Rhode Island has added another hiking trail to its long list of beautiful wooded areas.

The South Kingstown Land Trust has opened the mile-long Alewife Brook Preserve Trail on Worden’s Pond Road, an easy ride south on Interstate 95 to Route 4 to Route 1 in South Kingstown. Note: Alewife is the name of the fish found in the brook.

Take the Route 110 exit (Ministerial Road) and travel 2.2 miles to Worden’s Pond Road (at a red linking traffic light). Continue .26 miles, just “down the road a piece,” to a small opening on your left. The parking area is only large enough for four cars, but there is room to park along the side of the road.

I hiked the trail on a beautiful Monday afternoon, along with more than a dozen well-spaced hikers.

The trail begins at a signpost that gives information about the area and the trail, which is well marked with blue dots on trees and occasional small Land Trust signs at bends in the trail.

There are many bends in the trail and one small loop, giving me the feeling that I had covered more than the posted one mile.

The forest is blessed with a number of deciduous and coniferous trees, plus rhododendron bushes that will make for an even more pleasant walk in the spring.

Oak leaves cover the new trail this fall, so be wary of the many roots and stumps hiding under them.

I tripped over one, and am indebted to the kind gentleman who helped me to my feet.

People I met along the trail were friendly and appreciative of the new walking trail. Many passed me by (I’m slow) and were quickly out of sight, giving me the feeling of being alone with nature. Only when a few feet back to the country road could I hear the sounds of cars. Otherwise, it was only the wind through the trees, an occasional squirrel and the sounds of birds.

When you leave, travel a few yards down Worden’s Pond Road to the boat launch and a panoramic view of the pond.