16. Ryder Conservation Area
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 833-8054
Description: The lovely 243–acre Ryder Conservation Area is accessible from Cotuit and South Sandwich Roads and offers about 5 miles of walking trails. Wakeby Pond has fishing areas and a boat ramp and is an excellent area for canoeing and swimming. Nature lovers will appreciate the large holly trees (some more than 100 years old), the beech/pine tree groves, and the old abandoned cranberry bogs. Lifeguards are on-site during the summer months (Ryder Conservation Area is open May to Oct). A local beach sticker is required during the summer months between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. A daily pass may be purchased for $10 at the Sandwich Town Hall ($60 for the season). There are several parking areas and entrances off the west side of Cotuit Road between Harlow Road and Boardly Road.
17. Scusset Beach State Reservation
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 888-0859
Description: Scusset Beach Reservation, on the north side of the canal, is a large state-run park that is mostly used for camping, but hiking and fishing are permitted. A 1-mile trail through Scusset leads to Sagamore Hill, which offers a panoramic overlook of Cape Cod Bay. Take Meetinghouse Road east off the Sagamore Rotary to Scusset Beach Road to the trail entrance opposite the pier. A daily parking fee is charged.
18. Shawme-Crowell State Forest
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 888-0351
Description: This large 742-acre state-run park is used mostly for camping and offers an abundance of wildlife, flora, and fauna. This quiet campground at the beginning of Cape Cod has 285 campsites, and toilets and hot water are available for a nightly fee. The park also has 15 miles of roads and trails that provide excellent hiking and biking access to the pitch pine and scrub oak forests. You can view all of Cape Cod Bay from the summit of Mr. Perry inside the park. A camping permit allows campers to use Scusset Beach.
19. South Cape Beach State Park
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 457-0495
Description: At the end of Great Neck Road is South Cape Beach, where the state maintains a public beach, parking lot, and conservation land with 3 miles of sandy roadways suitable for hiking. Here you can explore both freshwater and saltwater wetlands. There is a $7 fee for parking. For more information about South Cape, contact the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve at the above number.
20. Talbot’S Point Conservation Lands
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 833-8054
Description: Talbot’s Point Conservation Lands on Old County Road has a relatively level trail system through a red pine forest planted for soil control by the Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Its 112 acres abut a saltwater and freshwater marsh, and walkers may see shore and upland game birds as well as osprey. The area features a freshwater bubbling spring. Park on the wide sandy road north from Old County Road, about 1 mile east of Hoxie Pond.
21. Washburn Island
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 457-0495
Description: Washburn Island is a 334-acre wooded island in Waquoit Bay managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. It is only accessible by boat and has no fresh water. If you wish to camp on the island, you must purchase a permit. Call the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve at the number above for more information.
22. Bass Hole (Gray’S Beach)
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 398-2231, ext. 1283
Description: Bass Hole, also called Gray’s Beach, at the end of Center Street, is the place to stroll along the boardwalk, put your toes in the water, and enjoy the beach, playground, and barbecue facilities.
23. Bridge Creek Conservation Area
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 862-4093
Description: To reach Bridge Creek Conservation Area, you can park at either the fire station on Route 149 or at Church Street (which can be found off Route 6A). This large 246-acre conservation area has 2½ miles of well-cleared trails for you to explore. Maps are available at the trailhead.
24. Burgess Park
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 790-6345
Description: Burgess Park is a 17-acre park with an 18-“hole” Frisbee golf course, walking trails, a playground, volleyball court, croquet area, horseshoe pits, and barbecue grills. The park overlooks Hamblin Pond, and it’s an easy walk to the pond’s beach. Parking is $12 on weekdays, $15 on weekends and holidays.
25. Callery-Darling Conservation Area
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 398-2231, ext. 1283
Description: The Callery-Darling Conservation Area is a great place to spot woodland and water birds, such as the great blue heron, the largest heron in North America, which fishes in both fresh and salt water. There is a trail system here comprising some 2.4 miles wandering through lands where foxes, rabbits, and deer make their home.
26. Conservation Area
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 760-6123
Description: Simpkins Neck and the Romig-Jacquinet Conservation Area are two connected parcels of land that are largely surrounded by marshlands. Once you find the entrance (off New Boston Road, two houses past Berrien Studios on your left), you can follow the trail to the edge of the marsh. It’s 1.5 miles round-trip.
27. Crab Creek Conservation Area
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 398-2231, ext. 1283
Description: Blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) are abundant here, and their presence gave this conservation area its name. A 500-foot trail follows a creek that joins Follins Pond with Mill Pond; it is a prime fishing spot and features a dock just for that purpose.
28. Crocker Neck Conservation Area
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 862-4093
Description: The 97-acre Crocker Neck Conservation Area in Cotuit is a peninsula created by Shoestring Bay, Popponesset Bay, and Pinquickset Cove. It is wooded and has an interpretive trail with permanent numbered markers and an observation deck overlooking tidal pools. The area also has saltwater marshes. You can park in a lot off Santuit Road.
29. Crowe’S Pasture
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 760-6123
Description: Nature lovers will relish Crowe’s Pasture, a bayfront site of more than 50 acres off South Street at the end of Quivet Cemetery. Follow the dirt road (about 2½ miles round-trip), and revel in an oasis barrier beach with marsh hawks and wild apple and cherry groves.
30. Dennis Pond Conservation Area
City: Cape Cod, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 398-2231, ext. 1283
Description: As its name suggests, this conservation area is adjacent to Dennis Pond and features a 1,325-foot trail that leads through woodlands of red maple, white pine, and sweet pepperbush. There’s a small parking area out on Willow Street where you begin your journey.