West Beach (New Bedford)
A large, sandy city beach on Clarks Cove, West Beach draws New Bedford residents to its relaxing shores throughout the year. With beautiful views of Buzzards Bay and the Elizabeth Islands, West Beach provides a family-friendly atmosphere to enjoy on sunny summer days.
Features
Bring your bike with you to West Beach and enjoy a ride along the water all the way around the tip of Clark’s Point to New Bedford Harbor.
West Beach is well known for its clear, calm waters, which offer city families a safe place to splash and play. The beach is lifeguarded in summer, and the bathhouse is a convenient spot to clean up after a day in the sand. Across the street, Hazelwood Park is a grassy spot with sweeping views of Clarks Cove and Buzzards Bay.
There’s much more to explore around West Beach, too. Bring a bike and take a ride along the Saulnier Memorial Bike Trail, which traces the tip of Clark’s Point on Rodney French Boulevard. The ride around West Beach to East Beach is only a few miles, but includes gorgeous views from Fort Taber Park and the New Bedford Harbor Walk.
Habitats & Wildlife
With its natural shoreline so close to the urban center of New Bedford, West Beach hosts a variety of birds and sea life. Watch the skies for gulls and ospreys soaring over Clarks Cove’s protected waters. The shells along the beach indicate the vibrant shellfish habitat in the cove and Buzzards Bay. You might even see quahoggers here digging for clams in the shallows.
