2025 Sandy Neck Nature Hikes and Events

 

Meet at the Sandy Neck Gatehouse unless otherwise noted.

Spring Beach Clean-up: Saturday, April 6, 9 am – noon

Join the Massachusetts Beach Buggy Association for this yearly event.  Activities include trash pick-up, dune fence installation and more!  Meet at the Sandy Neck lower parking lot and spend the morning giving back to your favorite beach. For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300.

Signs of Spring on Sandy Neck:   Thursday, April 24, 10 am – noon 

Sandy Neck awakens in April as Ospreys return to rebuild their bulky stick nests atop poles. Endangered Piping Plovers scour the vast beach for the ideal spot to scratch their simple nests. Rare Spadefoot Toads rush to breed in ephemeral pools in the dunes.  A Mass Audubon naturalist and a Sandy Neck Ranger will be your guides through this spectacular landscape. Programs are $14 for members and $18 for non-members. Pre-registration required. For more information, call Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-362-7475 Ext 9355 or online www.massaudubon.org/longpasture

( https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/long-pasture/96079-signs-of-spring-on-sandy-neck )

Sandy Neck Spring Flora & Fauna Hike:   Wednesday, May 14, 10 am - noon  

Hike 1.5-miles through Sandy Neck’s Great Marsh and sand dunes to explore barrier beach flora and fauna with Barnstable Land Trust and Sandy Neck Park Staff. You’ll learn about ongoing efforts to protect and restore these and other sensitive natural communities. Wear sturdy hiking boots to walk over sand and uneven terrain.  For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300 or visit the web site www.blt.org This hike is free.

ORV Operation 101 for Beginners:  Thursday, May 22, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Do you want to be able to take your vehicle off-road, but are unsure where to start? Join Sandy Neck Beach Park Staff to learn the Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) basics. Staff will teach you how to air down and up your vehicle, what your equipment is for and how to use it and answer your off-roading questions. This event is free, pre-registration is required. To register, please email the Sandy Neck Gatehouse at sandyneck@town.barnstbale.ma.us.

Sandy Neck Terrapin Hike:   Thursday, June 12, 10 am - noon  

Hike 1.5-miles through Sandy Neck’s Great Marsh and sand to discover hidden Diamondback Terrapin nests with Barnstable Land Trust and Sandy Neck Park Staff. Learn about the Diamondback Terrapin’s life-cycle and ongoing conservation efforts to protect them in Massachusetts. Wear sturdy hiking boots to walk over sand and uneven terrain.  For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300 or visit www.blt.org . This hike is free.

In Search of Diamondback Terrapins on Sandy Neck:   Tuesday , June 17, 10 am – noon

In summer, rare Diamondback Terrapins emerge from the Great Marsh to lay their eggs in the dunes of Sandy Neck.  Join a Mass Audubon Naturalist and a Sandy Neck Ranger as we search for signs of nests and tracks of these amazing and mysterious turtles. Learn about the headstart program helping the tiny terrapins. Programs are $14 for members and $18 for non-members. Pre-registration required. For more information, call Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-362-7475 Ext 9355 or online www.massaudubon.org/longpasture

(https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/long-pasture/96080-in-search-of-diamondback-terrapins-on-sandy-neck)
Sandy Neck Plover Walk:   Wednesday, June 18, 10 am – noon 

Discover hidden Piping Plover nests along the front beach with Barnstable Land Trust and Sandy Neck Park staff on a one-mile hike through the dunes of Sandy Neck.  Explore barrier beach ecology. Learn about the Piping Plover’s life-cycle and conservation measures being taken to protect these endangered shorebirds.  Wear hiking boots for sand/uneven terrain.  For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300 or visit the web site www.blt.org  This hike is free.

Sandy Neck Summer Flora & Fauna Hike:   Tuesday, June 24, 10 am - noon    

Hike 1.5-miles through Sandy Neck’s Great Marsh and sand dunes to explore barrier beach flora and fauna with Barnstable Land Trust and Sandy Neck Park Staff. You’ll learn about ongoing efforts to protect and restore these and other sensitive natural communities. Wear sturdy hiking boots to walk over sand and uneven terrain.  For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300 or visit www.blt.org . This hike is free.

 

Sandy Neck Junior Ranger Program: Five Wednesdays, 9:30 am – noon, from July 9 – August 6,

 Ages 9-13

 

Come explore the Sandy Neck barrier beach ecosystem as a Jr. Ranger.  Jr. Rangers will earn their badge by participating in outdoor hikes, identifying local plants and animals including endangered species, learning how to rescue marine mammals such as dolphins and seals, and most of all having fun.  Junior Rangers must be able to attend four out of five sessions to be eligible for the program.  Space is limited to ten however more sessions may be added if needed.  $65 for each Jr. Ranger.  For more information on enrollment call the Barnstable Recreation Department 508-790-6345.

 

 

Hiking for Terrapin Hatchlings on Sandy Neck, Wednesday, September 4, 10 am – noon

Last summer, we caught a glimpse of a rare Diamondback Terrapin female who had just laid her eggs. This fall we will be searching Sandy Neck for tiny tracks of hatchling terrapins, as they make the treacherous journey from their sandy dune nests to the safety of the marsh. Join a Mass Audubon Naturalist and a Sandy Neck Ranger as we search for Diamondback Terrapin hatchlings. Programs are $14 for members and $18 for non-members. Pre-registration required. For more information, call Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-362-7475 Ext 9355 or online www.massaudubon.org/longpasture

(https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/long-pasture/96081-hiking-for-terrapin-hatchlings-on-sandy-neck)

 

Sandy Neck Terrapin Hatchling Hike:   Tuesday, September 9, 10 am - noon 

 

Hike 1.5-miles through Sandy Neck’s Great Marsh and sand to discover tracks of hatchling Diamondback Terrapins with Barnstable Land Trust and Sandy Neck Park Staff. Learn about the Diamondback Terrapin’s life-cycle and the headstart program helping the tiny terrapins. Wear sturdy hiking boots to walk over sand and uneven terrain.  For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300 or visit www.blt.org . This hike is free

 

Sandy Neck Fall Migration Hike: Wednesday, September 10, 10 am – noon.

 

Sandy Neck is a popular resting place for many migratory species on their way south along the east coast. The forested areas along the trails are made of a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees packed with high-energy food for the traveling birds.  Additionally, many migrating birds linger on Sandy Neck shores, delaying their flights south for as long as possible. These birds tend to concentrate near their favorite food source before continuing on their journey. Join us for a migration hike as we welcome fall and the migratory birds that are leaving, returning, or just passing through.  For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300.  This hike is free.

 

 

Coast Sweep 2025:   Sunday, September 14, 9 am - noon  

 

Sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and coordinated by the Urban Harbors Institute, thousands of COASTSWEEP volunteers remove debris that would otherwise pollute our oceans, beaches, lakes, and rivers. Participants collect bag after bag of trash and debris, and record their findings onto data cards.  The data is sent to the Ocean Conservancy and entered into a massive marine debris database. This information is then analyzed and used to identify the sources of marine debris, which helps to prevent the problem in the future. If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Donna Bragg at Sandy Neck Gatehouse at 508-362-8300 or email us at sandyneck@town.barnstable.ma.us

 

 

 

All Sandy Neck hikes are considered strenuous in difficulty.