blazes, with only a few very brief, tricky stretches, mainly around road crossings and campgrounds.

There are many tracks online from sources such as AllTrails, mountain bike and FKT attempts, older RIDEM files, and others that may not apply to hikers or reflect more recent changes to the route.

The most accurate route I found currently is the NST route shown in OpenStreetMap (OSM), as well as on Gaia and similar mapping apps, with only minor variations from what I observed in the field.

Dan Scotina generously traced and uploaded the track for public use.

I imported the track into CalTopo and added quite a few notes, waypoints, mileage markers, side quests, resupply points, camping spots, etc., to make it a useful companion to this guide, especially in the field.

You can see the publicly available track here – https://caltopo.com/m/860R2HE#

Tip: Collapse the folders in the left-hand sidebar for a cleaner overview of the route, then expand them as needed.

The map defaults to the OSM layer. I find it works well for the NST because of the overall gentle terrain and easy-to-read map. CalTopo’s OSM layer defaults to meters rather than Freedom Units ^(TM). I added mileage markers along the track to make things easier.

The North-South Trail is generally listed as approximately 78 miles. However, this mapped route measures just over 75 miles in CalTopo. The difference may reflect reroutes, mapping methods, or differences in how the route and its endpoints are measured. For consistency, all mileage in this guide is based on the CalTopo track and measured from north to south. (Hmmm??? 🤔)

You can export the track as a GPX or KML file for use in the mapping app of your choice, or print maps from it as well.

When in doubt, follow the blue blazes!

And what about print maps?

Honestly, the easiest way to get print maps is to import the GPX or KML file into the mapping app of your choice and print them out as appropriate.

Other sources of print maps, again, use older information and may not be accurate.

If you don’t mind the meters vs. feet caveat noted above, I uploaded a free map set based on the CalTopo track at this Google Drive link, and it’s available for anyone to download.

They are overview maps at about 1:35,000 +/-, in color, and with the master summary map, the set is seven pages total. The six detailed map sheets can be printed double-sided on three 11×17 sheets at a local copy shop, with the master overview printed separately if desired. Expect to spend roughly $10–$15 for a color set, depending on the printer and paper selected.

If you need to protect a map, a large freezer bag is an old-school thru-hiker favorite.

Want to use a different mapping app?

If you prefer your own custom maps in a different format or aren’t sure how to export and import a GPX or KML file, here’s how to export the track and print it out in CalTopo, Gaia, OnX Backcountry, and AllTrails.

• Exporting a CalTopo track
• Printing maps in CalTopo
• Importing a track into Gaia web | Android | iPhone, and printing maps in Gaia
• Importing a track into OnX Backcountry and printing maps in OnX Backcountry
• Importing a track into AllTrails and printing maps on AllTrails.

Finally, I like print maps for overviews and electronic maps for finer navigation.  It’s not an either/or situation, but different tools working together in a kit.

Getting There, Transport, and Parking

 

Ideally, you’ll want someone to drop you off and pick you up, especially on a thru-hike, to keep logistics simple.

But to quote the wise sage Yogi Berra, “If the world was perfect, it wouldn’t be.”

You’ll need to do some minor finagling if a friend or family member can’t pick you up or give you a ride.

Some people have reported parking for a few days at the following locations –

Northern Terminus Parking –

Melissa Masse on the Rhode Island North-South Trail resources page reports –

I still like parking in the boat ramp lot of Douglas State Forest. It’s a 1.96 mile hike in along the mass midstate to the northern terminus of the NST (also the southern terminus of the midstate) all well marked and you go by great cellar holes and the Douglas campsite. just email the park ranger that your going to park there.

Seems like a safe place to park overall.

More info for Douglas State Forest – https://www.mass.gov/locations/douglas-state-forest

Southern Terminus Parking –

Blue Shutters Beach officially does not allow overnight parking:

“Any vehicles remaining in the Charlestown Town Beach and Sam Ferretti – Blue Shutters parking lots after 9:00 p.m. will be subject to ticketing and/or towing at the owner’s expense.”

Burlingame State Campground, approximately three trail miles north, may provide an option for overnight parking. Contact the campground directly to confirm current parking options before your trip. You’ll need to yo-yo those miles, but it’s a pleasant walk.

