Scituate Town Pier - North and South Rivers Watershed Association

scituate town pier

https://www.scituatema.gov/harbormaster

Owned By: Town of Scituate

Directions

The Scituate Town Pier serves the town’s commercial fishing fleet, providing a place to load and unload supplies and bait, and to transfer fish to dealers and processors. The only deep-water facility in town, it is heavily used. A skiff/dinghy dock is located on the north side of the pier. There is no access for recreational boaters.

It’s important to know that some of our fisheries are contaminated with mercury, PFAS and/or other concerning substances. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an online database with up-to-date advisories regarding fish consumption, sorted by location. We recommend you consult this valuable resource when planning a fishing excursion.

Features

Long before the arrival of European settlers, Scituate was inhabited by members of the Massachusett (Massachuseuk) tribe, who maintained villages on the eastern shore of the Gulf River, as well as in Scituate Harbor. To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Mattakeeset band of the Massachusett, and the Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag, both share information on their websites.

Interpretive signage along the Scituate Harborwalk offers this history of the area: “The period of time between the mid 1600’s through the mid 1800s defined Scituate as one of the most prosperous harbors between Boston and New Bedford. As maritime based industries grew along the waterfront, the wharf area became the center of activity for the Town. Numerous men listed their occupation as shipwrights, chandlers, coopers, blacksmiths, carpenters and sail makers. Serving trade and travel, a ship yard, tide mill, lumber mill and livery covered the area where (the Mill Wharf Marina and restaurant) now stand. … Schooners, barks, brigantines and whaling ships were built and sailed from Scituate to destinations around the world.”

Trail Description

Access to more than half of the pier is restricted to the commercial fishing industry. Please respect the boundaries of this very busy working pier!

Immediately adjacent to the pier is the Scituate Harborwalk, which extends for a half mile, along Scituate Harbor and Satuit Brook, with beautiful water views. A concrete walkway (with a guardrail), it passes by the Scituate Harbormaster headquarters, several marinas, as well as the Morrill Memorial Bandstand gazebo, and various memorials.