Sandy Neck Nature Hikes and Events

Spring Beach Clean-up: Saturday, April 15, 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:   Tuesday, April 18, 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. Join a Sandy Neck Ranger and Mass Audubon’s Sean Kortis as 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

Sandy Neck Spring Flora & Fauna Hike:   Wednesday, May 17, 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.

In Search of Diamondback Terrapins on Sandy Neck:   Wednesday, June 14, 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 Sandy Neck Ranger and Mass Audubon’s Sean Kortis 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/longpastur
Sandy Neck Plover Walk:   Tuesday, June 20, 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 Junior Ranger Program: Five Tuesdays, 9:30 am – noon, from July 11 – August 8,

 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.

Sandy Neck Summer Flora & Fauna Hike:   Wednesday, August 9, 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.

Hiking for Terrapin Hatchlings on Sandy Neck, Wednesday, September 6, 10 am – noon

This fall we will be searching Sandy Neck for tiny tracks of hatchling terrapins with a Sandy Neck Ranger and Mass Audubon’s Sean Kortis as these quarter-sized newborns make the treacherous journey from their sandy dune nests to the safety of the Barnstable Great Marsh.  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

Sandy Neck Fall Migration Hike: Wednesday, September 13, 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 2023:   Sunday, September 17, 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 sandynec@town.barnstable.ma.us

All Sandy Neck hikes are considered strenuous in difficulty.

All Sandy Neck hikes are considered strenuous in difficulty.