SAULNIER BIKE TRAIL
LETTERBOX:
NEW BEDFORD,
MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Planted:
August 24, 2003
Length:
Westside Trail to
Clark
's Point; 1.4 miles
Eastside Trail to
Clark
's Point; 1.4 miles
Complete
Loop
; 3 ½ miles
Fort
Taber
Park
; Drive by
Difficulty:
Easy. Flat, paved trail.
Directions:
From I-195, take exit 15 to Route 18
south for 2.8 miles to a traffic light at
Cove Street
, where Route 18 ends. Continue straight on
West Rodney French Blvd.
, down along Clark's Cove.
To start from West Beach; Park
along the street near Hazelwood Park or turn left up Valentine Street,
then right on Brock Avenue to the entrance of Hazelwood Park. A parking
lot is located here. The trail runs between Clark's Cove and
West Rodney French Blvd.
To start from
Fort
Taber
Park
(Drive by); Continue down
West Rodney French Blvd.
and turn left onto
South Rodney French Blvd.
The park entrance is on the right where you meet
East Rodney French Blvd.
Note the entrance to the Wastewater Treatment Facility on your right
after you pass through the entrance.
This bike trail has three distinct segments.
The Westside Trail runs alongside Clark's
Cove, with completely wide open views. The Eastside Trail runs alongside
New Bedford
Harbor
, with views of
Fort
Phoenix
across the waters in
Fairhaven
. Finally, the third segment passes through the many paths of Fort Taber Park
at the end of Clark's Point.
Fort
Taber
was constructed in the late 1850's to guard the city's harbor and today its
tall granite walls still stand. In later years,
Fort
Rodman
encompassed the surrounding land with additional fortifications that are still
visible and served as an active military post during World War II. A second
Letterbox is located along the Phoenix Bike Trail in nearby
Fairhaven
. See;
PHOENIX BIKE TRAIL LETTERBOX . If you have time, I would defiantly
visit the New Bedford Historic District, located off Route 18 in
New Bedford
. There is a National Historical Park Visitor's Center located there as
well. For more information check out; NEW
BEDFORD-NPS .
Starting from
West
Beach
along the Westside Trail; The bike
trail starts out separated from the sidewalk for the first ½ mile and then
becomes one massive paved trail. It runs alongside Clark's Cove and is
completely open to the elements. You come to
South Rodney French BLVD
after ¾ miles.
Note;
You may follow the trail along this road for a shortcut to the Eastside
Trail, but I recommend continuing straight along the trail as it heads
towards Fort Taber Park.
This is the quietest segment on the trail, as
it passes the west side of the water treatment facility and runs past the old
fortifications encompassing
Fort
Rodman
. After 1 ¼ miles, a trail to your left will take you to the parking lot, but
continue straight, passing by Fort Taber and out to the tip of Clark's
Point. Here they have telescopes along the sea wall looking out over Buzzard's
Bay. Looking back towards the fort, you'll see Clark's Point Lighthouse
on top of the fort. There are many intersecting trails in the park, so be sure
to explore. From the tip of Clark's Point, travel around the fort
and past the snack bar/restroom pavilion that also contains a playground and
head out past the parking lot. About a ½ mile from the Point, just before the entrance, you will see a building to your
left called
Camp
Kennedy
. To the left of this building is the entrance to the water treatment facility.
Between the entrance and the building are an orange fire hydrant and two orange
posts. A black fence runs behind the building and then turns down alongside the
water treatment entrance. Walk alongside the fence towards the water treatment
facility for only a few steps until you see a pile of sticks and leaves tucked
underneath the fence. The Saulnier Bike Trail Letterbox is here. Please
recover the box well.
Note;
Exiting Fort Taber, you may take the trail left, alongside
South Rodney French BLVD
, back to the Westside Trail.
Exit
Fort
Taber
and continue straight up the Eastside
Trail alongside
New Bedford
Harbor
. You pass by
East
Beach
and then a cement pier. If you look out into the harbor you will see Butler's
Flat Lighthouse. After 1.4 miles from the Point, the trail ends at
Butler Street
. To complete the loop, head up residential
Butler Street
and you will come to the entrance of
Hazelwood
Park
after a ½ mile.
West
Beach
is at the western end of the park.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR MAP
CLICK
HERE FOR FORT TABER PARK MAP
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED
ON
MARCH 1, 2009
TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION
CLICK HERE
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE
SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND
DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
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