Sakonnet Greenway Trail

by Stacey Stearns

Newport, Rhode Island, often conjures up images of stately mansions, nightlife, jazz festivals, and the beach. It’s also an equestrian area, with Newport International Polo located in nearby Portsmouth, and many other horse enthusiasts calling it home. The Sakonnet Greenway Trail, traversing through the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth, offers 10 miles of trails to a variety of trail users, including equestri- rience and enjoy. The best part is not having to deal with car traffic, just fellow riders and walkers.”

A Leg Up

The best parking area for trailers is the Wyatt Road Soccer Complex, located at 50 Wyatt Road in Middletown. There was only one other car there on a Sunday afternoon in early December. The Albro Woods and Mitchell’s Lane parking lots ans, along the edge of Newport Vineyards and the Newport National Golf Course. Newport is located on Aquidneck Island — the largest island in Narragansett Bay. The Aquidneck Land Trust (ALT) was formed in 1990 to preserve and steward open space on the island. The ALT has more than 2,766 acres protected, including farmland, in various properties throughout the island. Five of the properties are open to the public; the Sakonnet Greenway Trail is the only one that allows horses.

“The Sakonnet Greenway is a favorite trail of mine to enjoy with my horse,” explains Sabina Silvia of Ponies to Go Farm in Middletown. “It provides a dedicated, well-maintained, scenic trail system that offers a variety of ecosystems to expe- are small and would be difficult with a horse trailer.

Check the calendar on the ALT website (ailt.org/alt-events/) before visiting to ensure there aren’t any events planned. Trail maps are also available on the ALT website. You can download a trail map to your phone before your ride.

Horses aren’t allowed on the stretch of trail between the golf course and the Portsmouth Loop Trail, but that still leaves about eight miles to explore.

This is a low-lying area on an island; the trails can be wet in areas, so it’s best to avoid coming after too much rain as well as during warm winters and early spring. We don’t want to tear up the Greenway, which could lead to limited equestrian use.

The Greenway encircles fields that are actively farmed; this is one of the reasons it’s imperative to remain on the Greenway section and not ride across fields or make your own route. We also rode through residential areas, right behind people’s houses in some stretches. Clean up any manure your horse may leave on the Greenway by kicking it off to the side. Pack whatever you’ll need, including water for your horse and fly spray, and clean up around your horse trailer at the end of your ride. Hoof protection is recommended as there are some road crossings and rocky areas.

Out Riding It

Our ride started by continuing through the parking lot, toward the trail sign, and onto the Greenway to begin the Loop trail. The trail follows the road before cutting to the right and toward Newport Vineyards on the section known as the Middletown Southern Loop. We came upon a small stream and a large, sturdy bridge early in the ride. You could cross the water, but the bridge is made for horses. There are openings into the large grassy field that the trail encircles, but none of the fields are meant to be crossed.

Small trail markings at the intersections offer guidance when multiple loops converge. The first is where the Middletown Southern Loop connects with the Middletown Northern Loop and the section of the Greenway near Albro Woods. The Southern Loop is marked with yellow arrows while the Northern Loop has green arrows. You can stay to the left at every intersection here to remain on the perimeter trail or ride a figure eight in this section to add some mileage.

The far end of the Northern Loop connects back into the Southern Loop where you ride through a small wooded area. This is a lovely stretch of trail, with shade and beautiful trees, including a fun little maze section where we seemed to zig-zag around the trees.

We came to a left turn that heads toward Mitchell’s Lane, rode through the parking area and took a left onto the road. You do have to ride down the street for a short distance to the next small parking area and pick the Greenway back up as it heads around the perimeter of the Newport National Golf Course. The roads on Aquidneck Island are narrow, and while drivers are respectful, use caution.

There was another large, sturdy bridge as we headed toward the golf course, and then the golf course stretched out in front of us. I’ll admit, I’ve never ridden around a golf course, so this was a fun and rare opportunity to ride along a notable course.

The golf course section is ridden as an out-and-back because of the pedestrian-only section. Turn around when you get to Bramans Lane, and re-ride the section before heading back across Mitchell’s Lane and onto the Southern Loop. Here, you’ll take a left and head back toward the Wyatt Road Soccer Complex. The Greenway cuts through fields and along the road, bringing the ride to a peaceful end as you meander back.

I enjoyed seeing the sweeping views of the open space, with the constant chatter of birds in the background as they flitted about between the grasses and the brush and hedges along the Greenway. Many of my past associations with Aquidneck Island have revolved around the Newport Mansions, and I was thrilled to be back exploring the area enjoying the view between two ears after riding the beaches last November.

Happy trails!

Stacey Stearns, a lifelong equestrian living in Connecticut, enjoys trail riding and endurance with her Morgan horses.