New England woodland hiking trail near Providence Rhode Island with autumn foliage
26 Trails Within 100 Miles

Best Hikes Near Providence

26 hiking trails within 100 miles of Providence, from Rhode Island's own low hills to day-trip mountains in Connecticut and New Hampshire

Closest: 5 miles
Drive Time: 6 min - 2 hrs
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

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⚡ Closest Trails 🥾 Easy Hikes ⛰️ Moderate Hikes 🚗 Farther Day Trips 📍 All 26 Trails

Providence Doesn't Have Mountains — It Has Something Better: Options

Rhode Island's highest point, Jerimoth Hill, tops out at 840 feet — so if you're searching for alpine summits, Providence isn't the place to start looking locally. What it does have is a tight cluster of easy, close-in hills perfect for a morning walk, plus fast highway access to real elevation once you're willing to drive: Connecticut's ridgelines to the west, southeastern Massachusetts woodland to the east, and Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire about two hours north.

This guide covers all 26 trails within 100 miles of Providence, sorted by actual distance from real trailhead coordinates — not the town center. Each trail includes:

  • ✓ Exact distance from Providence (measured from the trailhead, not the summit)
  • ✓ Trail difficulty rating (easy, moderate, hard)
  • ✓ Elevation gain & distance
  • ✓ Parking information & fees
  • ✓ Interactive trail maps
  • ✓ Real-time weather conditions
⚡

5 Closest Trails to Providence

Perfect for a quick morning hike

Round Rocks
381 ft

Round Rocks

0.8 mi
0.5 hrs
128 ft
Easy View
6 min
Snake Den
394 ft

Snake Den

2.1 mi
1 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
7 min
Bare Rock
259 ft

Bare Rock

0.6 mi
0.5 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
9 min
Cat Rocks
312 ft

Cat Rocks

0.6 mi
0.5 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
9 min
Tourtellotte Hill
699 ft

Tourtellotte Hill

1.5 mi
0.5 hrs
75 ft
Easy View
15 min
🥾

Best Easy Hikes Near Providence

Rhode Island's own low-hill cluster, great for beginners and families

Round Rocks
381 ft

Round Rocks

0.8 mi
0.5 hrs
128 ft
Easy View
EASY
Snake Den
394 ft

Snake Den

2.1 mi
1 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
EASY
Bare Rock
259 ft

Bare Rock

0.6 mi
0.5 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
EASY
Cat Rocks
312 ft

Cat Rocks

0.6 mi
0.5 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
EASY
Tourtellotte Hill
699 ft

Tourtellotte Hill

1.5 mi
0.5 hrs
75 ft
Easy View
EASY
Howard Hill
686 ft

Howard Hill

1 mi
0.5 hrs
85 ft
Easy View
EASY
Durfee Hill
801 ft

Durfee Hill

2.7 mi
1 hrs
108 ft
Easy View
EASY
Sprague Hill
712 ft

Sprague Hill

2.7 mi
1 hrs
108 ft
Easy View
EASY
⛰️

Moderate Hiking Trails

More climbing, still a manageable day trip

Mount Tom
430 ft

Mount Tom

6.2 mi
2 hrs
239 ft
Moderate View
MODERATE
Mount Monadnock
3,165 ft

Mount Monadnock

3.6 mi
2.1 hrs
1885 ft
Moderate View
MODERATE
🚗

Farther Day Trips

Worth the extra drive for real elevation — Connecticut ridgelines and Mount Monadnock, NH

Mount Wachusett
1,998 ft

Mount Wachusett

1.2 mi
0.5 hrs
79 ft
Easy View
70 min
Mount Monadnock
3,165 ft

Mount Monadnock

3.6 mi
2.1 hrs
1885 ft
Moderate View
105 min
📍

All 26 Trails Near Providence

Sorted by distance from Providence

Round Rocks
381 ft

Round Rocks

0.8 mi
0.5 hrs
128 ft
Easy View
5 mi • 6 min
Snake Den
394 ft

Snake Den

2.1 mi
1 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
5 mi • 7 min
Bare Rock
259 ft

Bare Rock

0.6 mi
0.5 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
7 mi • 9 min
Cat Rocks
312 ft

