From there it meanders through the towns of Halifax, Middleborough and Raynham, through the city of Taunton for which it is named, the towns of Berkley, Dighton, Somerset, and the Assonet section of Freetown, to Fall River where it joins Mount Hope Bay, an arm of Narragansett Bay.

Over 154 bird species (including bald eagles) have been documented along the Taunton River, primarily during breeding season.

[2] Some comprehensive surveys along the entire length of the river identified over 70 distinct species of fish.

These include Atlantic white cedar swamps, forested bogs, and coastal plain pondshores, among many others.

[8] After over five years of study for possible inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System, such designation was obtained in April 2009.