Little Buttermilk Bay Woods

Little Buttermilk Bay Woods, Head of the Bay Road, Buzzards Bay, MA, USA

Town of Bourne: 508-759-0600

Owned By: Town of Bourne

• Directions
• Trail Map

Little Buttermilk Bay Woods is a varied property in Bourne with a 0.8-mile loop trail through woodlands and wetlands. Don’t miss the bench and observation deck on Little Buttermilk Bay!

Features

This property was purchased with Community Preservation Funds in 2007. It is overseen by the Bourne Open Space Committee.

According to information on the Trail Map provided by the Town of Bourne, native inhabitants of this land referred to it as Waquonscott, meaning “end of the marsh.” Areas like this were often used for summer encampments, prime spots for fishing and shellfishing.

This land is within the region of the Wampanoag. To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Mashpee Wampanoag and the Herring Pond Wampanoag share information on their websites.

Trail Description

Follow the Waquonscott Loop Trail from the parking area and look for intersections with the Ridge Trail and the Shore Trail. The ridge trail extends through the woods with some steep up-and-downhills. The Shore Trail extends along the water, with beautiful views. Together, the Ridge Trail and Shore Trail form a loop, with two smaller loops within.

Habitats and Wildlife

The forest here is primarily pitch pine, oak, and white pine, with a few holly trees. There are also some wetlands, including vernal pools, kettle hole ponds, and a former cranberry bog, plus a salt marsh on Little Buttermilk Bay. According to information on the Trail Map provided by the Town of Bourne, Little Buttermilk Bay is believed to be the remnant of a large kettle pond now overtaken by the ocean. Waters here drain into Little Buttermilk Bay, which connects through Buttermilk Bay to Buzzards Bay.

On the water and in the marsh, look for osprey and great blue heron.