Best Spots for Nature Photos In & Around Rhode Island
As a native Rhode Islander myself, I am so excited to team up with local photographer & social content creator Nick Angell to bring you the list of top Insta-worthy places to appreciate Lil’ Rhody’s natural beauty! Here are 14 of Nick’s favorite places in southern New England for taking the best Instagram photos out in nature!
Rhode Island is a small state boasting plenty of natural beauty! Miles and miles of gorgeous coastline. Bird sanctuaries, salt marshes and wooded walks. Even rivers and waterfalls that powered some of the first ever mills in the Industrial Revolution! A few of these recommendations are just over the border in Massachusetts & Connecticut, but all within 20 minutes of the state line. Let’s jump into the best places to take your next profile picture or create some killer content!
Best Spots to Appreciate Natural Beauty
In & Around Rhode Island
Coastlines & Beaches
Fort Wetherill State Park – Jamestown, RI
Beavertail State Park & Lighthouse – Jamestown, RI
Castle Hill – Newport, RI
Salter Grove State Park – Warwick, RI
Narragansett Beaches & The Towers – Narragansett, RI
Nature Reserves & Wildlife Protection Areas
George Washington Campground – Glocester, RI
Arcadia Management Area – Hope Valley, RI
Tillinghast Pond Management Area – West Greenwich, RI
George B. Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge – Coventry, RI
Old Furnace State Park & Ross’ Cliffs – Killingly, CT
West Thompson Lake Park – North Grosvenordale, CT
Cornell Farm – Dartmouth, MA
Destruction Brook Woods – Dartmouth, MA
Freetown-Fall River State Forest – Freetown, MA
Meet Nick!
Coastlines & Beaches
Rhode Island is called the Ocean State for a reason! Miles and miles of coastline make up the state’s southern and eastern borders. And they are just waiting for you to come and create some serious content. Let’s head to a few of Nick’s favorite spots along the beach for the most incredible places to capture that stunning coastline.
Fort Wetherill State Park- Jamestown, RI
First, let’s start with Fort Wetherill State Park! Military history meets natural beauty! Head to Fort Wetherill to capture scenic shots of Newport Harbor & the East Passage of Narragansett Bay. Look out from the 100-ft high granite cliffs along the park’s coast! Today Fort Wetherill is a 61 acre public recreation area with spots for picnic-ing, boating, fishing and even scuba diving!
Fort Wetherill wasn’t always a public park! Situated on Conanicut Island, the second largest island in Narragansett Bay, the area was originally home to the Narragansett Native American tribe. The island is even named after the tribe’s Chief Canonicus. From 1901 up through the end of WWII, Fort Wetherill was a coastal defensive artillery fort armed to defend the entrance to Naragansett Bay. In 1972 the area was acquired by the State of Rhode Island, and it is now open year-round for public use!
Bring along a friend to capture those nature shots that also feature you! Follow @n_angell94 on Instagram for more of Nick’s awesome content!
Beavertail State Park - Jamestown, RI
Head a little further south along Conanicut Island, and you’ll find Beavertail State Park. This is hands down one of the most scenic spots in Jamestown, and Rhode Island at-large! Beavertail has four main overlooks with stunning views of the coastline and bay below. There’s plenty of options for hiking and nature walks around the park, including salt water fishing. In the past you could also drive around the Beavertail Lighthouse, but since early 2020 the route’s been closed to traffic due to safety concerns.
Like Fort Wetherill, Beavertail Park was also home to a military outpost during WWII. But, even about 200 years before that, the Beavertail’s first lighthouse tower was built in 1749. This structure burned down a few years later, and the current lighthouse has been watching over Narragansett Bay since 1856! The lighthouse was restored in late 80’s, and during the summer months you can even go inside! Check out the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association’s website for info on how and when you can visit!
Castle Hill - Newport, RI
There is no better destination for capturing RI’s nautical history than Newport! The Cliff Walk, the Breakers, sandy beaches: the spots that everyone knows about. But, don’t miss Castle Hill Lighthouse!
Get creative and spice up your photography using props and tools such as the crystal ball refraction Nick uses in the photo above. Also known as “Lensball Photography”, bring your nature shots to the next level and share a new perspective! It will take a bit of practice to get the shot right. So, head out to any of these awesome photo spots and start getting creative! Visit Digital Photography School’s post on techniques for using a crystal ball for some added inspiration. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos! (@n_angell94 & @CourtneyintheMiddleSeat)
The Castle Hill Lighthouse is over 130 years old, originally constructed in 1890! This granite based lighthouse is also officially recognized on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. To access this lighthouse you can park at the Castle Hill Inn. Sometimes you’ll be stopped if you don’t have a room, but off-season you can access the lighthouse with no issues. Play around with the framing of the stairs and lighthouse to give a different feel for the shot.
