Where in Southcoast Massachusetts can you go on an island hike without having to hop on a ferry? In the southernmost point of Westport, MA, you’ll find such a place. Gooseberry Island is a small, 73-acre island that’s connected to the mainland via a causeway.
Naturally, Benny and I knew this would be a cool place to check out.
Parking
Even though there’s a causeway, we decided to park in a small parking lot on the mainland side. Why? Well, Benny had a feeling that the parking lot on the island would be packed. I wanted to drive right onto the island to park, but he was making a big fuss about our not being able to find a parking spot. So, I relented and parked where he suggested.
Note – as of now, in order to park on the “mainland” side, you need to have a town parking sticker, or you could get a $50 fine. So, when Benny and I revisit Gooseberry Island, we’ll have to park on the island. Parking on the island is still free. Thanks to a reader for bringing this update to my attention.
As we walked along the causeway, we saw that a lot of cars that had been heading towards the island turn around and leave. Benny looked at me facetiously and said, “I bet they can’t find a parking spot.” I pretended that I didn’t hear him. It was windy, after all.
The Old Beach Community
As we started along the trail, we saw the remnants of old foundations. While no one lives on Gooseberry Island today, in the 1950s there was a thriving beachside community. Unfortunately, Hurricane Carol in 1958 was so devastating that all of these buildings were destroyed.
Of course, the one moment I’m not looking, Benny decides to play hide-and-go-seek. As I was admiring the view, he decided to run off into the brush. I finally saw him, smiling wryly at me. He had found an old stair foundation.
The Two Towers
This is where things get interesting. As you walk down the island’s main path, you’ll see two towers. These old towers are from WWII, and were part of our coastal defense system. Today, they look like the sole survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. I mentioned this to Benny; he told me I was being dramatic.
Over the decades, aspiring artists have used the walls of the towers to showcase their art. As in, there’s a lot of graffiti. For any family people out there, we didn’t see anything offensive.
The towers are off limits to the public, and it’s obvious that the state is trying to thwart anyone from getting inside.
Behind the taller tower, there’s an overgrown path. Being overly curious, we decided to trek down it. We discovered an old bunker! Like the tower, the entrance had been blocked. It looked like, if we really wanted to, we could have found a way in, but we decided that it wasn’t the best idea.
Along the beach
From the shorter tower, it’s a quick, 10-second walk to the beach. Benny suggested going swimming, but it’s not a designated swimming area and has no lifeguard. Also, it’s incredibly rocky, and I’m sure there’s a strong current. So, instead of swimming, we enjoyed the views as we slowly and carefully walked along the rocky perimeter of the island.
Even though the parking lot was full, there weren’t many people here. Most of the time, we were the only people we could see on the beach, and the only sound we could hear was the wind and the crashing of the waves. If you’re looking for solitude on the island, this is the place to go. After walking around half of Gooseberry Island, we found a path that led us back to the main trail.
More info:
We found Gooseberry Island to be a very family-friendly place. The walk to the towers is short, and as of our visiting, there wasn’t any offensive graffiti. Also, it’s a popular fishing and bird-watching spot.
While there is a sandy, swimmable beach on the island next to the causeway, we didn’t see a lifeguard, so swimming is at your own risk.
Near the beach is a boat launch that’s acceptable for small boats.
If you’re interested in Gooseberry Island, you’ll definitely want to check out these resources:
The Secret History of Gooseberry Island
Gooseberry Island – Buzzards Bay Coalition
Subscribe and join us on our adventures!
Check out our map of places we’ve been in New England!
Find New England Travel Guides and Books. This is an affiliate link, and we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
If you like local hikes, you should check out these places:
- Ridge Hill Reserve, Dartmouth
- Hiking Simmons Pond in Little Compton
- New Bedford Harbor Walk
- Destruction Brook Woods, Dartmouth
- A Stroll at the Westport Town Farm
- Gooseberry Island in Westport
- Sandwich’s WWII Remains
- East Over Reservation, Rochester
- Natural Resources Trust of Easton
- Colt State Park, Bristol
- The Knob, Falmouth
- Blackstone Gorge, Blackstone
- Quequechan River Rail Trail, Fall River
- Lyman Reserve, Plymouth/Bourne/Wareham
- Lawrence Island, Bourne
- Meshanticut State Park, Cranston
- South Mount Sugarloaf, Deerfield
- Hiking up Mount Wachusett, Princeton, MA
In Westport? Why not check out the Westport Town Farm?
Gooseberry Island is located in Westport, MA at the end of W Shore Road.
Check out our map of places we’ve been in New England!
Find New England Travel Guides and Books. This is an affiliate link, and we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
One of my favorite places!
It’s certainly a great place! 🙂
I really enjoyed this post. Thank you for taking me to a place that I have never been to before. It sounds like a wonderful trip.
Your site is awesome! I don’t know who is the better traveler,
You or Benny!?! 🙂
Thank you, Gina! I’m not sure who’s better either 😉 but together, we’re going to travel the world!
Just a heads up, you now need a Westport town sticker to park where you did on the mainland side, otherwise police will put a $50 ticket on your car. However, to park on the Island is free. Thanks for sharing
Ah, that’s too bad. I used to love parking on that side and walking over. Guess I’ll just have to move to Westport now. Thanks for the heads up. I’ll update the post.