Gooseberry Island

It pains me to rate a place that means so much to me so poorly, but hopefully it will wake someone up to the state of the littering, drinking, and abuse of this beautiful island. I’ve been coming here for about 15 years, and have always loved its beautiful rocky shores, its ruins, and its commanding position in the bay.
The last few times I’ve been here, however, the beach has been littered with used diapers, beer cans, cups, condoms, and other trash. There is graffiti on the rocks, discarded fishing lines, and other assorted trash EVERYWHERE. I’m not blaming the park for not cleaning up so much as I am blaming other park goers for being pigs. It’s a shame, but the park seems to attract people who have no respect for it.
That’s makes me really sad because this is/​was a great place at heart. Unless more effort is made by the park and the park goers to protect it, however, it won’t be a great place for long.

I love to bring my dog to Gooseberry Island in the spring to take her for walks and runs. She loves sniffing around the beach and running on the sand.
There are also great hiking trails if you don’t want to walk along the actual beach, but beware… The trails are filled with ticks. Make sure you check yourself after your hike and make sure your dog has good tick protection!
For the most part you will run into responsible dog owners who pick up after their dogs and keep them on leash to avoid any issues.
It’s a gorgeous place to walk in the nice weather.

Gorgeous spot to enjoy the sand & surf! Fish on the rocky side. Sunbathe on the sandy side. Swim. Hike. Have fun with your dog! Lots of dogs here today… all with responsible owners cleaning up after them. Very cool. We’ve been coming here for decades… love it!!! Get there early because the small lot fills up fast.

Gooseberry Island is a wonderful outdoor location full of history and the splendors of nature in coastal New England. I have been here twice; once for the beach and a second time for island hiking. The island is accessible by a man-​made causeway connecting the mainland and the island over a sandbar that was used back in the day to originally gain entrance to this small piece of land.
The island has a small beach with softer sand perfect for lounging around, catching some rays. The water is free from much seaweed and is great for small children as there are not many waves that come crashing into shore in this section adjacent to the parking lot. The lot fills up quickly in the summer months and it is recommended to get there early if you don’t want to fight long and hard for a space to pull into. The rest of the shore is quite rocky but makes for some great shell and interesting rock finds.
The remainder of the island is covered with thick, thorny brush. There is a main path that allows for hiking throughout the island. Of priority interest on the island is its history as a coastal defense installation; still seen today are a pair of WWII towers used for large artillery. Apparently there are other underground bunkers as well but they are mostly hidden by brush these days. Unfortunately, these structures are now covered in graffiti. It is very interesting to discover the history of this island’s recent past.
The island is open sunrise to sunset in the summer. Port-​a-​Johns are available for hikers and beach-​goers… they are kinda disgusting (as most are) and never seem to have toilet paper so plan accordingly. Dogs are permitted on leashes. There is a boat launch available… I watched a couple people unload jet skis into the water during my time here most recently.
Best of all… its free! If you’re out early, pass by the parking fees at Horseneck beach and travel a bit farther down the road to visit this location!