Berkley Bridge Village Heritage Park

41° 50.068' N    71° 6.419' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Map Server   Acme Maps

This is a site for launching hand-carried boats such as canoes or kayaks.

Description & Overview:

Berkley Bridge Village Heritage Park provides excellent access to the Taunton River for paddle-craft. While it is another 10 miles before the river gets to Fall River and flows into Mount Hope Bay, by the time it gets to Berkley Bridge the Taunton River is almost 500 feet wide, with broad salt marshes along the shore in many places. Tides, tidal currents and wind are all important factors in planning a trip on this part of the Taunton.

On an incoming tide it is quite possible to paddle the 4.1 miles upriver to Weir Village Park in Taunton and if you time the tides right you can then ride the outgoing tide back to Berkley Bridge. Going downriver from Berkley Bridge it will be easier if you have the tide going with you so an outgoing tide is recommended. It is 1.8 miles downriver to the next take-out at Dighton Rock State Park. Especially as you get close to Dighton Rock the river widens out and becomes even more bay-like and larger waves and stronger winds are possible and more motorboats are likely.

As you approach Dighton Rock State Park look for a small pier jutting out into the river from the left (east) bank with sloping stone sides and a small building on it. The best take out is just downriver of this pier. For more information see the listing for Dighton Rock State Park.

Click here for a printable map and guide (in Adobe Acrobat format) to paddling the Taunton River between Weir Village Park and Dighton Rock State Park.

This site provides access to the following water bodies in the Taunton River watershed: Taunton River.

Location:

Alternate Site Name: Berkley Bridge

Town: Berkley

Nearest Town Center: Dighton

Driving Landmarks: From the west (Dighton) side of the river take Center Street across the river and look for the park on your right just after you cross the bridge.

From the east (Berkley) side of the river take Elm Street to the river and look for the park on the left just before the bridge.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: estuary

Note: Because one boat launch can access, say, both a lake and a river or both the upstream and downstream portions of a river, not all paddling trips at a given site will necessarily encounter all of the features listed.

Type of Access: Boat launch for hand carried boats

ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no

Shoreline: A concrete walkway provides a solid walking surface down to the water. Otherwise the shoreline is a sand and gravel beach that turns to mud near the low tide line.

Float/Dock: no

Approximate Length of Carry between Car Access and Water: 125 feet

Parking:

Parking: yes: 10 spaces, no overnight parking

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? yes

Nearby Amenities:

Public Restrooms: No

Sources for More Information:

AMC River Guide: 4th Edition, page 153

Website: Map and Guide to paddling the Taunton between Weir Village and Dighton Rock (Adobe Acrobat format)

Ecological, Cultural & Recreational Attractions:

Berkley Bridge Village Heritage Park is a small but neatly maintained park right by the east end of the bridge. There are picnic tables at the park and lovely views of the river, but no restrooms or drinking water.

Photographs:

Berkley Bridge Village Heritage Park

Photography by: Bruce G. Hooke

Date of Photograph: May 1, 2010

The concrete walkway down to the water

Photography by: Bruce Hooke

Date of Photograph: April 7, 2022

Added since the earlier photograph below, from 2010.

View Downriver from Berkely Bridge Park

Photography by: Bruce G. Hooke

Date of Photograph: May 1, 2010

The put-in/take-out is in the foreground. This photograph was made when the tide was low, but not as low as it sometimes gets here.

View Upriver from Berkley Bridge Park

Photography by: Bruce G. Hooke

Date of Photograph: May 1, 2010

The bridge from which this site takes its name. The put-in/take-out is in the foreground. This photograph was made when the tide was low, but not as low as it sometimes gets here.

Sign at the park

Photography by: Bruce Hooke

Date of Photograph: April 7, 2022

Sign at the park

Photography by: Bruce Hooke

Date of Photograph: April 7, 2022

There is a small boat storage rack at the park but as the sign says, advanced permission is required to store boats at the park.

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