🌟 Member Spotlight: South Kingstown Land Trust 🌟
After six years in the making, Yawgoo Trail is officially reopened to the public! Just in time for summer, the newly restored trail opened June 12 to enjoy passive, scenic recreation.
Following the trail’s closure in 2020, the South Kingstown Land Trust began an extensive process of engineering, design, permitting, and ultimately fundraising, to restore safe public access while protecting the surrounding wetlands and shoreline habitats. This milestone would not have been possible without the generous support of the many organizations, grant programs, and individual donors who believed in and donated to this project. They marked the occasion with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, and the trail is now fully open — kiosk and all — and welcoming visitors.
The Yawgoo Pond Trail system is composed of two connected loops totaling approximately 1.9 miles. From the trailhead, visitors cross a series of newly constructed elevated walkways and bridges through sensitive wetlands and a rare kettle hole bog, designed as part of a major restoration effort to protect fragile ecological resources while preserving public access. The southern Yawgoo Loop (1.26 miles) crosses Mud Brook via a new bridge and continues through oak and white pine forest before opening to scenic views overlooking Yawgoo Pond. Additional changes included parking improvements and extensive trail rehabilitation throughout the trail system.
Trailhead Directions: 236 Barbers Pond Rd. West Kingston RI 02892. From the North or South: take Route 2 (South County Trail) to Barber’s Pond Road at the State fishing area. Proceed 0.25 miles to a gravel parking area on the left side of the road.
About the South Kingstown Land Trust
The South Kingstown Land Trust is an accredited 501c(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and stewarding natural resources, open spaces, and cultural landscapes for the benefit of the community—now and forever. Since its founding in 1983, SKLT has permanently protected more than 200 properties across South Kingstown, including forests, farmland, wetlands, and scenic cultural landscapes, featuring over 14 miles of trails and a beautiful gathering space for programs and events that connect the community with nature.