Preserved Land & Trails - Sakonnet Greenway Trail
A growing number of us live in urban or densely populated suburban areas. Indeed, Newport is the fifth-largest city in Rhode Island, the second most densely populated state in the country. We increasingly turn to the Island's natural environment for exercise, reflection, and rejuvenation. The Aquidneck Land Trust will create a free, publicly-accessible, uninterrupted seven-mile pathway through the Land Trust's Sakonnet Greenway. When completed, the seven-mile Sakonnet Greenway Trail will extend from The Glen in Portsmouth across Sandy Point Avenue and Braman Lane to the northern boundary of the Newport National Golf Club, around Newport National's Orchard Golf Course, and south to the Middletown recreational complex on Wyatt Road in Middletown.

Phase One - 1.5-mile trail from the Glen to the Northern Boundary of Newport National Golf Club

On October 19, 2007, we proudly opened Phase IA of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail. This 1.5-mile portion of the trail begins at the back of The Glen in Portsmouth, heads south past Pennfield School, and encircles the Three S field owned by the Town of Portsmouth. Still in the planning stages. Phase 1B, which we hope to build by fall 2008,  will carry the trail for another 1.3 miles to the northern boundary of the trail already in place around the perimeter of Newport National Golf Club.

Click here for a map of Phase 1. Click here for Trail Rules for this segment of the trail.

Directions to Phase One
From East Main Road, turn into The Glen at Linden Road. Continue past the soccer fields and the historic Brown House (which is yellow). Park on the left. The trailhead is on the right and is marked with a wooden information kiosk.

Phase Two -  2.2-mile trail around the perimeter of the club's Orchard Course.

History
The Orchard Course at Newport National, an ALT conserved property, opened in June 2002 to rave reviews and was recently rated the #1 course in Rhode Island with public access. The Orchard Course was built and maintained to environmental standards per ALT's Conservation Easement on the property.

As part of ALT's Conservation Easement, Newport National agreed to build and maintain public walking and bridle trail segments of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail around the perimeter of its golf courses. The Orchard Course trail segment, approximately 2.2 miles in length, is open to the public and offers stunning views of the Sakonnet River and this beautiful golf course. It is also an important area for birds and other wildlife that are visible and plentiful in the area. Newport National has yet to build its second golf course west of Mitchell's Lane and the next trail segment of Phase II.

Trail Rules for Phase Two
The trail is open from dawn to dusk. Please follow the signs, stay on the trail, and stay off the golf course and the golf course cart paths except where noted. You are welcome to use the Orchard Course trail if you are walking, jogging, or riding your horse. Leashed dogs and cats are welcome. We request that you clean up domestic pet waste with "mutt mitts." Horse riders are encouraged to wear riding helmets, must ride slowly and under control to avoid presenting a danger to other trail users, and must pass other trail users at a walk.

Please refrain from using or possessing the following:

• alcoholic beverages
• bicycles
• firearms
• fireworks or fires
• golf clubs
• hunting or other weapons
• motor vehicles of any kind
• motorcycles and scooters
• tobacco products

Terrain: mostly level on natural trail

Directions
From East Main Road, Wyatt Road or Third Beach Road turn onto Mitchell's Lane, Newport National is on the east side of the road at 324 Mitchell's Lane and has a large stone entrance at its main gate. A sign marks the trail entrance on Mitchell's Lane and is approximately 200 feet south of the main entrance.

Phase Three - To be constructed by fall 2010 and will extend from the southern end of the Newport National Golf Club trail to the Middletown Recreational Complex on Wyatt Road.

Please watch our newsletter and Good Dirt emails for updates on the progress of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail.