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.
Walk through lush forest scattered with old stone walls in the woodlands of this former camp in Westport.
Size: 20.7 acres
Parking: Small dirt parking area
Facilities: None
Parking: Small dirt parking area
Facilities: None
Magnificent coastal scenery awaits you at Ocean View Farm Reserve, one of Dartmouth’s newest places to explore.
Size: 60 acres
Parking: Medium-sized unpaved parking area
Facilities: None
Parking: Medium-sized unpaved parking area
Facilities: None
Travel miles of trail through wildflower meadows, coastal forests, and wetlands at Old Aucoot District in Mattapoisett.
Size: 307 acres
Parking: Small unpaved parking area at the end of Bowman Road; small unpaved parking area on east side of Prospect Road, across from Spruce Avenue; small unpaved pull-off near kiosk on west side of Hollywoods Road
Facilities: None
Parking: Small unpaved parking area at the end of Bowman Road; small unpaved parking area on east side of Prospect Road, across from Spruce Avenue; small unpaved pull-off near kiosk on west side of Hollywoods Road
Facilities: None
Walk from suburban woods into dense forest and over a historic granite bridge at Paskamansett & Gidley Woods in Dartmouth.
Size: 11 acres
Parking: Small unpaved parking area (space for about 6 cars)
Facilities: None
Parking: Small unpaved parking area (space for about 6 cars)
Facilities: None
Marion's Peirson Woods has an observation platform where you can view sailboats, salt marshes, and sea birds on the water.
Size: 30.34 acres
Parking: Small roadside parking area at trailhead
Facilities: Bicycle Rack, Picnic Table
Parking: Small roadside parking area at trailhead
Facilities: Bicycle Rack, Picnic Table
Discover one of Cape Cod’s oldest farms at Peterson Farm in Falmouth, a working farm with grazing sheep alongside miles of trails through fields and forest.
Size: 88 acres
Parking: Small parking area at the end of unnamed road off McCallum Drive
Facilities: Trash
Parking: Small parking area at the end of unnamed road off McCallum Drive
Facilities: Trash
The 4.5-mile paved Phoenix Bike Trail is a gateway to Fairhaven's coastal forests and salt marshes.
Size: 4.5 miles
Parking: Medium-sized paved parking areas on Main Street and Arsene Street
Facilities: Bicycle Racks, Trash, Picnic Tables
Parking: Medium-sized paved parking areas on Main Street and Arsene Street
Facilities: Bicycle Racks, Trash, Picnic Tables
This wide, easy-to-follow woodland trail is a great place to walk, jog, or try out cross-country skiing.
Size: 17 acres
Parking: Parking Lot A, a large paved lot
Facilities: Trash, Bike Rack
Parking: Parking Lot A, a large paved lot
Facilities: Trash, Bike Rack
Take a wild adventure through thousands of acres of remote forest and swamp at Rocky Gutter in Middleborough.
Size: 3,178 acres
Parking: Two small unpaved parking areas on either end of Rocky Gutter Street (Purchase Street and France Street); a third small unpaved parking area on Wildlife Area Access Road at Purchase Street and Faye Avenue
Facilities: None
Parking: Two small unpaved parking areas on either end of Rocky Gutter Street (Purchase Street and France Street); a third small unpaved parking area on Wildlife Area Access Road at Purchase Street and Faye Avenue
Facilities: None
With spectacular open-water views, the Saulnier Memorial Bike Trail is the best route to tour New Bedford's scenic South End.
Size: 3.5 miles
Parking: Large paved parking lots at Hazelwood Park, Fort Taber Park, and East Beach; small paved parking area at New Bedford Harbor Walk; street parking along East Rodney French Boulevard and West Rodney French Boulevard
Facilities: Bicycle Rack, Restrooms (seasonal), Trash
Parking: Large paved parking lots at Hazelwood Park, Fort Taber Park, and East Beach; small paved parking area at New Bedford Harbor Walk; street parking along East Rodney French Boulevard and West Rodney French Boulevard
Facilities: Bicycle Rack, Restrooms (seasonal), Trash
Feel immersed in deep pine woodlands at this town-owned picnic area and trail in Carver.
Size: 33 acres
Parking: Two small unpaved parking areas (space for 3-4 cars) along Savery Avenue
Facilities: Trash, Picnic Tables
Parking: Two small unpaved parking areas (space for 3-4 cars) along Savery Avenue
Facilities: Trash, Picnic Tables
Take a journey of discovery down the Shining Sea Bikeway, a 10.7-mile paved bike path through Falmouth.
Size: 10.7 miles
Parking: Gravel parking areas on County Road, Old Dock Road, Depot Avenue, Woods Hole Road, and Oyster Pond Road
Facilities: Restrooms (portable), Picnic Tables, Trash
Parking: Gravel parking areas on County Road, Old Dock Road, Depot Avenue, Woods Hole Road, and Oyster Pond Road
Facilities: Restrooms (portable), Picnic Tables, Trash
Shipyard Farm in Fairhaven packs a scenic punch in its short trail across farmland to serene Nasketucket Bay.
Size: 53 acres
Parking: Small roadside parking area near entrance sign
Facilities: None
Parking: Small roadside parking area near entrance sign
Facilities: None
This farm and forest along the Mattapoisett River in Rochester was preserved for birds — and explorers like you!
Size: 79.74
Parking: Small unpaved parking area
Facilities: Picnic table
Parking: Small unpaved parking area
Facilities: Picnic table
Known for its educational signs, this Little Compton reserve is popular among hunters, hikers, paddlers, and curious young explorers.
Size: 433 acres
Parking: Medium-sized unpaved parking area on Coldbrook Road; small unpaved parking area on John Dyer Road
Facilities: Canoe/Kayak Launch
Parking: Medium-sized unpaved parking area on Coldbrook Road; small unpaved parking area on John Dyer Road
Facilities: Canoe/Kayak Launch
Soak up the spectacular natural beauty of the Slocums River at the Slocum’s River Reserve in South Dartmouth.
Size: 47 acres
Parking: Small unpaved parking area
Facilities: Canoe/Kayak Launch
Parking: Small unpaved parking area
Facilities: Canoe/Kayak Launch
Smith Farm offers a peek at Dartmouth's coastal habitats, from forested swamps and ponds to scenic salt marshes.
Size: 140 acres
Parking: Small dirt roadside parking area on Smith Neck Road
Facilities: None
Parking: Small dirt roadside parking area on Smith Neck Road
Facilities: None
Find surprising beauty in the old woodlands beside Great Quittacas Pond on this Middleborough trail.
Size: 35 acres
Parking: Two small dirt parking areas on either side of Long Point Rd.
Facilities: None
Parking: Two small dirt parking areas on either side of Long Point Rd.
Facilities: None
In the heart of the Mattapoisett River valley lies The Bogs, an oasis of forests, freshwater swamps, and cranberry bogs.
Size: 212 acres
Parking: Small gravel parking area on Acushnet Road
Facilities: None
Parking: Small gravel parking area on Acushnet Road
Facilities: None
Explore the Cape Cod Canal from Tidal Flats Recreation Area in Bourne, located at the foot of the iconic railroad bridge.
Parking: Two medium-sized paved parking areas
Facilities: Trash, Picnic Table, Restrooms (seasonal)
Facilities: Trash, Picnic Table, Restrooms (seasonal)