Watchaug (Washington)

Watchaug Pond in Washington County, Rhode Island

This lake has 8 Layers or 15 Layers for HD Version

Watchaug Lake, officially known as Watchaug Pond, is a 573-acre kettle pond located in Charlestown in Washington County, southern Rhode Island, formed during the Ice Age when glaciers retreated and left behind depressions that filled with water. This expansive freshwater lake is one of the largest in Rhode Island and serves as the centerpiece of Burlingame State Park, a 3,100-acre public recreation area featuring rocky woodlands and diverse natural habitats. The pond has an average depth of only eight feet, with the deepest location reaching 36 feet, creating ideal conditions for aquatic life and recreational activities. Watchaug Lake is surrounded by approximately four miles of scenic shoreline, much of which lies within public land managed by the state park and the adjacent Burlingame Management Area, while the southern and eastern shores feature some residential development. The lake is encircled by the John Vincent Gormley Trail, an eight-mile loop trail dedicated by Senator Jack Reed in 1999, honoring the volunteer who lovingly developed and maintained the trail over many years. This trail is the second-to-last leg of the North-South Trail that transects Rhode Island and connects to the nearby Kimball Wildlife Sanctuary, originally established by the Audubon Society in 1927 as a 29-acre wildlife refuge on the southern shore.

Watchaug Lake offers exceptional year-round recreational opportunities and is a favorite destination for anglers, with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management regularly stocking the pond with trout multiple times throughout the spring season. The lake supports healthy populations of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, black crappie, lake trout, brown trout, white perch, brown bullhead, and bluegill, making it one of Rhode Island's premier bass fishing destinations. The marshy western end of the pond feels remote and wild, providing excellent habitat for wildlife observation and birding, with over 250 bird species documented in the area including waterfowl, herons, egrets, and numerous migratory species that use the refuge as a stopover along the Atlantic Flyway. Burlingame State Park offers world-class amenities including over 700 rustic campsites, 20 cabins, a popular sandy beach with swimming area supervised by lifeguards during summer months, picnic facilities with tables and fireplaces, canoe and kayak rentals, a public boat launch at Barton C. Hurley Landing on Sanctuary Road, playgrounds, and shower facilities. Personal watercraft are prohibited on the lake to maintain its tranquil atmosphere, but motorboats and water skiing are permitted. The Kettle Pond Visitor Center, operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge, hosts educational programs and school field trips about the pond's flora, fauna, and unique glacial habitats. Beyond the lake itself, visitors can explore nearby attractions including the spectacular Ninigret Park with its 227 acres featuring the renowned Frosty Drew Observatory for stargazing on clear Friday nights, disc golf course, tennis courts, and state-of-the-art playground, as well as the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge covering 858 acres of diverse habitats perfect for wildlife photography and nature walks. Charlestown's famous three-mile-long East Beach on the Atlantic Ocean, the historic Charlestown Breachway connecting Ninigret Pond to Block Island Sound for excellent saltwater fishing, and the charming downtown area with its farmers markets, unique shops like the Fantastic Umbrella Factory, and local dining establishments are all within minutes of the lake, making Watchaug Lake an ideal base for exploring Rhode Island's stunning South County coastal region.

Dimensions:

Small: 8"x12"

Medium: 12"x18"

Large: 16"x24"

Extra Large: 20"x30"

XX Large: 24"x36"

Gigantic 30"x45"

HD Extra Large: 20"x30" - 15 Layers

HD XX Large: 24"x36" - 15 Layers

HD Gigantic 30"x45" - 15 Layers

The difference between standard and HD maps is the number of layers. Standard maps have 1 land layer and 7 water layers. " The HD lake maps have 1 land layer and 14 water layers. So twice the detail. The HD Maps are limited to Extra Large, " XX Large, and Gigantic sizes only. On the smaller sizes the depth change of the wood is too extreme and you end up losing detail."