Parking was tight at the Paskamansett Woods on New Year's Day. Approximately forty people had gathered at the Chase Road location that morning for a walk led by the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust.

"It's a good way to start the New Year," said Board of Directors President Clifton Rice. "What's good about this is it attracts a lot of new people."

Bob Wilkey from Fall River had joined the walk wearing a kilt for New Year's Day, while a few Rhode Islanders also walked with the group. They stopped at the historical stone bridge, where both colonists and Native Americans would travel between Plymouth and Newport in the 1800s.

"This is how they used to travel here, over the river and through the woods so to speak," said Outreach Coordinator Jim Bride. The bridge was restored in 2004.

The trail continued over soft, golden pine needles, and past Smith Mills Camp. Walk leader Brian Gollub had explained beforehand that the camp dates to 1907, and serves as a nondenominational, religious gathering place.

For guest Donna St. Amant, the walk was a great way to break out of her usual routine.

"You get in a little habit," she said, explaining that she usually walks at Weetamoo Woods in Tiverton and Destruction Brook Woods. "I saw the shadows of the trees [on the river] there. I thought 'This is so lovely.'"

Lorraine Granda agreed, saying that hopefully, the walk kickstarted a new habit.

"It's a nice way to start the year. Hopefully it will motivate me to walk the trails more," she said.

The crew ended the 1.5-mile walk with coffee and cookies provided by DNRT.