More info – https://riparks.ri.gov/contact

Shuttles, rideshares, and public transportation

Uber and Lyft may work surprisingly well for the NST, and both allow rides to be scheduled in advance. This can be particularly useful for day or section hikes. Because parts of the trail pass through rural areas, I’d schedule the ride in advance rather than assume a driver will be available when you reach a trailhead or road crossing.

Another possibility is a traditional taxi or private car service. Rachel’s Big City Transportation offers pre-arranged transportation throughout Rhode Island, including many of the rural communities the NST passes through. They don’t specifically advertise hiker shuttles, but it may be worth contacting them to see if they’ll arrange a pickup or drop-off at a particular trail crossing. Expect a private car service to cost more than a typical rideshare.

RIPTA Flex may provide another option for some section hikes. Unlike a conventional bus route, Flex service allows passengers to arrange pickups or drop-offs within designated service zones. Of particular interest to NST hikers are the Westerly/Charlestown area Flex service near the southern portion of the trail and the Pascoag/Slatersville Flex service in the northern part of the state.

Flex won’t shuttle you the length of the NST, but combined with other RIPTA routes, a rideshare, or a strategically spotted vehicle, it may help solve some section or even thru-hiking logistics.

As with any transportation, verify the current service area, schedule, and pickup location before relying on it for your hike.

Finally, some people on the Rhode Island North-South Trail resources page have generously offered parking or even shuttles. This offer is gratis and should not be counted on completely.

Mobile service?

Cell service is generally good along the NST, but don’t expect continuous coverage. Rhode Island is a small and densely populated state (less so where the trail passes), and the trail regularly crosses roads and passes near developed areas. However, there are still pockets of poor or nonexistent reception in the more rural and wooded sections.

Coverage will vary by carrier, phone, and location, so don’t depend on having a signal at any particular point along the trail.

Overall, though, cell coverage should be considerably less of an issue on the NST than on many longer, more remote trails.

Water sources on the North-South Trail?

Water is generally not difficult to find along the NST. Unlike my current Utah home, water is more plentiful in southern New England, and the route crosses numerous streams and other natural water sources in addition to passing campgrounds and businesses. Look at your maps, whether electronic or printed, and plan accordingly.

Treat or filter water from natural sources. During hot or unusually dry periods, don’t assume every small stream shown on a map will be flowing, and don’t depend on campground water being available outside the normal camping season.

If you want more specific information, this 2020 report provides detailed water-source information, but verify current conditions before relying on it. And, honestly, it’s probably more granular information than most people need.

Overall, water should prove one of the easier logistical aspects of an NST hike.

What about the road walks on the North-South Trail?

As mentioned earlier, about a third of the NST consists of walking on paved roads. Before that sounds too daunting, most of these road walks follow relatively quiet roads through rural parts of western Rhode Island and make for pleasant enough walking.

The longest continuous stretch runs roughly from mile 23 to mile 34, between Route 6 and Route 14 (Plainfield Pike).

At approximately 11 miles, it sounds worse on paper than it proved in practice. The roads are generally quiet, surprisingly scenic in places, and give you a look at another side of rural Rhode Island.

There is one road walk I’d treat with considerably more caution, however.

From approximately mile 54.5 to just past mile 56, the official NST follows Carolina Nooseneck Road between Buttonwoods Road and Kingstown Road (Route 138).

This road may have been relatively quiet when the NST was established, but today it serves as a busy cut-through with little to no shoulder and frequent fast-moving traffic. During my hike, I often had to climb up and off the road or switch sides to give passing cars enough room.

Be careful along this stretch.

An alternate at mile 54.5 –

Because of the traffic on Carolina Nooseneck Road, I’ve included an alternate on my CalTopo map that bypasses this section and that others have used as well.

The alternate follows busier roads and is perhaps less “interesting” than the official NST, but in my opinion, it now makes for a safer road walk. It’s also about a mile shorter and rejoins the official NST at approximately mile 57.25.

As a bonus, the alternate passes directly through a Stop & Shop plaza with a full resupply and multiple food options. See the Food and Resupply section below for more details.

If you want to follow every mile of the official NST, this alternate probably isn’t for you. But others may want to trade a sketchy stretch of road walking for a safer, slightly shorter route with an easy resupply.

And maybe get a small taste of Western-style hiking in Rhode Island. 🙂

Camping

Dispersed camping in non-designated sites is not legally permitted along the North-South Trail. Although there are signs of dispersed camping on public lands along the route, overnight use on RIDEM lands is permitted only in designated camping areas.

