Outdoor Activity

Join The Trustees of Reservations to explore the dunes on Castle Neck and Crane Beach, where we will learn how animals and plants survive our New England winters in this unforgiving habitat. Learn the basics of animal tracking, plant survival adaptations, and discover the human history of survival in our coastal habitats, with the rich history of The Crane Estate providing a glimpse into the evolving human uses of the land, from the indigenous Pawtucket through early European settlers and into the modern era. A sighting of a resident snowy owl is always a possible bonus!

Greenbelt and North Shore Nature Programs present Exploring the Salt Marsh! On this fun, easy tromp across the marsh, we'll look at the different plants, invertebrates, and birds that live there! This event is for families--children and adults of all ages welcome. Wear muck boots or shoes that can get wet and muddy and bring some water to drink. We recommend long pants, tucked into your socks or boots to keep ticks and other bugs from biting. Bathrooms are available on site (provided the CDC, state, and town regulations allow for public visitation at this date). FREE!

While just about everybody on the North Shore has probably been to Crane Beach, the dunes of Castle Neck are a much less explored world unto themselves. Offering one of the most accessible dune ecosystems north of Cape Cod, Castle Neck has over six miles of trails, traversing the dunes, maritime scrub forest, and beautiful beaches on both the Ipswich Bay and Essex/Castle Neck River estuary sides of the peninsula. These trails take you through Pitch Pine forests, up huge dunes offering stunning views of Choate Island, and by the varied landscapes of Castle Neck, including naturally occurring cranberry bogs.