Vin Gormley Trail, Burlingame State Park

In celebration of Cinco De Mayo this past weekend, we took a beautiful walk on the Vin Gormley Trail. The Vin Gormley Trail is an eight mile loop around Watchaug Pond in Rhode Island’s Burlingame State Park.  The state park also offers camping, fishing, and swimming facilities. The Vin Gormley Trail Passes close to Watchaug Pond and through the state campground. It is popular with hikers as well as trail runners and mountain bikers.

Many areas in southern New England saw their first 80 degree days this week and signs of spring are apparent everywhere. I was excited to see budding trees and emerging leaves. Temperatures in the mid-seventies and partly-cloudy skies created perfect hiking conditions.

Unfortunately, the Vin Gormley trail includes roughly a mile and a half of roadwalking. We chose our starting location strategically to get the longest and busiest stretch of paved road out of the way at the beginning of our hike. Soon after entering the woods we were treated to the somewhat unusual discovery of owl pellets directly in the middle of the trail.

The trail is mostly level, easy walking with a few rocky areas. We made good time and stopped after about 4.5 miles for a trailside lunch.

The second half of our hike took us over the most well-known landmark on the trail, the covered Perry Healy Brook Bridge, as well as the trail’s many boardwalks built and maintained by the Narragansett chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club. The Trail’s namesake, John Vincent Gormley, was a long time AMC member who worked diligently to blaze many of the trails in Burlingame State Park and Arcadia Management Area.

The final leg of our hike took us through the state campground and along the southern edge of Watchaug Pond. The campground has a trail map on display alongside information about the trail. The mile markers seen along the loop begin here. At the campground you can also find potable water, a playground, picnic areas, and a small store. After passing the camp store and reentering the woods, several short spur trails lead to the water’s edge. After another short, wooded roadwalk we returned to our car.

Any questions about the Vin Gormley Trail? Suggestions for hikers looking to complete this Rhode Island loop? Leave a comment below!