Find a Place

What better way to enjoy freshly fallen snow than cross-country skiing? The Buzzards Bay region has dozens of places where you can go skiing through peaceful winter woods, fields, and wetlands. For your next cross-country adventure, try one of these parks and trails, which are well-suited for a trek on skis.

Displaying 41-60 of 92
Tall, ramrod-straight trees along the trail at Haskell Swamp Wildlife Management Area
200 Dexter Ln., Rochester, MA 02770
|Directions

This 3,100-acre forest in Rochester, Marion, and Mattapoisett is maintained for hunting, though adventurous explorers will also find much to love.

Size: 3,104 acres
Parking: Large unpaved parking area at the end of Dexter Lane
Facilities: None
Trail through a thick field of ferns in the woods at Westport's Headwaters Conservation Area
209 Blossom Rd., Westport, MA 02790
|Directions

Explore dense forests, forested wetlands, and wildflower-rich former farmland at Headwaters Conservation Area in Westport.

Size: 133 acres
Parking: Small unpaved parking area (space for 1-2 cars) off Blossom Road
Facilities: None
meadow trail at Herb Hadfield Conservation Area in Westport
328 Adamsville Rd., Westport, MA 02790
|Directions

Herb Hadfield's woods, wetlands, and meadows surround Angeline Brook, a pristine coldwater trout stream in Westport.

Size: 152 acres
Parking: Two small gravel parking areas
Facilities: None
Sagamore Bridge from Herring Run Recreation Area in Bourne
810 Scenic Highway, Bourne, MA 02532
|Directions

Herring Run Recreation Area's name tells you why it's special — it's home to a herring run on Cape Cod Canal.

Parking: Large paved parking area
Facilities: Restrooms (seasonal), Trash, Picnic Tables
hundreds of people on Horseneck Beach on a summer day
251 John Reed Rd., Westport, MA 02790
|Directions

With two miles of sand and surf, the 600-acre Horseneck Beach State Reservation is a recreational paradise in Westport.

Size: 600 acres
Parking: Large paved parking lots
Facilities: Restrooms (seasonal), Showers (seasonal), Picnic Tables
A child and adult on the boardwalk at John C. Whitehead Preserve in Little Compton. (Image: The Nature Conservancy)
29 Meetinghouse Ln., Little Compton, RI 02837
|Directions

An accessible boardwalk through diverse wetlands and forest holds outdoor adventures that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy.

Size: 168 acres
Parking: Large unpaved parking area next to the soccer field on Meetinghouse Lane; medium-sized unpaved parking area along West Main Road, just north of intersection with Treaty Rock Rd.
Facilities: Boardwalk, Trash
Trail through green trees studded with boulders at Kelly Woodland
296 Sippewissett Rd., Falmouth, MA 02540
|Directions

Explore a coastal salt pond and rolling glacial forests through Kelly Woodlands, a gateway to vibrant Cape Cod habitats.

Size: 3 acres
Parking: Small unpaved parking area (space for 4-5 cars)
Facilities: None
fallen tree on Acushnet River in autumn
Blain Street, Acushnet, MA 02743
|Directions

With nearly 50 acres of meadows and forests on the Acushnet River, LaPalme Farm celebrates Acushnet’s pastoral charm.

Size: 47 acres
Parking: Limited street parking at the end of Blain Street
Facilities: None
Trail signs on a tree at Lionberger Woods in Rochester.
75 Haskell Ridge Rd., Rochester, MA 02770
|Directions

With captivating streams and wetlands hidden in a quiet forest, Lionberger Woods in Rochester is easy to fall in love with.

Size: 43.3 acres
Parking: Roadside parking by trailhead
Facilities: Picnic Tables
trail through the woods at the Lloyd Center in Dartmouth
430 Potomska Rd., Dartmouth, MA 02748
|Directions

This environmental education center in Dartmouth is also a destination for outdoor exploration on the Slocums River.

Size: 82 acres
Parking: Medium-sized gravel parking area
Facilities: Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Trash, Learning/Visitor Center
Long Pond framed by leaves
65 Pumping Station Rd., Falmouth, MA 02540
|Directions

Take a challenging hike up and down rocky hills within rich protected forest in Falmouth's Long Pond & Falmouth Town Forest.

Size: 585 acres
Parking: Two paved parking areas in Goodwill Park; two dirt pull-off areas along Brick Kiln Road
Red Brook and the Lyman Reserve in winter
110 Red Brook Rd., Plymouth, MA 02360
|Directions

This diverse paradise of woods, wetlands, and salt marshes in Plymouth shelters rare sea-run brook trout in Red Brook.