Salter Grove State Park & Marsh Island - Warwick, RI
I’m excited to highlight Salter Grove as it is the only site on the list located along the Providence River! Salter Grove is a small park with a long history. (Learn more here.) The park had fallen into decline until 2016 when the Friends of Salter Grove was formed to clean up the area and help restore flora and fauna that call the shoreline home! Definitely bring a backpack or camera bag for your gear while you hike across the rocks. They are really slippery when wet! Want more beach photo recommendations? Keep reading!
Narragansett Beaches - Narragansett, RI
Next, head down to Narragansett to visit 3 of Rhode Island’s fantastic beaches: Scarborough, Roger Wheeler and Salty Brine. If you’re feeling adventurous you can even kayak along the Pettaquamscutt River (aka Narrow River) south to Narragansett Beach. Okay, Pettaquamscutt isn’t actually a river, but 7-mile narrow channel that forms a natural border between Narragansett, North Kingstown and South Kingstown.
The Towers are another iconic photo spot in Narragansett! Originally built in the 1880s, the Towers are the only remaining structure from the Narragansett Pier Casino. The casino was the center of Narragansett’s social scene (and a well known high society social retreat) until it burned down in 1900. Made of granite, the Towers were the only surviving element of the casino. In 1969 they were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Want to step up your Instagram game? 📸 Locals @IntheMiddleSeat and @n_angell94 have teamed up to bring you a list of the top Insta-worthy spots in the Ocean State. Read more here: https://t.co/RnlkNSFvAh
— Rhode Island (@RITourism) June 11, 2020
📷: n_angell94 pic.twitter.com/sDyq1EjxQu
Over 400 – that’s the number of miles making up Rhode Island’s coastline! Sandy beaches, little tide pools, and craggy cliffs looking out over the crashing waves below. There are so many picturesque beaches that if we were to name them all, this post would turn into a chapter book! Here is some insta-piration from beaches around the state!
Want even more stunning views of the New England coastline? Checkout my guide to visiting Portland, Maine!
Beaches & coastline aren’t the only natural beauty that RI has to offer. Throughout the state there are so many nature reserves & protected wildlife areas waiting for you to explore! This list highlights Nick’s go-to spots throughout Rhode Island and just over the border in neighboring CT & MA. Grab your camera and get ready to take some awesome pictures for your feed!
George Washington Campground & Management Area - Glocester, RI
First, we’re headed to Glocester, RI! Whether you’re looking to spend the afternoon in nature or enjoy a few days camping, head to George Washington Management Area. This is a great spot to escape the city and enjoy RI’s natural beauty! You can also enjoy kayaking or boating in Bowdish Lake!
Take this hike in the winter and early spring when the water level is drained and low. This allows for a better adventure and more creative shots!
Arcadia Management Area - Hope Valley, RI
Next head southwest, and you’ll find Arcadia Management Area: RI’s largest designated recreational area covering over 14,000 acres! You’ll find plenty of trails and quiet spots to take in the natural beauty. Or, if you’re looking for a faster pace there are also dirt bike trails running through Arcadia Management Area. Here are 8 moderate hiking trails through Arcadia Management Area to get you started! With hikes from 1.5 to 8 miles, you’re sure to find one that fits your style!
Nick’s drone shots are taken using a DJI Spark. Navigating rules and regulations for drone usage can be tricky and confusing. Check out the DJI App for guidance and UAVCoach.com. Drones also comes pre-installed with a Geo-Fence, which stops flight if in an unauthorized zone. Make sure to look into local rules before you get started, and be more careful especially if you’re near a hospital or airport.
Tillinghast Pond Management Area - West Greenwich, RI
Located in the largest coastal forest area between Washington, DC and Boston, Tillinghast Pond is home to 13 miles of trails. It is also one of the most popular hiking areas in RI. Tillinghast is such an important part of RI’s natural landscape that it is even supported and protected by The Nature Conservancy! Tillinghast doesn’t offer sweeping views from clifftops like some of the other sites on our list, but it is still al lovely spot to appreciate RI’s nature beauty! Note that if you’re hiking along Tillinghast Pond during hunting season, make sure to wear orange!
George B. Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge - Coventry, RI
We are wrapping up our top Instagram-worthy spots in RI with the George B. Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge. This area is on Audubon Society land. Hikes in this park offer mixed levels of effort, with some areas requiring more strenuous levels of exercise due to spots with rocky terrain. Note that dogs (other than service companions) are not allowed at this site. But, there will be plenty of great bird watching!
