Let's take a hike: 12 trails to explore this summer in Greater New Bedford area

Hiking has become an even more popular pastime after the COVID-19 pandemic, giving you the ability to get out of the house and explore without having to interact with anyone else.

Not only is hiking a great way to experience the outdoors and escape your ordinary surroundings, but it also has numerous health benefits improving your muscles, bones, and heart health.

Whether you want to get back to nature, lead a more active lifestyle, or take your children exploring this summer the area has some picturesque trails for you to check out.

We've compiled a list of Greater New Bedford area trails that will lead you on your own mini adventure, take a hike today.

The Sawmill - 32 Mill Road, Acushnet

Travel along the Acushnet River on a half-mile main trail through the woods over a footbridge watching the pools of fish. You can then take the boardwalks through a restored red maple swamp or to North River Overlook. Many parts of the trail are ADA-accessible.

Flora B. Peirce Nature Trail - Falmouth Street, New Bedford

A perfect family trail that is about a mile long, with a scenic pond, a certified vernal pool, and thriving wildlife. Leave the city behind when you enter this hidden gem with a mix of meadows, forests, and swampy wetlands full of critters.

Westport Land Conservation

With 13 properties (https://westportlandtrust.org/our-properties) there is an area for everyone to enjoy. Trail locations: 187 Blossom Road, 2.5 miles; 386 Old Harbor Road, 1.8 miles;  573 Adamsville Road, 3 miles; 62 Reed Road, 0.25 miles; 421 Pine Hill Road, 0.7 miles; 255 Cornell Road or 364 Adamsville Road, 2.5 miles; Entrance between 351 and 353 Tickle Road, 0.5 miles; 1520 Main Road, 2.1 miles; 214 Forge Road, 0.4 miles; and 830 Drift Road, 1 mile.

Freetown State Forest – 110 Slab Bridge Road, Assonet

Journey through the 5000-acre forest along 25 miles of trails. Many trails are wide and easy to travel, while there are also more difficult paths to choose from for any level of hiking. One special feature is Profile Rock, a 50-foot outcropping rock that looks like a man’s profile.

Dartmouth Natural Resource Trust

DNRT has 40 miles of trails all over Dartmouth (https://dnrt.org/reserves/) to bring you back to nature. Some of the trail locations: 285 Horseneck Road, 2 miles;  160 Slades Corner Road, 10 miles; 637 Potomska Road, 9 miles; 21 Chase Road, 1.5 miles; 739 Collins Corner Road, 4 miles; 355 Smith Neck Road, 2 miles;  and Star of the Sea Drive, 1.25 miles.

New Boston Trail - 325 New Boston Road, Fairhaven

New Boston Trail is a treat for walkers looking for a little bit of a challenge. With gnarled tree roots jutting from the ground, large rocks scattered about the path, and muddy moss all around, this 1-mile trail involves a little more concentration than most trails you would find on the South Coast.

Ross C. Mathieu Nature Trail - 100 Jordan St., New Bedford

A mile-long loop through woods and wetlands this trail has a magnificent grove of trees overlooking the outdoor classroom. Wildlife is in abundance in various habitats and the certified vernal pool.

The Bogs - 141 Acushnet Road, Mattapoisett

The Bogs is a gateway to four miles of trails through the Mattapoisett River Reserve’s woods, freshwater wetlands, and retired cranberry bogs.

Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary – 1280 Horseneck Road, Westport

With seven miles of hiking trails spanning more than 600 acres of protected beaches, fields, forests, and salt marshes, Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary is a destination for those who love to explore wild, diverse habitats.

Betty’s Neck- Bog Access Road, Lakeville

Betty’s Neck is home to roughly three miles of trails that snake through forests, past fields, and along the pond shoreline.

Stuart F. Morgan Conservation Area - Long Point Road, Middleboro

A beautiful old woodland offers a quiet carriage path with a view of the Great Quittacas Pond. With about 1.8 miles you will encounter a grove of old hemlock trees, and marshland, and be serenaded by the array of birds.

Shoolman Preserve - 204 New Bedford Road, Rochester

Birdwatchers this is the trail for you, the fields, pine forest, and wetlands are a protected habitat for birds. This 2-mile loop is a flat easy trail with a scenic holly grove, views of the Mattapoisett River, and a vernal pond. In the summer you can collect a quart a day of wild berries.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Hiking trails in the Greater New Bedford area