A guide to free things to do outside in Greater Fall River
With the weather heating up and kids finally out of school for the summer, here are some of the top free ways to get outdoors in the Fall River area.
Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve
The Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve includes about 16,000 acres of protected forestland that stretches from Fall River and Freetown to Lakeville. About 5,000 of those acres are in Fall River. And, it’s all free and open to the public.
The Bioreserve includes about 50 miles of hiking trail. Plenty of them are just one mile or a few miles long, making them perfect for a family outing or a beginner’s hike. If you want to tackle a bigger challenge: in 2021, Fall River officially unveiled the Bioreserve Loop Trail, which marks out 20 miles of pre-existing trails in a connected loop.
Quequechan River Rail Trail, Fall River
The Quequechan River Rail Trail runs for two miles through the heart of Fall River. It begins at Britland Park and travels along the Quequechan River’s path through the Flint. It then crosses Brayton Avenue and continues along the South Watuppa Pond’s northern shore, coming to an end just beyond LePage’s Seafood.
The trail follows the old New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad lines. The extension of the trail to the Westport line has recently been completed.
Room to walk: Fall River's Quequechan River Rail Trail has a new extension. More could be on the way.
Copicut Woods, Westport
Adjacent to the Bioreserve, the Trustees of Reservations maintain the Copicut Woods. This reserve includes about five miles of easy trails, along with historic abandoned farming settlements. One highlight from this reserve is Miller Lane, a one-mile long scenic cart path that is lined with historic stone walls constructed 150 years ago.
Weetamoo Woods, Tiverton
The Weetamoo Woods includes about 750 acres of forest. The reserve includes a handful of short trails that can be connected to form a five-mile loop.
Pardon Gray Preserve, Tiverton
The Tiverton Land Trust oversees the 230 acre Pardon Gray Preserve, which borders to Weetamoo Woods. It includes an active farm and colonial artifacts including the Gray Family Historical Cemetery, an old well house that has been restored as a visitors’ kiosk and original historic stone walls.
Swansea Village Park, Swansea
With its entrance tucked behind the Swansea Town Hall and Library, it could be easy to miss Swansea Village Park. But, this hidden gem includes a few wooded walking trails with large distinctive rock formations.
Big Red Slide, Somerset
Somerset’s distinctive giant slide was first installed at Pierce Beach Park in 1988. Thirty feet tall and 60 feet long, the slide is a signature outdoor activity in town, to the point of being featured in the logo for Somerset’s Playgrounds and Recreation Department.
The town unveiled a new and improved version of the Big Red Slide in 2021. The new slide has an added safety feature at the bottom and is made of stainless steel, not fiberglass like the original, which had begun to deteriorate from the elements.
Westport Town Farm, Westport
The Trustees of Reservations also maintain Westport Town Farm, a 40-acre nature preserve and historic farm complex located along the Westport River.
The farm, which dates back to colonial times, includes an antique farmhouse, dairy barn, corn crib and stone walls alongside coastal views. A one-mile loop trail traverses the farm’s highlights.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Eight free things to do to in Greater Fall River
