Independent — Scenic Whale Rock Trail opens for public hiking

The recently opened Whale Rock Trail in Narragansett runs along the boundary of the Camp Varnum National Guard base and offers a scenic view of the remains of the Whale Rock Lighthouse. Photo: Michael Derr

Dec 14, 2013
By Derek Gomes — NARRAGANSETT — The newly constructed Whale Rock Trail opens another portion of the state’s shoreline to public right-of-way, giving outdoor enthusiasts a nearly half-mile trail that ends with a view of Narragansett Bay with Beavertail Lighthouse and the remains of the trail’s namesake, Whale Rock Lighthouse, in the distance.

The trail is a byproduct of The Nature Conservancy Rhode Island’s purchase of 65 acres of the Whale Rock property to preclude further development and protect its habitat for migratory birds.

“Rhode Island plays a pretty important role for migratory songbirds in the spring and fall – especially in the fall, when they switch from exclusively eating insects to exclusively eating fruits,” said Scott Comings, The Nature Conservancy’s Rhode Island director of land and freshwater conservancy.

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