Breakheart Pond Loop Trail, Rhode Island; A Trail Guide

Towering pines, a quiet forest atmosphere, and a secluded feel make the Breakheart Trail Loop one of the most peaceful dog-friendly hikes in Rhode Island.

Located just 25 miles southwest of the busy city of Providence and 25 miles northeast of the popular beach town of Narragansett, it's a hike that makes you feel from any city or crowded beach.

Located within the expansive Arcadia Management Area—Rhode Island’s largest protected forest, with over 14,000 acres—this trail offers a deeply immersive woodland experience that feels more like northern New England than southern Rhode Island.

Living next door in Connecticut, I love heading east and exploring Rhode Island's trails with my dogs. Although mainly flat, there are numerous scenic hikes to be found within this small state.

I chose to hike and review the Breakheart Trail because of its location in the state's largest protected forest, Arcadia.

hike in arcadia management area with breakheart brook lined with tall pine trees.

Surrounded by a thick canopy of white pines and hemlocks, you’ll quickly forget how close you are to the coast as you and your pup wander through a landscape that feels both remote and wild!

Table of Contents

Overview of Breakheart Loop Hike

Most of the trail is under the cover of tall pines, offering a sense of being completely enveloped by the forest.

The woods are quiet, serene, and varied– alternating between narrow singletrack paths and wide open old logging roads, along the shores of Breakheart Pond and over small brooks.

Miles: 3.6 mile loop
Elevation Gain: 240 feet elevation gain
Level: Moderate
Parking: read below for directions to the Lillibridge Lot
Special features: Streams & pond for the dogs, trail through towering pine forest, remote feel

🌟Here are a couple of important things to keep in mind with this hike:

Hikers must wear at least 200 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange (a hat or vest), since hunting is allowed in parts of Arcadia Management Area and during RI’s hunting season (mid-September–February and late April–May)

woman smiling getting ready for a hike giving a thumbs up with a neon yellow vest on in rhode island.

Hikers must wear 500 square inches (both a hat and vest) during shotgun season (usually early December–early January)
We stopped at a nearby Ocean State Job Lot, which had lightweight and cheap vests and neon T-shirts.
The Narragansett Gun Club is outside of Arcadia Management Area but you may hear shots like we did for a short time on the first part of the loop. The sounds were far away and did not bother the dogs but it’s good to know that these are not from hunters in case you visit on a weekend like we did when the club is open.

🚗Location & Parking for Breakheart Pond Hike 🗺️

It's important to follow the directions below. Your GPS may lead you to Matteson Plain Road from Rt102 which is NOT the correct way! Take note using the directions below...

🗺️ Find the trailhead:

From I-95 north or south take Exit 5A for Route 102 south. After 0.7 miles south on Route 102, turn right onto Nooseneck Hill Road/Route 3 south. After 1.3 miles on Route 3, turn right onto Route 165/Ten Rod Road. After 2.8 miles, turn right onto Frosty Hollow Road just before the West Exeter Baptist Church. The wooden sign for “Frosty Hollow Road” is hard to spot until you’re already turning, but the sign for Summit Road on the opposite side of Route 3 is easy to see. After 1.5 miles on Frosty Hollow Road, turn right at the T-junction and after 0.5 miles you’ll arrive at the pond with the Lillibridge Lot on your left. Note: Both Frosty Hollow Road and the final road down to the pond are dirt roads.

Breakheart Trail Hike Details 🥾

Parking at the large Lillibridge Lot east of Breakheart Pond, you’ll start the hike on the yellow blazed ‘Breakheart Trail’ at the southern tip of the pond looping counterclockwise around the pond (with the pond on your left).

Follow the yellow Breakheart Trail for about 1.8 miles until you arrive at Matteson Plain Road, an old logging road, which you’ll follow for about 0.7 miles before turning left onto the Newman Trail.

There are no signs or obvious markings on the trees here, so as you walk down Matteson Plain Road, keep your eyes out for a trail leading back into the woods after about a half mile.

After 0.6 miles on the Newman Trail, turn right onto the Hicks Trail which leads you back to the parking lot with Breakheart Pond on your left. There will be opportunities for the dogs to pop into the water here before the hike is done.

🗺️ TURN-BY-TURN DIRECTIONS 🧭

From the Lillibridge Lot, walk to the southern tip of the pond by the dam to start the loop going counterclockwise on the yellow trail.
At 0.14 miles, see a sign for ‘Breakheart Trail’ and bear left on yellow.
At 0.82 miles, turn left on the yellow trail where you’ll soon cross Breakheart Brook with water for the dogs.
At 0.9 miles, after crossing the bridge over the creek, turn right to continue on the yellow trail.
At 1.13 miles, continue staying straight on the yellow trail.
At 1.76 miles, turn left onto an old logging road (Matteson Plain Road).
At 2.4 miles, keep your eyes out for a wide trail to turn left on, leading back into the forest. There are no blazes that you see immediately but you will start to see blue spray paint on some of the trees.
At 3 miles, turn right onto the Hicks Trail. There are no obvious blazes on the trees here but the water should be on your left. Follow this trail until you reach the parking lot.