Rodman Hollow

Rodman Hollow is a 230-acre nature preserve located on the southwestern portion of Block Island, in the town of New Shoreham, Rhode Island. This glacial outwash basin is widely regarded as the birthplace of the conservation movement on Block Island, having been the first property preserved through the collaborative efforts of the Block Island Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, the Town of New Shoreham, and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. The hollow is a dramatic landscape feature carved by glacial meltwater, creating a broad, bowl-shaped depression that opens toward the Atlantic Ocean, with trails leading through maritime shrubland down to Black Rock Beach. The preserve is renowned for its unique ecology, harboring the only natural population of the federally threatened American burying beetle remaining east of the Mississippi River, as well as the largest population of the state-endangered bushy rockrose in Rhode Island. Rodman Hollow exemplifies the successful integration of community-driven land conservation with the protection of globally significant biodiversity.

Rodman Hollow supports a remarkable concentration of rare and threatened wildlife species within its maritime shrubland and grassland habitats. The preserve is most renowned as the habitat of the only remaining natural population of the federally threatened American burying beetle east of the Mississippi River. This large black-and-orange beetle, which feeds on and buries small animal carcasses to provide food for its larvae, was listed as endangered in 1989 when Block Island was one of only two known populations in the United States, and it was reclassified as threatened in 2020. The state-threatened northern harrier both feeds and nests within the hollow, hunting low over the shrublands for small mammals and birds. The maritime shrubland provides nesting habitat for various passerine species adapted to the windswept coastal environment. During fall migration, the hollow serves as a stopover for neotropical migrant songbirds crossing from the mainland to continue their southward journey. Monarch butterflies pass through in autumn, and the preserve's wildflowers support diverse pollinator communities throughout the growing season. The coastal habitats at the lower end of the hollow, near Black Rock Beach, provide foraging areas for shorebirds.

The plant communities of Rodman Hollow are shaped by the preserve's unique combination of glacial topography, maritime exposure, and coastal climate. Maritime shrubland dominates the landscape, with bayberry, shadbush, and arrowwood forming the primary shrub canopy. The hollow supports the largest population of the state-endangered bushy rockrose in Rhode Island, a low-growing shrub that thrives in the sandy, well-drained soils of the glacial outwash. The sandy hilltops within the preserve feature morainal grasslands, a globally threatened habitat type that supports distinctive plant assemblages found only in a few locations. Wild blackberry bushes line portions of the trails, producing fruit in mid to late summer. The exposed maritime position of the hollow means that vegetation is constantly shaped by salt spray and persistent winds off the Atlantic, resulting in characteristic wind-pruned growth forms. Native wildflowers including goldenrod and asters provide important late-season nectar sources for migrating butterflies and other pollinators. The preserve's location on Block Island, separated from the mainland, has resulted in some distinctive plant community compositions that reflect the island's unique biogeographic position.

Rodman Hollow is a dramatic example of a glacial outwash basin, formed during the retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet approximately 18,000 to 22,000 years ago. Block Island itself was created by the deposits from two separate glacial advances. The first glacier, more than 120,000 years ago, brought rocks and sediment from the Narragansett Bay region to the north. The second advance, approximately 22,000 years ago, carried material from Connecticut and southwestern Rhode Island, approaching from the northwest. The northwest-to-southeast orientation of Rodman Hollow reflects the direction of this second glacial advance. As the ice retreated, torrents of meltwater carved the broad, bowl-shaped depression that characterizes the hollow, depositing the sand and gravel outwash material that forms the substrate today. The hollow opens to the southwest toward the Atlantic Ocean, terminating at Black Rock Beach where wave action continues to erode the glacial deposits. The sandy hilltops flanking the hollow represent morainal deposits, ridges of glacial debris that mark former ice margin positions. These geological features make Rodman Hollow an outstanding outdoor classroom for understanding glacial geomorphology.

Rodman Hollow and Block Island experience a maritime climate strongly influenced by the surrounding Atlantic Ocean, resulting in milder winters and cooler summers compared to mainland Rhode Island. Summer high temperatures typically reach the mid-70s Fahrenheit, significantly cooler than inland locations, with persistent ocean breezes providing natural cooling. Winters are relatively mild for southern New England, with average January temperatures in the low 30s and less snowfall than mainland areas, as the ocean moderates extreme cold. The island's exposed position makes it susceptible to strong winds, particularly during nor'easters and hurricanes that can generate significant wave action along the coast below the hollow. Annual precipitation averages approximately 42 to 44 inches, with fog being a frequent occurrence, especially in spring and early summer when warm air passes over the still-cold ocean. The maritime climate extends the growing season compared to the mainland, with later autumn frosts and earlier spring warming. Block Island's climate supports the distinctive maritime shrubland vegetation that characterizes Rodman Hollow, as the salt spray and wind exposure limit tree growth and maintain the open shrubland landscape.

