Osamequin Wildlife Sanctuary

This set of trails is right around the corner from my house. My son loves it. I usually use it as an after dinner hike because it’s so close and so short and it’s a time filler after supper before shower time. It’s got neat bridges to cross and benches right on the water and a couple old cement and wooden houses to explore. You’ll find a crab or two digging their way into their holes trying to get away from you. It’s extremely kid friendly. Dogs are welcomed. Enough parking right in front. It’s a little gem we visit often.

I visited Osamequin on this beautiful Fall day and enjoyed the experience immensely. The diversity of the habitats provides opportunities for many types of wildlife to populate the area. The trails are easy to walk and provide scenic outlooks that just make me smile… such beauty. I did not find any of the negative comments reflected in another review to be appropriate today. The area is clean and inviting. Piles of brush in certain areas provide homes and shelter for small animals. I will definitely return!

One day, my friend was walking his dog when an older gentleman walked up behind him, put his arm around him, and kissed him on the cheek! He ran off, but my friend reported him to Barrington police. He was told that kind of thing happens a lot.
Yesterday’s paper reported that a man exposed himself to a woman reading a book in the park! Osamequin a.k.a «pickle park» has long been known as a clandestine meeting place for people looking to get freaky! People walking their dogs frequent upon such encounters regularly. Complaints are made. There is local outrage. This is Barrington after all, and then things quiet down again. The town required resident parking stickers for a while but they didn’t do anything. Cops never enforced them. Heck, the parking area is a popular place for a speed trap. There are cops there all the time.
I used to park there at the «green fence» to go duck hunting and to dig clams before they closed the fishery due to heavy metal contamination. The little lot will be packed come blue crab season. People park to fish, kayak,… The little endangered diamond backed terrapins live there. Ospreys, shore birds… Tons of ducks!
There are trails, as mentioned. All are liberally covered with dog poop. There has been work done lately. Branches are all in piles, and the walks have been fixed. With all our taxes, they could do a lot with the place if they really wanted to.
The last time I was there trying out a new nikon lens on the ospreys, I walked past Mount Trashmore (the leaf dump), and I saw a woman in a long purple robe, like Harry Potter, and a mask walking through the woods. I stood there a little afraid to continue. It turned out there were a couple of teenagers filming her. Some film project. I am not surprised.

For a super-​easy trail that maybe stretches two miles across all trails, this place is a lot of fun.
It has everything. Bridges, secret hideouts, random props in the woods, and of course that beautiful cove (even prettier around sunset).
If you’re coming here I recommend doing ALL the trails or you’ll really miss out, so come when it’s somewhat dry out. The trail to your left when you first get there (blue?) is a lot of fun if you do the whole thing (across the bridge and everything) and the one to your right when you enter (red?) has bridges, bird watching fort and other neat things.
Definitely an easy «hike» as everything is flat, but terrain is interesting enough to keep it fun. Especially recommended if you have kids, there is a lot to discover.