Bassetts Island
You don’t have to travel far offshore to have an island adventure. Visit Bassetts Island, at the entrance of Bourne’s Pocasset and Red Brook Harbors, to discover pristine beaches and splash around in calm, shallow waters. Though much of Bassetts is private, town beaches on the island’s southern arm offer a slice of island paradise only a short boat trip from shore.
Features
Hike to the picnic area at the top of Bassetts Island for stunning 360-degree views of the island and Pocasset and Red Brook Harbors.
Sandy, shell-scattered shores, crystal-clear waters, abundant fish, and 360-degree water views: Bassetts Island has everything you’d expect from a tropical destination, located just minutes from the Bourne villages of Pocasset and Cataumet. The north side of this large, propeller-shaped island is private, but its sandy southern arm is town-owned and open to the public. (No trespassing signs mark the start of private property; please respect property owners and stay off this part of the shoreline.) Take a quick boat ride over and you’ll find great swimming, fishing, and exploring on over a mile of beach. Families with young ones should check out the shallow sand flats off the point, which is a great place for kids to splash around.
Bassets is a popular boating destination, and on summer weekends you’ll often find dozens of boats rafted up along its shore. Boaters stopping by from far afield will find ample marine services at Kingman Yacht Center and Parker’s Boat Yard, located directly across the harbor from the island.
Bassetts Island also provides a great challenge for kayakers, who can paddle around the whole island for a picturesque adventure. No matter how you explore Bassetts, we recommend completing your adventure with a trip to the picnic area atop the island, accessible from either side by trails about a quarter-mile from the point.
Habitats & Wildlife
Bassetts Island is nestled between Wings Neck and Scraggy Neck, providing shelter that makes this area one of the region’s best for boating. This shelter also makes the harbor an excellent place to find birds, fish, and shellfish. Look for oysters growing atop one another, scuttling hermit crabs, and small fish swimming in the shallows and hiding in the many tide pools that form along the shoreline. You’ll see hunting osprey swoop through the skies above, while raucous terns gather in the sand flats and little plovers scuttle in and out with the waves.