Make of that info what you will. 🙂

Fortunately, there are a surprising number of legal camping options at public and private campgrounds on or near the NST. The following are listed north to south with approximate mileage based on the CalTopo track used in this guide.

Mile	Camping	Type	Notes
Before Mile 0	Douglas State Park Shelter	Shelter	On the Midstate Trail, approximately 0.75 miles before the northern NST terminus. Useful for camping before or after an NST hike.
9.75	George Washington Campground	State campground	On the trail.
14.5	Oakleaf Campground	Private campground	Near the trail.
18.75	Stateline Camp Resort	Private campground	Short walk across the Rhode Island/Connecticut state line.
27.75	Dyer Woods Naturist Resort	Private campground	Near the trail.
28.75	Colaluca Family Campground	Private campground	Formerly Ginny-B Campground. Approximately 0.25 miles off trail.
40.5	Circle ‘C’ Campground	Private campground	Approximately 1 mile off trail.
43.25	Oak Embers Campground	Private campground	Approximately 1.5 miles off trail.
43.5	Frosty Hollow Camping Area in Acadia Management Area	Backcountry camping area	About .25 miles off trail; Advance reservation required.
66.75	Burlingame Management Area Canoe Campsite; Pawcatuck River	Primitive campsite	In the Burlingame Management Area, approximately 0.6 miles off trail.
72	Burlingame State Park Campground	State campground	On the trail. There is a camp store about .75 miles from where the NST comes to the campground.
75	East Beach Campground	State campground	Short walk beyond the southern terminus. An excellent option for ending the trip at the Atlantic and catching a sunrise.

What about lodging?

The NST is a relatively short trail, so most backpackers probably won’t need traditional lodging along the way. However, there is one motel directly along the route. It may prove useful if you’re taking a more leisurely pace, don’t want to camp every night, or are incorporating the NST into a longer walk using the Midstate Trail to the north or even beyond.

Mile	Lodging	Notes
22.5	Stone House Motor Inn 162 Danielson Pike Foster, RI 401-647-5850	Directly along the NST and next to Shady Acres Diner. A basic, old-school roadside motel. Call ahead to confirm current availability.

 

Food and Resupply 

While the NST is relatively short at ~75 miles, there are still several opportunities for food and resupply along the way.

All campgrounds except George Washington and Acadia have standard campground stores with the expected basic supplies.

Additionally, the following services are available along or near the trail. Mileage is approximate and listed north to south.

Mile	Service	Type	Notes
22.5	Shady Acres Diner	Restaurant	Near trail.
23	Star Petrol Gas Station	Convenience store / gas	Near trail. Convenience-store resupply.
28.75	Tavern 19 at Foster Country Club	Restaurant / bar	A classic golf-course “19th hole” for a meal and a drink.
54	Stop & Shop Alt Route	Full resupply / multiple services	About one mile into the alternate. Full supermarket resupply plus Ocean State Job Lot, pizza, bakery, McDonald’s, and, for the full New England experience, a Dunkin’. Lickety Splits Ice Cream and Alaina’s Coffee are just beyond the plaza.
56.5	Meadow Brook Golf Course Clubhouse	Restaurant	Near the trail.
57.25	Alaina’s Coffee + Kitchen	Coffee / breakfast / lunch	About 0.25 miles off the main NST; directly accessible from the Stop & Shop alternate. Lickety Splits Ice Cream is nearby.
73.75	Shell Gas Station	Convenience store / gas	About .25 miles off trail. Convenience-store resupply.
73.75	Quonnie Farms	Coffee/ food	About .5 miles off trail. Gourmet food and sandwiches.
73.75	Dave’s Coffee	Coffee / food	A new RI classic. About 0.6 miles from the NST

Side Quests

The NST passes through a surprising amount of history and has some interesting places either directly on the route or within a short walk.

Keep an eye out for old cemeteries, stone walls, cellar holes, abandoned roads, and other remnants of earlier Rhode Island along the way. Some are obvious, others less so, and poking around a bit can add another dimension to the hike. In the words of my favorite philosopher, “You can observe a lot by just watching.”

