Oakland Forest & Meadow Trail
Oakland Forest & Meadow
Oakland Forest & Meadow is a 30-acre parcel located off of Carriage Drive in Portsmouth. It was saved from development in 2000 by Aquidneck Land Trust and the community. The property includes a regionally ecologically unique old-growth beech forest, with trees estimated to be between 200-300 years old. On the northwest side of the meadow, you will also see man-made wetlands, or “green infrastructure,” designed to improve water quality with a natural and wildlife-friendly look and feel. These water quality improvements provide mechanisms to treat stormwater as water passes through the area into St. Mary’s Pond, one of the drinking supply water reservoirs for Aquidneck Island.
The Oakland Forest and Meadow Trail is a short 0.6 mile loop trail open dawn to dusk that goes through a 10-acre meadow and 20 acres of old-growth beech forest. It is an excellent spot for wildlife viewing or a quiet stroll through the forest.
The trail can be accessed by a small gravel parking lot at the end of Carriage Drive in Portsmouth. Because of Oakland’s unique and delicate ecosystem, dogs are not allowed on this trail. There are also no bicycles or motorized vehicles allowed. See the Oakland Forest trail map and trail rules or check us out on ExploreRI. You can support the Land Trust’s land conservation mission by becoming a member or donating to our annual fund. We hope that you enjoy your visit!
The Oakland Forest and Meadow Trail is a short 0.6 mile loop trail open dawn to dusk that goes through a 10-acre meadow and 20 acres of old-growth beech forest. It is an excellent spot for wildlife viewing or a quiet stroll through the forest.
The trail can be accessed by a small gravel parking lot at the end of Carriage Drive in Portsmouth. Because of Oakland’s unique and delicate ecosystem, dogs are not allowed here on the trail (Sakonnet Greenway Trail has 10 miles of dog-friendly trails though!). There are also no bicycles or motorized vehicles allowed. See the Oakland Forest trail map and trail rules or check us out on ExploreRI.
Trail Volunteering
Enjoy using our trail? Why not help out! Aquidneck Land Trust has an Adopt-a-Trail program for ongoing trail monitoring and maintenance. Duties include monitoring the trail on a consistent basis, picking up litter, light maintenance, and trail improvement projects as they come about. For more information fill out our Volunteer Form and/or contact Stewardship Manager Sean Grandy at 401-849-2799, ext. 115 or sgrandy@ailt.org.
Oakland Rules & Regs
Have Feedback?
We always want to hear feedback on the condition of our trails and new ideas for the trail! Please contact Conservation Director Alex Chuman with any comments at 401-849-2799, ext. 14 or achuman@ailt.org