Connecticut, here we come! Just across the Connecticut border you’ll find two of the top places for taking awesome nature photos in southern New England! All within a 20 minute drive of Rhode Island, these spots make for a perfect afternoon outdoors! Here are some of Connecticut’s most Instagram-worthy spots to capture natural beauty. Let’s go to CT!
Old Furnace State Park - Killingly, CT
First we have Old Furnace State Park. Hands down, Ross’ Cliffs in Old Furnace State Park is our favorite natural viewpoint in southern New England! Hike along the 2.8 mile moderate loop to the top of Ross’ Cliffs. Take your time hiking the trails that lead to the cliff. Be careful if it’s rainy, as the leaves can make the rocks quite slippery. From 200 feet up you’ll be rewarded with a ten mile view out over Killingly and even into Rhode Island on a clear day! Go with a friend or bring your selfie stick because this is the perfect spot to take your next profile picture! Be careful when sitting on the edge. Dangle your feet and take that Insta-worthy shot. Head to Old Furnace State Park as the leaves are changing in the fall, and you’re sure to be in for a treat!
Beyond the breathe-taking views, Old Furnace State Park has quite a history! The park is named after the actual iron furnace that operated on the land from the time prior to the American Revolution up through the mid-1800s. Locally sourced natural resources were processed at the furnace to produce iron, a material critical for making a variety of products in early US history. By 1830 the area also became home to a gristmill. Although today it is open as a state park, the name will always remind visitors of the area’s history.
Nick’s Instagram photos from Ross’ Cliffs have been featured on multiple brand marking campaigns! He even won the Starbucks #RedCupContest Adventure category in 2016 with a coffee cup glamour shot in Old Furnace Park! This is truly one of the best places to take Instagram photos in southern New England.
Best Places to Take Instagram Photos in Connecticut
West Thompson Lake Park -
North Grosvenordale, CT
Next up: another of our Connecticut favorites for capture those gorgeous nature photos. Head to West Thompson Lake Dam for the best panoramic views of the area! This park also offers 3 main trail systems, all calming views of the lake. While hiking around West Thompson Lake you’ll be surrounded by white pines, oaks and shagbark hickory trees. Visit in the fall, and the foliage is stunning! You may even see low bush blueberries growing along the trails. But, don’t eat them!
West Thompson Lake Park is a site with a long history. Prior to the arrival of British colonizers, this area was home to the Nipmuc Native American peoples. Historically, the Nipmuc tribes grew corn, beans and squash and used the local lake for sourcing fish for their diet. Close to West Thompson Lake you’ll also find Quaddick State Park & Quaddick Lake. This is another great spot for some awesome nature shots! Head out first thing in the morning or just before sunset for the most colorful shots.
We’re taking a quick trip of the Mass state line for the next couple spots! Even though they’re not technically in Rhode Island, the photo opportunities are too great to leave these out! Tag @CourtneyintheMiddleSeat & @n_angell94 in your photos to share the awesome content you post!
Cornell Farm - Dartmouth, MA
Just over the border in Dartmouth is Cornell Farm! This small wooded area mixes pastures and planted fields with salt marshes that connect out to Buzzards Bay. Cornell Farm is open 7 days a week, year-round. Today it is free to the public, but for 150 years it was privately owned property, passed down by the Cornell family through 5 generations! Follow the old farm road to footpaths leading west to the edge of the marshland and out to Little River. This is a pretty short nature walk on a path that is wide and flat. Cornell Farm is definitely accessible for families with younger kids and pets. But, keep an eye on the little ones when you reach the bridge where there are no walls.
Destruction Brook Woods - Dartmouth, MA
Another fantastic spot to capture some nature pics in Darmouth, MA! Follow the trail into the woods and look for the area filled with huge pine trees. Stand in the middle, and just look up. Take a moment to appreciate strength and beauty of the towering trees that surround you.
Freetown-Fall River State Forest -
Freetown, MA
Last, but definitely not least, is Freetown-Fall River State Forest! This park has something for everyone! Nature walks and hikes, grilling areas, and even a kid’s water play area. Also, it’s dog-friendly! There are also plenty of great photo spots with natural overlooks and also tagged rocks. [Remember tagging rocks may look cool, but it’s disrespectful to the natural beauty around you and bad for the environment!]
The ‘foot off the edge shot’ is perfect if you’re alone but still want to capture a bit of yourself in the shot! These photos are especially great for creating branded content because it is easy for the viewer to imagine they are actually there in your place looking out over the edge!
Looking for even more spots to get outside and take some awesome nature shots? Visit Explore RI for additional recommendations on other places to appreciate RI’s natural beauty!
Meet Nick!
