The Dog Days of Fall are Here, and the Beaches Await!

Dogs love the beach just as much, if not more, than their humans. The sights and smells, that fresh salty air and those wide open spaces are all just calling out to be explored by our furry friends. And now that summer is over, they’re more than welcome to romp in the waves or chase a ball all they want on many Cape beaches.

With the summer crowd’s departure, and the arrival of cooler temperatures, now is the perfect time to let your dog experience the beach for him or herself. Cape Cod obviously offers dozens of beautiful public and private beaches for you and your dog to enjoy. Here are just a few:

Sandy Neck Beach, Sandwich
Here is a long stretch of beach that is partly sandy and partly rocky (very rocky at high tide). There’s lots of space for exploring and, for the humans, perfect sunsets in the evening.

Cold Storage Beach, East Dennis
This is a clean and spacious sand beach with rock jetties. In-season, it’s popular for swimming, sunbathing and boat-watching. In the off-season, you can walk, enjoy the lack of crowds and relax. This is a large beach with calm waves.

Bristol Beach, East Falmouth
Here is a medium-sized beach with lots of room and nice sand. Its small waves are perfect for romping, and it also offers small rock jetties and a great view.

Corn Hill Beach, Truro
This hidden gem is a favorite of locals, with its stunning sunsets and warm waters. There are lots of places for your pet to explore.

Cape Cod National Seashore
The Cape Cod National Seashore offers six amazing beaches that are found in a variety of towns. These beaches are Nauset Light Beach (Eastham), Race Point Beach (Provincetown), Coast Guard Beach (Eastham), Head of the Meadow Beach (Truro), Herring Cove Beach (Provincetown) and Marconi Beach (Wellfleet). Marconi Beach is currently closed due to unsafe conditions, but the others will allow dogs on the beach. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit, and click on “Pets” in the dropdown menu.

With so many beaches to choose from, how do you choose the best ones for your dog? For most, the rules are primarily the same: clean up after your dog, keep them away from protected or fragile areas, etc. Some require the dogs to be leashed, while others do not. Most also have a specific window of calendar dates or times as to when dogs are allowed on the beaches. Check with your town, or the area you’ll be visiting, to be clear on the rules. And bring a ball!

About Ann Luongo

Ann Luongo has been writing for Cape Cod and South Shore publications for over 15 years.



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