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Bay / SoundFreeChatham

Forest Beach

Listed & VerifiedVerified Jun 19, 2026

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What is Forest Beach like?

A quiet, free Nantucket Sound beach and conservation area in South Chatham with a tidal salt marsh and a short loop trail, popular with walkers and birders rather than crowds.

Plan your beach day

Forest Beach

Get directions (opens in a new tab)

Forest Beach Road, South Chatham, MA 02659

Rules from Town of Chatham - Beach Parking Information (opens in a new tab). Check before you go; they change by season.

When should you go?

Best time to go

Checking today’s tides and sun times…

Now51°FClear
Wind12 mphFrom the W
Water62°FWaves 3.3 ft
Tides · next 24 hoursNOAA · Nantucket

Loading tide predictions…

What’s there?

Faces
Not noted
Water
Not noted
Current
Calm, slow
Restrooms
Not noted
Food
Not noted
Lifeguards
Not noted
Parking
Free
Dogs
Off-season only
Fishing
Not noted
Kayak / SUP
Not noted

What should you know before you go?

Parking

Free parking lot, no sticker required (fills quickly on summer weekends)

Stickers and fees

No sticker required - free parking on a first-come basis year-round.

Dogs

Off-season only

Best for

Calm Water, Shelling, Walking

Where is it?

Forest Beach Road, South Chatham, MA 02659.

Get directions

Loading map…

Get directions (opens in a new tab)Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Plan your beach day

Forest Beach

Get directions (opens in a new tab)

Forest Beach Road, South Chatham, MA 02659

Rules from Town of Chatham - Beach Parking Information (opens in a new tab). Check before you go; they change by season.

Where else can you swim in Chatham?

  • Photo needed
    Lighthouse Beach, ChathamOcean / Atlantic

    Lighthouse Beach

    Resident sticker onlyDogs: off-season only

    Chatham's iconic Atlantic-facing beach below the Chatham Light, known for its dramatic shifting sandbars, seals, and big open-ocean views. Best reached on foot since overlook parking is very limited.

    CCC Visited · Verified 2026-06-25

    See details
  • Photo needed
    Bay / Sound

    Hardings Beach

    Sticker or daily feeDogs: off-season only

    A long, popular Nantucket Sound beach in West Chatham with lifeguards, restrooms, and a seasonal concession stand. Good surf, soft sand, and a scenic walk toward Stage Harbor Light.

    Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19

    See details
  • Photo needed
    Bay / Sound

    Ridgevale Beach

    Sticker or daily feeDogs: off-season only

    A family-friendly Nantucket Sound beach between Hardings and Cockle Cove, with lifeguards, restrooms, and a seasonal concession stand. A tidal creek behind the beach is popular with kids.

    Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19

    See details
  • Photo needed
    Bay / Sound

    Cockle Cove Beach

    Sticker or daily feeDogs: off-season only

    One of Chatham's best beaches for young families, with lifeguards, restrooms, calm shallow water off Nantucket Sound, and a marshy tidal creek that's ideal for wading.

    Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19

    See details
  • Photo needed
    Oyster Pond Beach, ChathamBay / Sound

    Oyster Pond Beach

    Free parkingDogs: off-season only

    Chatham's only public beach combining free parking with lifeguard supervision, Oyster Pond is a tidal saltwater pond whose enclosed, warm, shallow water makes it the safest swimming spot in town for young children. A paved stroller-friendly path leads from parking to shore. The Town of Chatham runs Red Cross swim lessons here each summer.

    CCC Visited · Verified 2026-06-25

    See details
  • Photo needed
    Jackknife Harbor Beach (Pleasant Bay), ChathamHarbor

    Jackknife Harbor Beach (Pleasant Bay)

    Free parkingDogs: allowed (leashed)

    A small, calm beach on Pleasant Bay with free parking and protected water. It is the one Chatham beach where leashed dogs are allowed in summer (before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.).

    CCC Visited · Verified 2026-06-25

    See details
Every Chatham beach →Beaches across the Cape →
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