Little Bay Conservation Area (Fairhaven)

Branch off from the main route of Fairhaven’s Phoenix Bike Trail to explore the scenic shores of Little Bay at Little Bay Conservation Area. With a small fishing pier that offers a gorgeous view of salt marshes and wildlife, this 70-acre town-owned conservation area is worth a stop on your next bike ride.

Features

child looks at seaweed caught in a net at Little Bay Conservation Area in Fairhaven

The waters of Little Bay are rich with marine life for you and your family to discover.

Set behind the Fairhaven Public Works Department, Little Bay Conservation Area is perhaps best known as home to the Little Bay Extension of the popular Phoenix Bike Trail. Snake your way down this scenic one-mile bike path offshoot to enjoy a spectacular vista of Little Bay and Nasketucket Bay from the conservation area’s small concrete pier.

Little Bay Conservation Area is also a great destination for fishing. Many anglers come to Little Bay in spring to try catching “schoolies”: juvenile striped bass that are on the hunt for smaller fish.

Trails

The Little Bay Extension of the Phoenix Bike Trail runs for approximately one mile north-south from Arsene Street through Little Bay Conservation Area to Orchard Street. Beginning from here, you can travel north to the main bike path and the Mattapoisett Rail Trail or head south down Sconticut Neck Road toward West Island. (Download trail map)

In addition to the paved bike path, there is a small network of unmarked trails that loop for about a half-mile through the woods. If you have a hybrid or mountain bike, you can detour off the bike path to discover streams and vernal pools along these trails.

Habitats & Wildlife

Little Bay is fed by the freshwater Nasketucket River and opens up to Nasketucket Bay, creating a rich estuary where countless species of birds, fish, and shellfish thrive. Watch for herons and egrets silently stalking their prey among the salt marshes, while ospreys and terns soar overhead in search of food. In winter, flocks of ducks bob on the water’s surface as they feed.

Property Owned By
Details
Size: 70 acres
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Parking: Small unpaved parking area at the end of Little Bay Road
Trail Difficulty: Easy/Intermediate
Dogs: Yes
Facilities: Pier (concrete), Trash, Picnic Tables
Boat Ramp: None
ADA Accessible: Yes

Please follow all posted rules and regulations at this property.

Address & Contact Information
12 Little Bay Rd.
Fairhaven, MA 02719
41.633941, -70.869326
Fairhaven Conservation Commission: (508) 979-4019 x116

Please follow all posted rules and regulations at this property.

Little Bay Conservation Area (Fairhaven)
Fairhaven, MA
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Upcoming Events Near Here

Buzzards Bay Swim – Registration Now Open!
Sat, June 22
6:30AM - 10:30AM
Fort Phoenix State Reservation,
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Sun, August 18
Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights,
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Nearby Places To Go

Phoenix Bike Trail

The 4.5-mile paved Phoenix Bike Trail is a gateway to Fairhaven's coastal forests and salt marshes.

Pope Beach

A small, secluded spot on Priests Cove, Pope Beach in Fairhaven offers sparkling views of Buzzards Bay.

Seaview Avenue Beach & Boat Ramp

The beach and boat ramp at Seaview Avenue in Fairhaven grant explorers access to Nasketucket Bay.

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Bay Health: Little Bay (Fairhaven)

Find your water quality score in Bay Health ›