Attracting visitors to Rhode Island in every season are the Audubon’s scenically diverse refuges, conveniently located throughout the state. The Society owns or protects nearly 9,500 acres of wildlife habitat, making the non-profit organization Rhode Island’s largest private landholder. One refuge is situated in nearby Massachusetts. Thirteen of the refuges are open to the public and have groomed trails for hiking, bird watching, animal observation, plant and flower identification, photography and other nature activities. Additional programs are held at selected refuges for all ages and include shoreline exploration, owl prowls, stargazing, workshops, nature programs for families and more.

The refuges directly interconnect with the three focuses of the Society’s mission – land conservation, environmental education, and advocacy, but their primary allure rests with nature lovers who enjoy spending time in the beauty and peaceful solitude of the area’s natural ambience. Here is a sampling of some of the distinctive features of the thirteen refuges open to the public year round.

Davis Memorial Wildlife Refuge in North Kingstown offers relaxing, easy hiking above the gently flowing Hunt River. The 97 acres of rolling woodland are conveniently accessed from Routes 1 and 4. Davis is a woodland oasis with resident beaver, otter, coyote and fox to name a few of the animals observed on this property.

Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge encompasses a breathtaking 50-acre parcel of woods and salt marsh with trails and stunning views along the Sakonnet River in Tiverton.  Ruecker also has blinds for observing and photographing nature such as Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and Glossy Ibis to name just a few of the birds that frequent this protected marsh. Jack’s Island, a peninsula that extends into the Sakonnet River, is home to breeding Ospreys and is a popular put-in spot for kayakers and boaters.

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s largest property, Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter, contains 937 acres of fields, diverse forest habitats, pond, streams (including a lovely waterfall), and a historic cemetery. Easy access via Route 102, ample parking, wonderful scenery, towering white pines and pleasant hiking make Fisherville well worth the visit. The refuge abounds with diverse habitats ranging from white cedar swamps to upland beech forests. Fisherville’s unusual “kettle holes,” dotting the landscape, were created 18,000 years ago when chunks of ice broke free from the glacier that covered the entire state. The indentations were filled by glacial melt water, which, once melted, left these kettles.

Florence S. and Richard K. Fort Nature Refuge is a great place for a long hike through a variety of northern forest habitats at any time of year. This 235-acre protected chunk of North Smithfield is a destination for hikers and wildlife watchers. Fort is known for the beautiful beaver ponds teeming with animals and birds as well as beautiful wetland plants.

George B. Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge, in Coventry and Foster, is a magical place of ancient rock formations, Revolutionary War-era carriage roads, great wildlife watching and strenuous exercise. With 860 acres of mostly forested land, Parker is a rewarding place to spend half a day exploring the extensive trail system far away from traffic noise.

The 28 acres comprising the Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge are home to the Audubon’s award-winning Environmental Education Center in Bristol, where educational and refuge programs are offered year-round. The fields, woods, wetlands and the boardwalk to the shore of Narragansett Bay present the visitor with a wide variety of habitats for nature study and observation that reflect the center’s Smithsonian-quality exhibits and dioramas.

Kimball Wildlife Sanctuary, in the lovely southern Rhode Island town of Charlestown, is a 29-acre gem located on the southern shore of Watchaug Pond. Kimball abuts Burlingame State Park and the Kettle Pond Visitor Center.  Trails lead from the refuge to state land and Kettle Pond. The Audubon property and nearby Ninigret Pond are a haven for bird watchers and hikers alike.

Lathrop Wildlife Refuge, in the seaside town of Westerly, offers a short and gentle trail to a bird watching destination, Winnapaug Pond. The refuge protects 86 acres of coastal habitat off Route 1A.

Lewis-Dickens Farm on Block Island, though requiring a ferry ride, is a gem of a refuge with beautiful panoramic views above crashing waves and easy hiking in any season. A bit of farming history is preserved in the 120 acres of meadows that also provide habitat for grassland birds.

Long Pond Woods, in Hopkinton, offers arguably the most challenging hiking of any Audubon Refuge. The 220 acres of rocky and steep terrain harbors dense groves of mountain laurel and rhododendron bursting with flowers in the spring and towering oaks and hemlocks. The view from a rock outcrop high above Long Pond is like no other in the refuge system. Trails connect to a system that goes into Connecticut.

Powder Mill Ledges, in Smithfield, is home not only to a 120-acre property graced with deep woodlands and interesting rock outcroppings, but it is also home to the Audubon Society’s headquarters, which serves as a hub for many events and programs as well as the Society’s administrative offices and research library and gift shop.

Touisset Marsh Wildlife Refuge, in Warren along the Kickemuit River, is an easily accessible spot to visit 66 acres of hardwood forests, fields full of flowers and butterflies and picturesque salt marsh overlooks.

Waterman Pond in Coventry boasts 28 acres of forest with a single straight trail to tranquil Sisson Pond. Parking is limited and because of the mud and fallen trees, hiking is recommended for able-bodied older children and adults.