Eagle Scout project will improve little-known hiking trail in North Smithfield

NORTH SMITHFIELD – A Scout with Troop 1139 hopes to draw attention to a little-known hiking trail on the Massachusetts border, with plans to install signage and clean up the path.

Maxwell Olson will focus on the Wunnashowatuckqut Conservation Area, a 2.6 mile hiking trail off of East Harkness Road that features a unique view of the Blackstone Gorge, to complete his Eagle Scout project.

Olson, a scout for 11 years and junior at Davies Career and Technical High School studying electrical and renewable energy, will collaborate with the North Smithfield Heritage Association to create kiosk at the trailhead featuring information on the hike.

“North Smithfield’s history is mainly centered around the mills, but a lot of our history is routed in its nature,” Olson said Monday while seeking approval of the project from members of the Town Council. “Many people are not aware of the hiking trails available in North Smithfield, let alone their history.”

The scout said he plans to hold a bake sale or car wash to raise funds for the project, which he said will cost less than $1,000. The kiosk, he said, will feature a map legend and trail information, modeled after the one that already marks another town hiking trail at the Booth Pond Conservation Area.

“The excess funds that I do have are going to go right back to the North Smithfield Heritage Association,” he said.

Nipmuc for “where the river splits” Wunnashowatuckqut, refers to the space where the Branch and Blackstone Rivers connect, according to NSHA President Richard Keene. The trail leads downhill to a large meadow, a former Nipmuc tribal area where it is believed natives would gather to catch salmon swimming upstream before drying the fish at the banks.

“Some of it is kind of local lore,” Keene said.

Not far from the meadow, hikers can see a sand stone quarry where legend says natives used to make stoneware, as well as stone walls once part of house foundations, left behind from a later period in the area’s history.

“The Harkness family lived up there,” Keene said.

The trail, which starts from a paper street by the bend in the road on East Harkness and Martha Roads, is well-marked thanks to another effort by a local student in 2022 that saw yellow plastic blazers put up along the path. The 2.6 mile loop travels along state-owned properties just south of the Blackstone Gorge, offering a new perspective for those who have been to the Rolling Dam.

The trail is considered moderate to difficult due to the steep hike out.

“Some people do have to stop and rest,” said Keene. “Going down the hill is wonderful.”

For his part, Olson said it should take roughly two works days to build the new kiosk, and one to install it at the trailhead.

“Along with creating awareness, a trail cleanup will be had to make the trail safer, cleaner and to create a more enjoyable hiking experience,” Olson said. “This will be one of my last steps to completing my Eagle.”

The Scout said he expects all work to be completed by the end of June and thanked Keene, as well as members of the council for allowing the presentation.

“Lastly, I would like to thank all of the adult leadership in my troop, past and present whose guidance have led me to here,” Olson said.

Councilors unanimously approved the project.

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