Warwick State Forest King Philip’s Rock Trail

This gnarly 8-mile route climbs the spine of Warwick’s highest ridgeline to King Philip’s Rock, a granite outcrop where Metacom allegedly held council during King Philip’s War in 1675. The trail starts innocuously enough from Warwick Road, but quickly turns nasty as it climbs through a series of ledge drops and off-camber sections that’ll have you working the throttle and steering. The infamous “Devil’s Washboard” section near mile 4 is a quarter-mile of loose granite slabs that claim undercarriages and test your line selection skills.

Don’t underestimate this one — it’s genuinely difficult with exposed rock, deep ruts, and seasonal washouts that can trap the unprepared. Requires high-clearance 4WD with skid plates and recovery gear. Avoid during mud season (March-May) when the clay sections become impassable soup. Best tackled June through October when conditions firm up. No permits needed, but cell service is nonexistent in the valleys. Limited camping at the state forest campground, but the views from King Philip’s Rock make the beating worthwhile.