Good Harbor Beach (Gloucester, Massachusetts)

USA / Massachusetts / Rockport / Gloucester, Massachusetts
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Good Harbor Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the north shore and has a large expanse of groomed sand and clean water. Somehow the water seems warmer here than it does at nearby beaches [like Singing Beach ]- there are days when the temperature is tepid enough to tolerate long periods of swimming. People have been seen surfing at Good Harbor in the evenings, though the waves aren't amazing it must be good enough to attract the locals.

Salt Island, located just off shore is walkable at low tide. HOWEVER, the island is COVERED in poison ivy and there are no signs indicate this. If you take your kids out to the island, do not allow them to trek further than the shore.

On the Western end of the beach is a small stream which drains the salt marsh behind the beach. At low tide there are many rocks and tide pools available for exploration. During tide changes he stream turns into a river as water rushes back and forth from the marsh. The current runs fast enough for people to ride rafts under the foot bridge and into the lagoon formed by the incoming tide and back out again as the tide recends.

Bathrooms are cleaned constantly throughout the day, which is a rarity at beaches! There is a food kiosk and ample parking- though parking gets very pricey at times, especially on the weekends if you are not a resident. You can access the beach by taking the MBTA commuter rail from Boston to the Gloucester train stop and then taking a CATA bus to the beach.

Definitely worth a visit!
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   42°37'11"N   70°37'54"W

Comments

  • I have NEVER heard of a shuttle to the train station. But that is an EXCELLENT idea! :) This really is a wonderful beach, shame it gets so crowded sometimes, though. Also, much of the beach was lost in the Mothers' Day storm (of 2005? 2007?) and ever since it seems there's a struggle to prevent further beach loss. Each spring and mid-summer since there seems to be an effort to restore much of the beach but it continues to wash away. Regardless, there's always lots of beach at low tide. High tide is when the recent problems have been.
This article was last modified 15 years ago