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Join me for a hike on the trails along the Branch River behind the Burrillville Middle School. If you can’t get up north to enjoy the rocky rivers in New Hampshire, you can enjoy the closest thing right here in northern RI. The Native American name for the Branch is Squamcut River.
There are several trails, and we’ll be mostly on the blue along the river. I assumed this was former farm land, but it isn’t. The white trail is a former rail line that ran between Pascoag and Woonsocket and we’ll be on the yellow for a bit.
In the photo, you can see a white banner. The town has scattered 100 American trivia and patriotic questions along all the trails. The questions are on one side and the answers are on the other. There is no way to read all 100 since we aren’t going on all the trails, but we will read the ones we run across. Trivia lovers will enjoy this, especially since many questions will stump you.
These trails are very close to the famous Wright’s Chicken Farm Restaurant. Where the menu includes all you can eat chicken, fries, salad, rolls. It’s famous because it’s very good chicken.

We’ll be done hiking around 4 pm, at which time Wright’s Chicken Farm opens. We’ll have an hour or so to dine and then head over to the Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library, 100 Tinkham Lane in Harrisville (a village in Burrillville). There is a huge lawn and covered pavilion where the band plays. The band plays from 6 to 8 pm. The venue for the band is four miles away from the restaurant.
The Jesse Liam band will be playing.
So that’s the trifecta. If you can only come for one or two that’s OK.
Meet time: 1:45 pm

Location: Burrillville Middle School, 2300 Bronco Highway (route 102). Upon entering the school parking lot, turn right. Head for the smaller admin building with a big B on it and you can see the 2300 address number.

Advice: The weather will be around 82 degrees in the parking lot, but it is always much cooler in the woods. There is usually a breeze along the river. The wind will be 8-9 mph, so there will be a breeze. Bring hydration, bug spray, wear footwear with good tread, long pants recommended with socks over pants unless you really load up on bug spray. There aren’t many flying bugs, it’s tick season. The river trail is really right along the river and there are a few places where a pole might be helpful due to erosion. If you are a young billy goat, you’ll have no trouble.

Conservation Note: Betty Allen who was a long time AMC conservation hike leader and flat water paddle leader, didn’t want to quit leading hikes, but as she got older and slower, she felt she had to quit because people got ahead or her, didn’t listen to her and sometimes got lost because they assumed they knew where she was going. She didn’t like yelling at people. I don’t mind yelling if it keeps people from wandering off, so I told her I’d be her co-leader and take care of the flock. She led activities for another decade. She is the one who introduced me to these Burrillville trails, and she is the one who introduced me to paddling in Wickford Harbor. Old people can be a treasure if you don’t discount them. I’ve lost track of all the places Betty introduced me to in RI. Don’t thank me for introducing you to the Burrillville trails. Thank Betty. She’s in heaven now, but she’ll know you thought of her.

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