Hi, my name is Nicholas Angell, and I am born and raised Rhode Islander who lives life behind the lens. It all started a few years ago when I had to take a photography class for college credit. I bought a camera, began shooting, and before I knew it was taking pictures everywhere I went. My collection of gear grew from a Nikon D3200 DSLR camera to a GoPro and drone. I don’t leave the house unless I have at least one of my cameras ready to shoot. I never know what I’ll see and, sometimes a moment just has to be captured. When I am out, I look for new ways to see the world. Some tips: Play with angles, get low/high if you can and always take more pictures than you originally intended.
Nick’s photos have been featured by numerous brands, including American Eagle, Best Buy, Starbucks, Guadalupe Island Tourist Board & more! This past winter Nick had the honor of having his work showcased at a fundraiser art gallery at the Newport Marriot, where his drone shot from Jamestown was auctioned off to raise much needed funds for Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Nick loves that he can even use his art to give back!
Check out more of Nick’s prints for sale at his Society6 site.
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Have more of your own recommendations to share of best places to capture the beauty of nature in Southern New England? Let us know in the comments. And make sure to tag @n_angell94 & @CourtneyintheMiddleSeat so we can see the incredible photos you’re taking!
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I loved my trip last year to Rhode Island and wish I had this list to follow back then! The Castle Hill Lighthouse looks stunning, adding to my list for my next visit. Thanks for sharing!
Such gorgeous photos and all look like perfect places to photograph. I used to visit Rhode Island for work but never got to see the coast. Now I can’t wait to go back!
Thanks for visiting the post! (and my home state!) Nick’s photos are truly gorgeous 🙂 Hope you can make it back to RI soon.
Rhodes island looks amazing,I wish to visit someday .lovely pics
Gorgeous photos! What a picturesque corner of the world! A great guide, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words! Nick’s photos are both beautiful and fun! Hope you make it to Rhode Island for a visit!
I would never have thought that there would be this many absolutely gorgeous Instagram spots in Rhode Island! But it looks stunning and I would love to visit one day.
Thanks for visiting, Amy! Rhode Island is small state with a lot of natural beauty 🙂 Hope you can make it to visit my home state one day!
This is so beautiful, the photos are stunning! My husband is originally from Rhode Island and his family still lives there. I have visited a few times, and I just love it.
Oh wow, Rhode Island looks like a photographers dream, I love the collage of photographs at the start of the post. It looks like the perfect place for exploring the outdoors and enjoying nature.
Thanks! RI really is a beautiful state! I used the Modula plugin. So far the free version has worked well, and there are even more options if you pay to upgrade.
I can’t wait to visit Rhode Island with my family – we’re always up for outdoor adventures. Will certainly save these spots as they’re all so gorgeous.
Thanks for reading! RI’s nature is beautiful, and that is just the start. Head to Providence for a great food scene, too!
Oh my, we spent a wonderful week in Rhode Island a few years ago. It was #49 out of the 50 US states that I have now visited. Looking at your beautiful photos it seems that we have missed a LOT. Well, I guess it is time to go there again and catch up on what we missed.
Wow! That is so cool! What is the last state you’re missing? Hope you can make it there (and back to lil Rhody!) soon 🙂
These photos are beautiful and really show the beauty of Rhode Island – The Crystal Ball shot is awesome!
Isn’t the crystal ball cool? Nick has done some really awesome cityscape shots with it, too.
These are some spectacular photo locations in Rhodes Island. Each of them is so vibrant and bring alive the beauty of nature in full panoramic fashion.
This is a part of the USA that we’ve never been to, but your photos certainly make us want to explore Rhode Island!
If you make it to RI, let me know. I can give you plenty of other recommendations of places to visit!
Oooh what a gorgeous part of the States! I had no idea that Rhode Island was sooo full of nature. I mean it makes sense once you think of how much coastline it has!
Freetown-Fall River State Forest is really cool looking, but it is a bit sad how many people ignored the idea of leave no trace to spray paint so many of the rocks. It’d look even prettier without that..
Yes, over 400 miles of coastline! You’re absolutely right, and I agree that it is sad when people don’t respect the natural beauty. Plus once one person starts tagging, others follow suit. I appreciate your comment, and I am going to add a note to the post reminding people to respect the space.
Wow, what an impressive post with gorgeous photos! I especially like the one with the lighthouse 🙂 I would’ve never thought of visiting Rhode Island before so this is some great insider information to me, thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Well there are certainly a lot of beautiful places to see in Rhode Island! I really hope I can make it there one day.
Kez – I hope you can make it to Rhode Island one day, too! Let me know if you do. I have plenty more suggestions!
Your photos really inspire me to go and visit Beavertail State Park! I would love to see the Lighthouse.
Being a landscape photographer I highly appreciate your suggestions. These places are just gorgeous and my camera will love capturing the lovely sceneries.