The Wildly Popular Rhode Island Trail If You're Looking To Reconnect With Nature

Two of my friends (these days I’m “seeing” so many of my friends via social and not irl which is an absolute bummer) are big fans of Stepstone Falls in West Greenwich.

Now as someone who scoffed at the story arc in Netflix’s Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life that had Lorelai Gilmore attempting to “find herself” by backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail (inspired apparently by having read Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild” AND watched the movie version starring Reese Witherspoon), I never could have predicted I’d one day be navigating dirt roads in an effort to locate the Ben Utter Trail at Stepstone.

In a word, OY!

All Photos Are By One Of My Fave Yogis.

Motivated by IG photos (above and below) uploaded by a dear friend from my yoga days, I was determined to make my way over to the notoriously-difficult-to-find-but-apparently-quite-popular Ben Utter Trail, 2.7 miles of muddy, stump-y and bug-y wilderness that boasts the most impressive collection of waterfalls in our state.

Yes, it bears repeating (thankfully we didn’t run into any actual bears) — as far as I’m concerned, the real or added adventure is figuring out where exactly the heck one accesses this trail. I mean, unless you live in the area. Or know someone who does.

Search online and you’ll see that tons of folks have written dissertations on their efforts to get to the Ben Utter Trail. Srsly, no joke. Rural routes that look like anything but: “Is this a driveway or what?” Signs that don’t line up with directions that you’ve pulled up on your phone. Darn it (!!!), likely proofread and formatted by an individual who’s never made the attempt.

And on and on…

My best advice? Go during the summer. First off, it’s NOT hunting season. (Don’t even get me started, plus I don’t look great in BRIGHT ORANGE.)

Next, WAZE is your bff. We used it to get over one of the so-called bridges (again, OY) that leads to Ben Utter although internet can be a little dicey in the area since it is the flipping woods.

Also, cover yourself in bug repellent and light layers of cotton, viscose and nylon (because…well, ticks) and leave your flip flops at home. Only your sturdiest August or September footwear will do.

A lotta people post about the falls at the tail end of the trail being a fab spot for swimming. Not sure if I’m onboard with THAT per se, too much of a 1980’s horror flick vibe in my book, but it may be worth the trek if you and your favorite person (another thing, don’t go alone) need to turn down the noise and reconnect with nature.

If I go back, I’m going with my friend (and her group) who took these pics because she certainly knows her way around those upper-NE-like woods. (Speaking of which, did I ever tell you how a NYC pr agency wanted me to drive an electric car up to Maine?)

The Ben Utter Trailhead is located on Plain Road in Exeter, Rhode Island.

Photo Credits: All Photos Above Are By Mary C. #ThankYou