Following the wooded banks of the Wood River near the village of Hope Valley, Brushy Brook Path invites visitors to explore a rich intersection of history and habitat. The Wood River—one of Rhode Island’s most pristine waterways—winds just beyond the path, bordered by habitats that support beavers, migratory birds, and other wildlife.

This confluence of Brushy Brook and the Wood River, with gently sloping, well-drained soils, matches the documented pattern of an Indigenous village site that could support communities with abundant natural resources. Centuries later, colonists began selling off the Vacant Narragansett Lands, which included Hope Valley, in 1711—just thirty-five years after King Philip’s War. By 1755, the first dam and water-powered mill had been built here, marking the beginning of the village’s industrial era. The path also follows the historic right-of-way of the Wood River Branch Railroad, which once carried passengers and freight between Depot Square and the main line at Wood River Junction—an eight-mile route in service from 1880 to 1946.