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Audubon Society of Rhode Island Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge Exeter Birds Birdwatching environment hiking
Fisherville Brooks Wildlife Refuge

 Glenn Osmundson 

Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge

Address: 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI 02822
Hours: Open Sunrise to Sunset
Acres: 1,010
Trails: 5 miles
Trail Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Restroom: Yes, portalet available in parking area.
 

Dogs are prohibited. Click here to learn why and review other trail guidelines.

Audubon's largest public property, the Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge contains a wide variety of habitat including fields, upland beech forest, cedar swamp, ponds, and streams. Bridges bring visitors over a small waterfall as well as clear running streams. A lovely historic cemetery can also be found on the property. In addition to hiking and bird watching, Fisherville Brook is a popular destination in the winter months for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Please Note: GPS, including Apple Maps and other mobile directions, are not  always accurate due to the road conditions. Please follow the directions below to arrive safely at the wildlife refuge.
Directions: Take Route 95 to Route 4 to Route 102 north. Turn right onto Widow Sweets Road (just after the Exeter's Town Clerk's Office and across from Anderson's Place). Take second right onto Pardon Joslin Road (a dirt road). Travel approximately 1 mile. Parking lot is on the right side of road by a large Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge sign.

Refuge Highlights

  • Habitat: white cedar swamps, upland beech forests, ponds, streams, white pines
  • Wildlife to watch for: beaver, otter, muskrat, fox, deer, wood frog, spring peeper
  • Birds commonly found: Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, American Woodcock, Pileated Woodpecker, Arcadian Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Hooded Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager,
  • Offerings: Birdwatching, Nature Center, Programs, Snowshoeing/cross-country skiing, restroom (portable restroom available)
  • Kettle ponds dot the landscape. These shallow bodies of water were created thousands of years ago when chunks of ice broke free from the glacier that covered the state.
  • Nature Center (open for programs only)
  • Available for birthday parties. Contact Laura Carberry at lcarberry@asri.org or (401) 949-5454 ext. 3012.

Wildlife Refuges

Audubon Society of Rhode Island Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge Exeter Birds Birdwatching environment hiking
Fisherville Wildlife Refuge Boardwalk by Jim Marsden

  • Image by Phoenix Aviary

  • Image by Glenn Osmundson

Using the Trails: Refuge Guidelines

All Audubon Society of Rhode Island land is protected. Our public wildlife refuges are for everyone to enjoy. Please respect the natural habitats of Audubon's refuges and avoid disturbing their inhabitants. Also, respect the rights of others when using the trails.

In order to ensure that these areas remain as healthy habitats, we ask you please to abide by these simple rules, enjoying the natural settings with quiet enthusiasm and a respectful sense of adventure. By conserving these open spaces, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, along with its members and partners, is able to fulfill its mission of protecting the nature of Rhode Island.

To accomplish this, we kindly request the following:

  • Permitted (and encouraged!):

    • Hiking on the trails
    • Observing & learning about wildlife
    • Photography
    • Bird watching
    • Enjoying the area's natural ambiance and solitude
    • Picnicking only at the designated areas at the Nature Center and Aquarium

  • Not permitted:

    • Dogs, horses and other pets
    • Motorized vehicles and bicycles beyond the parking lot
    • Hunting, fishing or trapping
    • Picnicking (except in designated areas at the Nature Center and Aquarium)
    • Camping
    • Littering
    • Alcoholic beverages and smoking
    • Collecting plants or other natural objects
    • Geo-caching or Letterboxing
    • Jogging, running and excessive noise

  • Dogs can be best friends, good companions and even part of the family, but dogs are not allowed on Audubon Wildlife Refuges for a number of reasons. Read More.
    *Service dogs are welcome.

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium

Visit Rhode Island's largest nature center and aquarium. Walk the trails through meadows and marshes to Narragansett Bay. Say hello to Zach, our Common Raven.

Plan Your Trip Today →

Shop Online: Audubon Nature Shop →

Birding in Rhode Island

Stay involved with Audubon's birding programs and resources:

Audubon Events Calendar →

Audubon Avian Research Initiative →

Audubon Avian Ambassadors →

Recent Bird Sightings (eBird) →

Red-bellied Woodpecker by Jason Major

Stormwater Innovation Center

Roger Williams Park is home to the Stormwater Innovation Center. The Center has been developed by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and its partners! Learn more about the nature-based solutions we are using to learn about and protect urban water quality.

Learn More →