Hiking Breakheart Loop Trail

Looking for a diverse trail that offers steep inclines, rocky footing and beautiful scenery of hardwoods? If so, Breakheart Loop Trail may be a great trail to try. The trail is located on the north half of Arcadia State Park in West Greenwich, RI.

Breakheart Loop Hiking Trail

Great Swamp Press Map

Photo Courtesy Rebecca Crosby All Rights Reserved

The trail takes approximately 4 hours. It crosses creeks that eventually feed into the Wood River. It borders Camp E-Hun-Tee and Alton Jones Campus.

Hill

Photo Courtesy Rebecca Crosby All rights Reserved

The trail rambles through mostly hardwood forests but there are pine woods dotted throughout and fields of blueberry bushes.

Field of Blueberry Bushes

Photo Courtesy Rebecca Crosby All Rights Reserved

The footing is smooth at times; it can get a little “swampy” in some areas and goes up and down like a roller coaster. None of the hills are particularly challenging but there are many of them.

Drive down Frosty Hollow Road and take a left at the end onto Austin Farm Road. Take the first right and park at the beginning of the Shelter Trail.

Then, walk along Austin Farm Road to Matteson Plain. It will be the old dirt road that was at the end of Frosty Hollow Road.

Walk up Matteson Plain and take the second left. That is the beginning of Breakheart Loop Trail. There are connecting trail throughout this trail. Generally, staying right will keep you on the trail.

Follow the trail back to Austin Farm Road (note that this road is open to vehicular traffic), or try taking some of the shelter trails, or Penny Hill trail back to the car (for those who hate hiking dirt roads).