Crawley Preserve

The Crawley Preserve is a 99-acre property that spans two towns and hosts four trails. There is an eerie splendor from the dead trees emerging from the brushy clearings, but the environment also seems sanguine because of the prospect of a white pine forest in the future. Furthermore, the trail hosts a variety of special features (bedrock, streams, developing forest, rock walls, etc.) on-site that are captivating for all nature lovers. If you are looking for an all-around great experience, the Crawley Preserve is a wonderful location for sightseeing and meandering. It’s also one of my favorites.

From what I could see throughout the Crawley Preserve trail system, it has the most interesting landscape and scenery out of any of the land trust trails. For one thing, it is one of the few places in South Kingstown where you can see the exposed bedrock because most of the town is covered in glacial material and soil. There are also a number of rock walls scattered out and about in the woods. When on the blue trail (the furthest to the left at the trailhead), there is a segment of the trail that overlooks an apparent farm that is privately owned. It is important to note that the trail follows closely to the property line and that you should not touch the fence to the left because it is electrified. Another really interesting thing you will notice on the trails at the Crawley Preserve is the number of dead oak trees that are everywhere. This is because of the increasing numbers of gypsy moths that plague the trees and destroy their foliage. Along with this observation, you can see that there are a lot of small eastern white pine in the undergrowth, taking advantage of the reduced competition. Especially apparent towards the back of the Crawley Preserve, you can see how barren the landscape is from the gypsy moth infestation. Other than the damage done by the gypsy moths, you will see two very beautiful streams closer to the trailhead. Though I did not see any fish or minnows, the brooks support some smaller organisms. Furthermore, if you look closely at where the stream is derived from, it almost seems as though it is spring-fed since it's coming out from underneath the bedrock. Smaller observations I made while on the hike were that there is an occasional man-made bird box in the woods, constructed to provide safe housing for any number of bird species. Finally, the very first thing you will see is the large trail map at the beginning of the trail. Each trail has a starting point within a short walk from this poster. It is important to be visually aware of the trail blazes because there are four different colors, and there are portions of the trail system where paths intersect and diverge. Generally speaking, it was a great trail with plenty of nature to see.

After completing all of the open South Kingstown Land Trust Trails, I feel like the Crawley Preserve is the best balance between trail distance and visual appeal. In my opinion, it is up there with the likes of the Duval Trail, and Browning Woods for the best open trails that the land trust has to offer. The Yawgoo Pond Trail might find its way into that mix as well, but that trail is currently closed because of a legal dispute over property boundaries.. But, back to the point, I feel like this trail has unique offerings because it has exposed bedrock, brooks, and open brushy ecosystems. There is a lot of variety at the preserve which contributes to its enjoyability. Additionally, the distances are not great, and you can mix and match trails to hike as much as you want while still getting some great views. I feel like that is a benefit that only the Crawley Preserve and Duval Trail offer to hikers. Another part of the Crawley Preserve that I found very interesting was the fact that it has more property in Richmond, yet most of the advertising on the bulletin was for the South Kingstown Land Trust which owns a sliver of the total land acreage. Anyhow, I feel like this has contributed to a lack of trail maintenance on certain trails. I think because it is so rural and most of the work done by both land trusts is non-profit, it is hard for quality work to be done on the trails consistently. Despite this drawback, I’d recommend the Crawley Preserve to anyone visiting the area. Its proximity to Kenyon’s Gristmill, Peter Pots Pottery, and other local attractions in West Kingston makes it a one-of-a-kind opportunity to do a hike and see some really historic parts of the town. To conclude, I felt like this was one of the more engaging trails, with there being something to look at at all times. While I usually enjoy a longer hike if I can find one, the choices the Crawley Preserve provides are suitable for a great time. Overall, this is a great trail system, with entrancing views and winding courses for all hikers to appreciate.