Scusset Beach State Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scusset Beach State Reservation |
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Cape Cod Canal with Scusset Beach at right
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 Scusset Beach State Reservation
Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States |
| Area | 459 acres (186 ha) |
| Established | 1957 |
| Governing body | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Scusset Beach State Reservation |
Scusset Beach State Reservation is a state-operated, public recreation area located in the town of Sandwich in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal on land formerly part of Sagamore Hill Military Reservation. In addition to its beach and campgrounds, prominent features of the park include Sagamore Hill, a one-time Native American meeting ground and site of World War II coastal fortifications, and a 3,000-foot (910 m) stone jetty that separates the canal and beach. Unlike most of Sandwich, this section of the town is on the mainland side of the Cape Cod Canal. The state park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation under a lease agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Activities and amenities
- Beach: The park fronts a half-mile of sandy beach and dunes on Cape Cod Bay. The beach area is served by an ADA-compliant boardwalk, wheelchair-accessible restrooms and showers, snack bars, and seasonal lifeguards.
- Trails and roads: A .7-mile (1.1 km) trail to Sagamore Hill offers commanding views of the canal's east entrance and the bay. A 7-mile (11 km) paved service road along the north side of the canal is used for bicycling, walking, skating, and ship and wildlife watching.
- Camping: The park offers 98 camping pitches for recreational vehicles and five for tents. Off-season camping is permitted on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, with facilities unavailable. Camping at Shawme-Crowell State Forest includes access to Scusset Beach.
- Fishing is available from a pier that extends out from the side of the canal, a breakwater, and the canal frontage road. Surf casting is possible at dusk along designated sections of the beach. Other park offerings include interpretive programs and restricted hunting.