Block Island has a human history extending back thousands of years, with the Manissean people, a branch of the Narragansett nation, inhabiting the island long before European contact. The island was named by Dutch explorer Adriaen Block in 1614, and English settlement began in 1661. Rodman Hollow takes its name from a local family, and the land was used primarily for grazing and agriculture during the colonial and post-colonial periods. The exposed, wind-swept landscape of the hollow was of limited agricultural value, which helped preserve its natural character even as other portions of the island were more intensively farmed. By the late twentieth century, Block Island faced significant development pressure as its scenic beauty and proximity to the mainland attracted real estate investors. The threat of a proposed subdivision in Rodman Hollow in the early 1970s galvanized community opposition and launched the island's conservation movement. Captain Rob Lewis, a local leader stirred to action by the development plans, formed the Block Island Conservancy in 1972, one of the first two land trusts in Rhode Island, setting in motion a conservation effort that would ultimately protect nearly half of the island's land area.

The preservation of Rodman Hollow began in 1972 when Captain Rob Lewis formed the Block Island Conservancy in response to a proposed residential subdivision that threatened the glacial hollow. The Conservancy and the Town Council worked together over several years to raise sufficient funds to purchase the property from the would-be developers, making Rodman Hollow Block Island's first conservation preserve. This initial success sparked a 50-year tradition of land conservation on the island that has resulted in the protection of approximately 43 percent of Block Island's total land area. The Nature Conservancy became a key partner in the preservation effort, providing both funding and technical expertise for land acquisition and habitat management. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management also contributed to the conservation of lands within and adjacent to the hollow. Rodman Hollow is now managed as a nature preserve with an emphasis on protecting its rare species and globally significant habitats. The preserve is open to the public for hiking and nature observation, with trails maintained by the Block Island Conservancy and its partners. The story of Rodman Hollow's preservation has become a model for community-based land conservation efforts.

Rodman Hollow features a network of trails that wind through the glacial outwash basin from the upland entrance down to Black Rock Beach on the Atlantic coast. The main trail descends from the wooden gate and turnstile entrance off Black Rock Road, offering visitors a choice between a left fork that traverses the bottom of the hollow, where a connecting trail leads to Fresh Pond, and a right fork that ascends a knoll offering panoramic views of the ocean and the surrounding landscape. The round-trip walking distance from the trailhead to Black Rock Beach and back is approximately 3.5 miles, with terrain that varies from flat to steep in places. Black Rock Beach, accessible at the southern end of the trail, provides a dramatic Atlantic Ocean shoreline composed of wave-rounded cobblestones and boulders eroded from the glacial deposits. Visiting in early to mid-May rewards hikers with the spectacular bloom of shadbush throughout the hollow. Mid to late summer brings ripe blackberries along the trail edges. The trails are open for hiking only; bicycling is not permitted within the preserve. The panoramic ocean vistas from elevated points within the hollow are among the most scenic views on Block Island.

Rodman Hollow is accessible from Black Rock Road off Cooneymus Road in the southwestern portion of Block Island. The trailhead is marked by a wooden gate and turnstile approximately a quarter mile down Black Rock Road on the left side. There are no developed facilities within the preserve, and no restrooms, water, or concessions are available. Visitors should bring water, sunscreen, and appropriate footwear for uneven terrain. Tick-borne illness is a concern on Block Island, and visitors are advised to wear high socks, use insect repellent, and check for ticks after their visit. Block Island is accessible by ferry from Point Judith in Narragansett, Rhode Island, with year-round service operated by the Block Island Ferry. Seasonal high-speed ferry service is also available from Newport, Fall River, and New London. A small airport on the island accommodates charter flights and New England Airlines service from Westerly. On the island, transportation options include bicycle rental, moped rental, taxis, and walking, as the island is compact enough to explore without a car. Several inns, hotels, and vacation rentals provide accommodations on the island.

Conservation at Rodman Hollow centers on protecting the preserve's globally significant biodiversity, particularly the American burying beetle population and the bushy rockrose. The American burying beetle monitoring program tracks population trends and reproductive success, providing data essential for the species' recovery plan. Habitat management within the preserve focuses on maintaining the open maritime shrubland and grassland communities that the beetle and other rare species require, preventing succession to woodland that would eliminate their habitat. The morainal grasslands on the sandy hilltops represent a globally threatened habitat type, and their protection is a high conservation priority. Invasive species management addresses threats from non-native plants that could displace the native shrubland communities. The Nature Conservancy and the Block Island Conservancy collaborate on management planning and implementation, drawing on scientific research to guide habitat management decisions. The preserve's role as the catalyst for Block Island's broader conservation movement has resulted in the protection of nearly half the island, creating a landscape-scale conservation success story. Visitor management, including the prohibition of bicycles and the maintenance of designated trail corridors, helps minimize disturbance to sensitive habitats and rare species.