Ell Pond Preserve Trailhead - Hopkinton, RI
Ell Pond Preserve Trailhead in Hopkinton, RI, offers a rugged and scenic dog park experience perfect for pet owners seeking dog-friendly hiking and pet-friendly trails. This natural preserve features challenging rock scrambles and beautiful views of Long Pond and El Pond, making it a top choice for adventurous dog owners in Rhode Island. While the trail is not wheelchair accessible and the parking lot lacks accessibility features, it provides a rewarding outdoor experience for those prepared for a moderately difficult hike.
The trail is well-loved for its diverse terrain, including mountain laurels, rhododendrons, and a mix of oak, beech, and maple forests. Dog owners should note that the trail can be narrow and technical in spots, with some steep inclines and rocky sections that may be challenging for older or small dogs. The preserve is a hidden gem for local hikers and their pets, offering a peaceful escape with stunning lake views and a chance to explore Rhode Island’s natural beauty on pet-friendly trails.
FAQ for Ell Pond Preserve Trailhead in Hopkinton Rhode Island:
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Dogs are allowed at the park, but no specific information is provided about off-leash policies.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? The park is not wheelchair accessible, as there is no wheelchair accessible entrance or parking lot.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there are hiking trails at Ell Pond Preserve Trailhead, including challenging trails with rocky scrambles and scenic views of Long Pond and El Pond.
- Where is the best place to park? Parking is available near the trailhead, but the parking lot is not wheelchair accessible. It’s suggested to enter through Canonchet Road to avoid rough unpaved roads.
Reviews
Love this trail! Beautiful and decently challenging! Dirt road on the way to trail is a bit rough (pot holes) so if your car is low to the ground drive carefully and very slow!
Beautiful views, but be warned that the trail is narrow, not very well marked, and pretty technical. If I didn’t run into someone on the trail and get directions, I probably would’ve turned the wrong way and never seen the pond at all. You will need to scramble and even climb in certain areas to traverse the rocks and get to the area where the views of the pond are. The road on the way in is also pretty rough and not well maintained, so be wise in which vehicle you choose to get there.
Nice trails with butiful views close to the pound. Good hiking shoes definitely recommend. Trails are mostly easy with some modern definitely.
This is a rugged trail, but the reward is great. The views over long lake are beautiful, but the trail requires a lot of scrambling over rocks. I am 68 years old with weak knees, yet I persevered and was careful and I’m glad I made the hike. One tip: do not follow the red arrow that is spray painted on a boulder. It leads to a confusing set of trails. Stick to the yellow marked trails and you will do fine. Also the road leading to the trailhead is not paved and parts of it are very rough and full of potholes. Make sure you enter through Canonchet road which limits your traversing of unpaved road.
A hidden gem entering you will find a rhodendron, hemlock swamp with rocky ledges. The trail eventually leads up into a upland dry oak heath complex overlooking El pond to the right and then Long pond to the left. Around Long pond there is mostly oak, beech and maple. Around El pond is a Atlantic white cedar swamp. Photos shown here are in winter on El pond.