To manage crowd size and visitor expectations, we require ALL Crane Beach attendees to book a timed entrance pass online in advance. As we reduce our overall beach capacity to ensure the safety of visitors and staff, we believe this is the best way to plan and manage traffic on the beach. Licensees will still have free access to Crane Beach, but the additional timed entrance pass is still required at this time. Find answers to frequently asked questions about Crane Beach, including timed admission tickets, beach rules, and membership questions. Q: Where do I affix my approval sticker? Does it have to be on my vehicle? A: Your Crane Beach license is not valid until you attach it to your vehicle. We strongly prefer it to be on the windshield in the lower corner of the driver`s side, where our door staff can see it most easily. If your permit is not attached to your vehicle, you will be charged at the front door at the member rate or entry will be refused. Permits must not be laminated or glued to your windshield. If you have trouble putting it on your car, the doorman can help you on your first visit to the beach. Can I park at Castle Hill/Argilla Road to get to the beach? Enjoy the pleasure of swimming on one of the most spectacular beaches in the northeast and follow trails and walks through a fascinating landscape of sand dunes and salt marshes. What is Baker`s Pasture and where is it located? Baker`s Pasture is an additional parking lot with quick and easy access to a beautiful section of Crane Beach. Parking here is only available to the permit holder between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
every day between the Memorial and Labour Day. (Baker`s pasture is closed at any other time.) To visit Baker`s Pasture with a presale ticket, follow the signs along Argilla Road and turn the first left turn after the main entrance to Castle Hill. Portable toilets are available and Baker`s Pasture Beach will only have lifeguards on weekends. Note: Baker`s Pasture does not have access to all amenities and concessions. It`s a 10-15 minute walk along baker`s Pasture boardwalk from the beach to the Crane Beach bath. Hunting Authorized seasonal bow hunting is permitted in this reserve for a limited number of hunters through a deer management program administered by the trustees. According to MassWildlife regulations, hunting is allowed every year from the first Monday in October to December, from 1/2 hour before sunrise all day to 1/2 hour after sunset, Monday to Saturday. Hunting is not allowed on Sundays. Signage is provided to the property, which lists precautions and safety requirements. Learn more about hunting trustees` properties. All questions can be directed via castlehill@thetrustees.org to the coastal ecologist on the board of directors. Possession of a pre-purchased timed entrance pass guarantees entry to the beach on that day.
Timed entry passes are published once a week: Thursdays at noon (Friday to Thursday) for the coming week. Click here to book a timed entrance pass. Which amenities are available at Crane Beach? Toilets are available all year round. Locker rooms, outdoor rinse stations, a Crane Beach store, and self-service food and beverages are available daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Crane Beach is also home to five miles of dune trails. Parking for people with reduced mobility, beach wheelchairs and an accessibility shuttle from the car park to the beach are available. Regular hikes and paddle tours are offered from the Crane Estate, and the Castle Hill Barn hosts our popular summer camp each year. Information about events, programs, other trustee properties in the area, and Membership in The Trustees is available at the beach store or online. According to the governor`s orders, no more than 10 people can gather in groups at any given time.
These include people who «tow» together or settle in their place on the beach. Groups of «paper towels» must be at least 12 feet away from other groups. Public bath complex Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the public bath houses our first aid and EMT office, a lively refreshment stand, and our beach shop. At other times of the year, these amenities are closed. Toilets are available during opening hours. You must install your blankets/chairs at least 12` from any other part. People can gather in a group of up to 10 people per group. Although masks are mandatory when walking around the property, you don`t need to wear them when swimming or «wearing a towel» (on your chair/blanket on the beach).
Please also note the following additional rules for the waterfront: Low season: Family toilets and visitor access to floating beach wheelchairs Crane Beach is visited by more than 350,000 people each year and remains a national model for balancing the conservation of various natural habitats and wildlife – more than 1,200 hectares of beach, dunes and marine forests adorn the property – with the management of active public recreation. Whether you want to cool off, play in the sand or bask in the sun, this unparalleled beachfront experience has been a fun and lasting memory for generations. Crane Beach closes at 6pm, so guests and cars won`t be able to stay on the property after that time. This allows us to thoroughly clean and sterilize the toilets, beach shop, snack hut, employee workplaces and our vehicles at the end of each working day. Enjoy the pleasure of swimming on one of the most spectacular beaches in the Northeast and f. Q: What do trustees do with my permit fees? A: The proceeds of these permits allow trustees to ensure excellent care and management of the ecologically important ecosystem of the barrier beach. It also supports the summer service of trained lifeguards and paramedics, as well as the year-round service of rangers and guards. Membership also supports the maintenance of facilities such as our modern bathhouse as well as our beach shop and refreshment bar. I just booked a Timed Entry Pass, but the confirmation was not emailed to me.
Please check your spam/junk folder in your email as tickets can sometimes be found there. If you still don`t see it, please send cranetickets@thetrustees.org an email with your first name, last name and booking date to confirm. Can I get a refund for a timed entrance pass if I can`t do it? If The Trustees does not close the beach for any reason (extreme weather, emergency), timed entrance passes are non-refundable. In all but the most extreme cases, Crane Beach is open rain or shine. Hiking Trails Discover 5.5 miles of hiking trails that cross the dunes, maritime bush forest and beach of Ipswich Bay and on the Essex River estuary side of the Castle Neck Peninsula. Due to the soft sand and the many hilly dunes, the difficulty of the route is moderate. These trails are a spur of the Bay Circuit Trail. Bring plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen and a cell phone for added safety! Our two wooden walkways are just one-way streets. The eastern promenade (just when you drive) is a direction that leads from the parking lot to the beach. The central promenade (between the east promenade and the vehicle access road) will be a direction that leads from the beach to the car park. The access road (with blue Mobi-mat) will be in both directions, allowing pedestrian traffic in both directions. Can I go to the beach by bike or on foot? Pedestrians and cyclists who present a valid membership card can participate free of charge.
Pedestrians and cyclists who are not members can purchase a pass online in advance or pay by credit card at Crane Beach Gate. Note: Cycling, including big-tire bikes, is not allowed on the beach Trails5.5 miles of hiking trails cross the dunes and follow the beach both at Ipswich Bay and on the estuary side of the Essex River of the Castle Neck Peninsula. Moderate hiking. These trails are part of the Bay Circuit Trail. The Castle Hill car park is reserved for visitors to the historic gardens and gardens. The only parking at the moment at Castle Hill is in the Main Lot and Barn Lot, and these spaces are limited. Thus, there is NO BEACH PARKING in Castle Hill. Visitors on foot (hikers, hikers) can walk around the Steep Hill area, but we ask bathers to respect this rule and use the Crane Beach parking lot only for beach visits.