South Cape Beach State Park is a Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

 state park

State park

State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...

 located in Mashpee

Mashpee, Massachusetts

Mashpee is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,006 as of 2010.For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Mashpee, please see the articles on Mashpee Neck, Monomoscoy Island, New Seabury, Popponesset, Popponesset Island,...

. It is part of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses open waters, barrier beaches, marshlands and uplands on the south shore of Cape Cod in the towns of Falmouth and Mashpee...

. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation

Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)

The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...

 (DCR).

Description

A beautiful one-mile white sand beach, over-the-dune boardwalks, a small parking area and rest rooms make this a great place to spend a beach day.

The park is situated between Waquoit Bay

Waquoit Bay

Waquoit Bay is a small landlocked tidal bay on the south shore of Cape Cod in the US state of Massachusetts. The bay is connected with Nantucket Sound and separates the towns of Mashpee and Falmouth.In the early 1960s Norwegian researcher Johannes Kr...

 and Vineyard Sound

Vineyard Sound

Vineyard Sound is the stretch of the Atlantic Ocean which separates the Elizabeth Islands and the southwestern part of Cape Cod from the island of Martha's Vineyard, offshore from the state of Massachusetts in the USA...

 and features barrier beach and dunes, salt marsh

Salt marsh

A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...

, scrub oak

Scrub Oak

Scrub Oak is a general name for several species of small, shrubby oaks, including the following species:*California Scrub Oak *Leather Oak *Coastal Scrub Oak...

 and pitch pine

Pitch Pine

The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized pine, native to eastern North America. This species occasionally hybridizes with other pine species such as Loblolly Pine , Shortleaf Pine , and Pond Pine The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized (6-30 meters or 20-100 feet)...

 woodland and "kettle" ponds.

Interpretive programs are offered during the summer months.

Recreational opportunities

• Accessible beaches
• Accessible restrooms
• Boating (all types)
• Canoeing
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Hunting (restrictions)
• Interpretive program
• Scenic viewing area
• Swimming
• Walking trails

See also

• Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
  Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
  Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses open waters, barrier beaches, marshlands and uplands on the south shore of Cape Cod in the towns of Falmouth and Mashpee...
  
  
• List of Massachusetts State Parks

External links

• Park DCR page