Cat Rocks

0.6 mi
0.5 hrs
125 ft
Easy View
7 mi • 9 min
Tourtellotte Hill
699 ft

Tourtellotte Hill

1.5 mi
0.5 hrs
75 ft
Easy View
11 mi • 15 min
Howard Hill
686 ft

Howard Hill

1 mi
0.5 hrs
85 ft
Easy View
15 mi • 20 min
Durfee Hill
801 ft

Durfee Hill

2.7 mi
1 hrs
108 ft
Easy View
16 mi • 22 min
Sprague Hill
712 ft

Sprague Hill

2.7 mi
1 hrs
108 ft
Easy View
16 mi • 22 min
Pray Hill
709 ft

Pray Hill

1.4 mi
0.5 hrs
118 ft
Easy View
16 mi • 22 min
Pine Hill
771 ft

Pine Hill

0.8 mi
0.5 hrs
16 ft
Easy View
17 mi • 22 min
Jerimoth Hill
840 ft

Jerimoth Hill

3.1 mi
1 hrs
62 ft
Easy View
18 mi • 24 min
Mount Hygeia
735 ft

Mount Hygeia

1.2 mi
0.5 hrs
151 ft
Easy View
19 mi • 26 min
Whites Hill
787 ft

Whites Hill

1.2 mi
0.5 hrs
151 ft
Easy View
19 mi • 26 min
Barber Heights
220 ft

Barber Heights

1.3 mi
0.5 hrs
141 ft
Easy View
21 mi • 28 min
Buck Hill
682 ft

Buck Hill

1.5 mi
0.5 hrs
167 ft
Easy View
22 mi • 30 min
Dumping Rock
236 ft

Dumping Rock

1.2 mi
0.5 hrs
69 ft
Easy View
23 mi • 30 min
Wolf Rocks
243 ft

Wolf Rocks

1.2 mi
0.5 hrs
69 ft
Easy View
23 mi • 30 min
Mount Tom
430 ft

Mount Tom

6.2 mi
2 hrs
239 ft
Moderate View
23 mi • 30 min
Mount Pleasant
318 ft

Mount Pleasant

2.2 mi
1 hrs
108 ft
Easy View
23 mi • 31 min
Badger Mountain
725 ft

Badger Mountain

1.6 mi
0.5 hrs
108 ft
Easy View
24 mi • 31 min
Benson Mountain
741 ft

Benson Mountain

1.6 mi
0.5 hrs
217 ft
Easy View
24 mi • 32 min
Great Neck
128 ft

Great Neck

4.6 mi
1.5 hrs
105 ft
Easy View
30 mi • 40 min
Mount Moriah
253 ft

Mount Moriah

1.6 mi
0.5 hrs
98 ft
Easy View
36 mi • 48 min
Beacon Hill
204 ft

Beacon Hill

1.5 mi
0.5 hrs
75 ft
Easy View
48 mi • 63 min
Mount Wachusett
1,998 ft

Mount Wachusett

1.2 mi
0.5 hrs
79 ft
Easy View
52 mi • 70 min
Mount Monadnock
3,165 ft

Mount Monadnock

3.6 mi
2.1 hrs
1885 ft
Moderate View
79 mi • 105 min

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest hiking trail to Providence?
The closest hiking trail to Providence is Round Rocks, located just 5 miles away (6 minute drive). This trail is part of Rhode Island's own cluster of low, easy hills close to the city.
Are there real mountains near Providence, RI?
Not locally — Jerimoth Hill, Rhode Island's highest point, is only 840 feet. For real elevation gain, the nearest true mountain is Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, about 79 miles and roughly a 90-minute to 2-hour drive north.
What are the best easy hikes near Providence for beginners?
Rhode Island's own trail cluster — including Snake Den, Bare Rock, Cat Rocks and Round Rocks — offers short, easy hikes within 10 miles of downtown Providence. All are well suited to beginners and families.
Do I need a parking pass for hiking trails near Providence?
Most of Rhode Island's state management areas and Connecticut's blue-blazed trails have free trailhead parking, though some fill early on weekends. State parks farther out — including Monadnock State Park in New Hampshire — do charge a day-use parking fee. Check each trail's parking information page for specifics.
Can I hike near Providence in winter?
Yes — Rhode Island's low-elevation trails stay hikeable through most of the winter with basic traction, though ice is common after freeze-thaw cycles. For the higher day-trip destinations like Mount Monadnock, microspikes or crampons and full winter layers are essential.

Essential Tips for Hiking Near Providence

🚗 Getting There

  • • RI's own trail cluster is reachable via I-295 and RI-6 in under 30 minutes
  • • For Connecticut ridgelines, take I-95 W or CT-14
  • • For Mount Monadnock, take I-95 N to Route 12A
  • • Download offline maps in case of poor cell service on back roads

🎒 What to Bring

  • • Water: 2+ liters per person
  • • Snacks: Trail mix, energy bars, fruit
  • • Layers: New England weather shifts fast
  • • First aid kit & headlamp

📅 Best Times to Visit

  • • Summer (Jun-Aug): Best weather, most crowded
  • • Fall (Sep-Oct): Peak New England foliage
  • • Spring (Apr-May): Mud season on wooded trails
  • • Winter (Dec-Mar): RI hills stay walkable; day-trip peaks need traction

⚠️ Safety First

  • • Check weather forecast before leaving
  • • Tell someone your hiking plans
  • • Turn back if weather deteriorates
  • • Stay on marked trails