A few places in particular make worthwhile side quests –

Side Quest	Approx. Mile	Distance Off Trail	Notes
Tri-State Marker	Near northern terminus	~1.25 miles away	Visit the spot where Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut meet, complete with a marker denoting the three-state corner.
Jerimoth Hill	~18.75	~1.0 miles east	Rhode Island’s high point in all its 812-foot glory!  An easy opportunity to “climb” a state high point while hiking across the state.
Rice City	~32.75	On trail	The NST passes directly through this historic hamlet. If you enjoy history and have some time, poke around and check out the surviving late-1700s and early-1800s buildings and remnants of the former village.
Young Boulder Troll	~49.75	~0.5 mile	A photogenic and whimsical giant troll sculpture just off the NST. Not exactly historic Rhode Island, but certainly worth the short detour!

None of these side quests are necessary to hike the NST, of course. But you’re already walking across Rhode Island. You might as well poke around a little. 🙂

Additional Resources

Information about the NST exists online, but it’s scattered among different websites, social media groups, older guidebooks, trip reports, and other sources. That’s one reason I put this guide together in the first place.

Here are some additional resources that may prove useful –

• Rhode Island North-South Trail Resources Facebook group – Probably the best current source for NST information and the closest thing the trail has to an active, de facto trail organization. You’ll find current trail conditions, reroutes, questions and answers, and people with considerable experience on the trail.
• North South Trail: A Guide for Traveling the Trail by Foot, Bicycle, or Horse – Cliff Vanover’s guidebook was the traditional guide to the NST for many years. Great Swamp Press currently lists the book as out of stock, and copies can be difficult to find. The trail has also changed since the book’s 2003 publication, so don’t assume all the route and logistical information still applies. Still, it’s an excellent historical resource and probably the most comprehensive traditional guide ever published for the trail.
• Trails & Walks in Rhode Island North-South Trail series – Probably the closest thing currently available to a traditional online guidebook. It breaks the NST into sections with descriptions and photos. Some information is now dated, but it remains a useful resource, especially for getting a feel for individual sections of the trail.
• Providence Journal – “Want to thru-hike across Rhode Island?” – An excellent 2026 overview of the NST, with particularly useful background about the history of the trail and some of the people who made it happen.
• 2020 NST thru-hike trip report on Reddit – A detailed account of completing the trail in three days, including thoughts about terrain, road walking, water, and camping. Some logistical information is dated, but firsthand accounts can still give you a good idea of what walking the NST is actually like.
• The Trek’s Rhode Island North-South Trail account – Another older firsthand account of the NST. Again, use it more for flavor and general information rather than current logistical details.
• Komoot’s North-South Trail collection – A more recent multi-stage presentation of the route with an interactive map, photos, and suggested stages. Useful as another perspective and planning resource, though I’d verify route and logistical details against more current information.
• North South Trail on YouTube – Prefer videos for a different kind of immersion? YouTube has many videos for you to peruse.

A future guidebook?

The old NST guidebook filled an important niche, but producing and keeping a traditional small-run print guide current can prove expensive and difficult for a trail with a relatively small audience.

Perhaps an electronic guide could fill that niche someday. The Cohos Trail Association’s downloadable PDF guidebook provides one model: relatively inexpensive to produce and update, easy to download onto a phone or tablet, and something hikers can print themselves as needed.

For a grassroots trail such as the NST, something similar might make more sense than trying to keep a traditional printed guidebook continuously updated.

Final Thoughts

The North-South Trail isn’t the most remote, challenging, or physically demanding trail I’ve hiked. But walking across my home state proved far more meaningful than the mileage or difficulty might suggest.

I grew up in Rhode Island, but I didn’t really discover the outdoors until my 20s. Soon afterward, I went west and, in many ways, left those roots behind.

Walking the NST decades later let me experience my home state in a different way. I passed through quiet woods, old mill villages, stone walls, cellar holes, cemeteries, and small pockets of wildness that I either never knew existed or never appreciated when I lived there.

Experiencing Rhode Island on foot connected the history, landscape, and people who shaped the state and me, in a way that day hikes or isolated trips never quite could.

For me, the NST also formed the final stretch of a ~500-mile walk from the Canadian border to the Atlantic. Ending that journey at Blue Shutters Beach, in the state where my own journey began, gave those last 75 miles a meaning well beyond simply completing another trail.

It was a homecoming of sorts.

I came back to where it all began and, in many ways, saw it for the first time.

I hope this guide helps you make your own journey across Rhode Island equally memorable.