| Mileage: about 5.5 miles | Hike Rating: Moderate |
| Elevation change: about – 570 + 650 feet | Best time to hike: anytime |
Parking:
In the southern part of Warwick, proceed south on Wendell Road from the intersection of Wendell and Quarry Roads. At about 0.3 miles, continue past the large parking lot on the right side of the road. Proceed about 0.4 miles further to the smaller parking area for the trailhead on the LEFT side of the road.
Special notes: The beginning of the Darling Brook Trail can be very icy at times; consider using crampons.
Description:
This up and down lollipop loop hike is a nice combination of the long and rugged Darling Brook Trail and the shorter Hockanum trails with a pleasant long-range view at the top of Hockanum Hill.
From the parking lot, climb up the Darling Brook Trail. The trail is unmarked but wide and easy to follow. At about 0.4 miles, the trail levels out and you will find yourself surrounded by a very nice stand of mountain laurel. The trail undulates thereafter, often passing through other stands of mountain laurel and/or tall hemlock trees. At about 1.1 miles, you will enter a stand of numbered trees. (We assume that these were numbered for a scientific purpose but you can use your imagination to consider other reasons: Aliens? Fairies? Something else? You decide!) At about 1.3 miles, you will encounter the first of several gouged areas due to the damage caused by off-road vehicles, and at about 1.5 miles, due to this deterioration, there are sink holes on the right side of the trail. In these marred sections, you will likely need to go around the trail and hike on the sides. At about 2.2 miles, turn right. The trail now narrows and parallels Hockanum Road until you reach the Hockanum parking lot at about 2.4 miles. Proceed up and down Hockanum Hill (see Hockanum Loop) and then return back to the Wendell Road parking lot on the Darling Brook Trail.
Warwick Trails Group – January 2026