The Phoenix Rail Trail is one of the best places to run in the New Bedford/Fairhaven area. The paved multi-use path, part of a former rail line, runs for 5 miles and Mattapoisett. There’s a good variety of scenery along this route: historic buildings, farmland & pastures, wetlands, and a couple of water views.
The west end of the trail starts on Main St. in the center of Fairhaven. Head east. The landscape is a combination of wetlands and farmland, with a some short wooded sections. SPUR OPTION: At mile 1.5 (parking lot), a spur of the trail heads south for 1 mile toward the Little Bay Conservation area. The easternmost 1 mile is the Mattapoisett Rail Trail, and features some nice views of Mattapoisett Harbor and Eel Pond. The trail ends in Mattapoisett @ Depot St. Note: Plans to extend the Mattapoisett Rail Trail for another 3.5 miles are in various stages of design/completion. Information.
Add-Ons: The spur option to Little Bay is a 2-mile out & back optional add-on. In Fairhaven, a nice add-on is ~1 mile south on Fort St. to Fort Phoenix and a scenic jaunt out the path along the seawall, with nice views of the water and historic New Bedford across the way. In Mattapoisett, some historic homes on tree-shaded Water St. & Church St.
The Phoenix Rail Trail is one of the best places to run in the New Bedford/Fairhaven area. The paved multi-use path, part of a former rail line, runs for 5 miles and Mattapoisett. There’s a good variety of scenery along this route: historic buildings, farmland & pastures, wetlands, and a couple of water views.
The west end of the trail starts on Main St. in the center of Fairhaven. Head east. The landscape is a combination of wetlands and farmland, with a some short wooded sections. SPUR OPTION: At mile 1.5 (parking lot), a spur of the trail heads south for 1 mile toward the Little Bay Conservation area. The easternmost 1 mile is the Mattapoisett Rail Trail, and features some nice views of Mattapoisett Harbor and Eel Pond. The trail ends in Mattapoisett @ Depot St. Note: Plans to extend the Mattapoisett Rail Trail for another 3.5 miles are in various stages of design/completion. Information.
Add-Ons: The spur option to Little Bay is a 2-mile out & back optional add-on. In Fairhaven, a nice add-on is ~1 mile south on Fort St. to Fort Phoenix and a scenic jaunt out the path along the seawall, with nice views of the water and historic New Bedford across the way. In Mattapoisett, some historic homes on tree-shaded Water St. & Church St.
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