Size: 210 acres
Parking: Medium-sized gravel parking area
Facilities: Picnic Tables, Trash
Salt marsh at the edge of Marks Cove Conservation Area in Wareham
37 Nicholas Dr., Wareham, MA 02571
|Directions

Explore 2.5 miles of looping trails through coastal forest and along a sweep of bird-filled salt marshes in Wareham.

Size: 118 acres
Parking: Small paved parking area
Facilities: None
a woman rollerblading on the Mattapoisett Rail Trail
0 Depot Street, Mattapoisett, MA 02739
|Directions

The growing Mattapoisett Rail Trail offers a mile-long flat, paved bike path and a short footpath to the Mattapoisett River.

Size: 2 miles (Total length including Fairhaven trails: 6 Miles)
Parking: Limited Parking at Depot St. and Railroad Avenue, unmarked pulloff space next to path at Brandt Island Road (reserved for people with disabilities, infirmities, or parents with small children); free parking along Phoenix Bike Trail in Fairhaven
Facilities: None (Public Toilets at Mattapoisett Town Wharf)
a man and a dog on a large rock at the Munn Preserve in Mattapoisett
189 Mattapoisett Neck Rd., Mattapoisett, MA 02739
|Directions

For a leisurely walk out to one of Buzzards Bay’s quietest coves, look no further than the Munn Preserve in Mattapoisett.

Size: 18.5 acres
Parking: Medium-sized paved parking area on Mattapoisett Neck Road by trailhead
Facilities: None
people walking through the woods at Myles Standish State Forest
194 Cranberry Rd., Carver, MA 02366
|Directions

With over 12,000 acres to hike, bike, fish, camp, and hunt, you'll never run out of ways to have fun at Myles Standish in Carver.

Size: 12,400 acres
Parking: Several paved parking areas throughout forest
Facilities: Restrooms (seasonal), Picnic Tables, Trash, Visitor Center
the shoreline of Nasketucket Bay from Nasketucket Bay State Reservation
94 Brandt Island Rd., Mattapoisett, MA 02739
|Directions

Nasketucket Bay State Reservation's 200 acres of coastal forests in Mattapoisett are a treasure for all ages.

Size: 371 acres
Parking: Large gravel parking lot
Facilities: Picnic table
grassy lawn next to Ned's Point Lighthouse at Veterans Memorial Park in Mattapoisett
50 Ned’s Point Rd., Mattapoisett, MA 02739
|Directions

Swim, picnic, and play in the shadow of Mattapoisett’s Ned’s Point Lighthouse at this town-owned park and beach.

Size: 4 acres
Parking: Large gravel parking area
Facilities: Kayak Launch, Restrooms (seasonal), Showers (seasonal), Picnic Tables, Trash
A woman sitting by the edge of Great Quittacas Pond at New Bedford Waterworks in Rochester.
247 North Ave., Rochester, MA 02770
|Directions

Discover a peaceful beech tree forest and remarkable freshwater views at New Bedford Waterworks, part of the protected Assawompset Pond Complex.

Size: 842 acres
Parking: Medium-sized unpaved lot at the North Rochester Congregational Church (near entrance gate R10); roadside parking at any fire road entrance gate (R1-18) not marked “no admittance” (do not block gates/fire lanes)
Facilities: None
Sign for the Cape Cod Canal on the trails at Nickerson Conservation Area in Bourne
12 Aptucxet Road, Bourne, MA 02532
|Directions

Discover a hidden gateway to the Cape Cod Canal along the wooded trails at Nickerson Conservation Area in Bourne.

Size: 8 acres
Parking: Medium-sized unpaved parking area at Aptucxet Trading Post
Facilities: None

Upcoming Events

Featured Adventures

10 great spots for early winter snowshoeing and skiing

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing provide the perfect way to get out in the snow and enjoy the wintry woodlands of the Buzzards Bay watershed during those fleeting days when the forests are draped in white.

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8 hot outdoor activities for cold winter days

When cabin fever strikes, there’s no better way to chase off winter’s chill than with some time spent outdoors.

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15 places to discover the best of winter around Buzzards Bay

For those who bundle up and brave the weather, winter on Buzzards Bay offers a treasure trove of outdoor adventures.

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Land Conservation

Conserving land is one of the most important ways to protect clean water in Buzzards Bay. Since 1998, the Coalition has forever preserved more than 7,000 acres of land across our region.

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The Buzzards Bay Coalition is a membership-supported organization dedicated to improving the health of the Buzzards Bay ecosystem for all through education, conservation, research, and advocacy.

We work to protect clean water on the Bay and on the land: