All stories

15 stops in route order. Everything is readable and playable here, whether or not you're on the trail.

• 1

  The word 'Ledges' in the name isn't decorative

  Geology

  The word 'Ledges' in the name isn't decorative. Exposed rock and uneven upland terrain are part of the refuge's character, reminders of the bedrock beneath Rhode Island's relatively thin soils.

  Listen Replay

  Best-effort placement along estimated route reconstructed from public trail maps/descriptions

• 2This swamp sits in a depression shaped by glacial history
  Water
• 3An upland swamp sounds like a contradiction, but that's…
  Water
• 4The open field doesn't stay open by accident
  Nature
• 5That mowing preserves early-successional habitat -…
  Wildlife
• 6Look for old apple trees around the property
  History
• 7Farmers cleared rocks from their fields and stacked…
  History
• 8You may see unusually broad, spreading old trees…
  History
• 9Some old boundary trees even swallowed pieces of barbed…
  History
• 10White pines often rush into abandoned farmland
  History
• 11Pitch pine can hint at another disturbance: fire
  Nature
• 12The power-line corridor creates yet another habitat
  Wildlife
• 13Audubon's self-guided route includes 15 interpretive…
  Nature
• 14Depending on which route you choose, a walk can take…
  Nature
• 15The surprising part is where all this sits: roughly 100…
  Water