Easy1 miChatham

Lighthouse Beach Walk (Chatham Bar & Seal Colony)

Listed & VerifiedVerified Jun 25, 2026

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What is Lighthouse Beach Walk (Chatham Bar & Seal Colony) like?

One of the most dramatic short beach walks on Cape Cod, beginning at the base of the stairway below Chatham Light and rounding the outer bar south toward the seal colony. Turn right at the bottom of the stairs and continue a half-mile along the high-tide line to regularly encounter dozens of harbor seals basking onshore. The beach connects south toward Monomoy via South Beach; swimming is not recommended due to strong currents and shark activity.

Plan your walk

Lighthouse Beach Walk (Chatham Bar & Seal Colony)

Directions to the trailhead

Main Street at Bridge Street, Chatham, MA 02633

Check conditions before you go. Trail details from ChathamInfo.com, AllTrails, Lonely Planet (opens in a new tab)

When should you go?

Best time to go

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Wind13 mphFrom the W

Weather and sun times from Open-Meteo for the nearest part of the Cape.

What’s the trail like?

Length: 1 mi
Difficulty: Easy
Surface: Sand
Dogs: Off-season only
Kids: Not noted
Accessible: Not noted
Views: Ocean
Good for: Walking, Beach walk, Birding

What should you know before you go?

Parking

Very limited 30-minute parking on Bridge Street (daily/weekly permit in summer); park downtown Main Street and walk 15 minutes.

Dogs

Off-season only

Managed by

Town of Chatham

What you'll see

Lighthouse, Beach walk, Ocean views, Bird sanctuary, Dunes

Where is the trailhead?

Main Street at Bridge Street, Chatham, MA 02633.

Get directions

Get directions Open in Google Maps

Where else can you walk in Chatham?

Easy
Chatham Fish Pier Observation Deck
Town of Chatham
The Chatham Fish Pier is a working commercial waterfront on Aunt Lydia's Cove, and the observation deck at the fish-packing building gives visitors an up-close look at the fishing fleet. From the deck, with its lobster-trap seats and harbor viewer, you can watch boats come and go from the pier and floats below, and the town notes you'll often see seals too. Visitors are asked to use the marked parking and crosswalks, stay in the pedestrian areas, and not feed or approach the seals, which is prohibited under federal law. It's a short, easy stop and a real look at Chatham's fishing life.
CCC Visited · Verified 2026-10-06
See details
Easy · 1 mi
George Ryder Forest Conservation Trail
Natural trail · Town of Chatham Conservation Division
A quiet wooded trail through oak, cedar, and pitch pine forest on Chatham Conservation land. The narrow sandy trail descends near Mary's Pond and borders Barclay Pond Conservation Foundation land to the north. Unique and threatened native vegetation throughout; be aware of poison ivy near the trail edge and dense deer tick populations in summer.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-25
See details
Easy
Morris Island Trail (Monomoy NWR)
Mixed · U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
A self-guided interpretive walk on Morris Island, the mainland gateway to Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. The trail descends to the shore with sweeping views over the flats toward the Monomoy islands and is one of the Cape's premier spots for shorebirds and seals. Portions along the beach are tide-dependent.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19
See details
Easy · 1.1 mi
Forest Beach Conservation Area Loop
Natural trail · Town of Chatham Conservation
An easy loop trail through a 74-acre conservation area on Nantucket Sound, winding past a tidal salt marsh, coastal scrub, and a small beach. A favorite of birders, especially during fall migration, and home to remnants of the historic WCC ship-to-shore radio station.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19
See details
Easy · 0.75 mi
Old Comers Woodland Trail
Natural trail · Chatham Conservation Foundation
A quiet 0.75-mile loop through a 39-acre oak and pine forest preserved by the Chatham Conservation Foundation. A shaded, easygoing walk well suited to families and casual hikers.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19
See details
Easy
Rolf E. Sylvan Gardens Trail
Natural trail · Chatham Conservation Foundation
Nearly 10 acres of woodland with Chatham's first ADA-accessible trail, offering gentle walking and views overlooking White Pond and Black Pond. Maintained by the Chatham Conservation Foundation.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19
See details

Every Chatham trail Trails across the Cape

Directions

What is Lighthouse Beach Walk (Chatham Bar & Seal Colony) like?

Where else can you walk in Chatham?

Easy

Chatham Fish Pier Observation Deck

Town of Chatham

The Chatham Fish Pier is a working commercial waterfront on Aunt Lydia's Cove, and the observation deck at the fish-packing building gives visitors an up-close look at the fishing fleet. From the deck, with its lobster-trap seats and harbor viewer, you can watch boats come and go from the pier and floats below, and the town notes you'll often see seals too. Visitors are asked to use the marked parking and crosswalks, stay in the pedestrian areas, and not feed or approach the seals, which is prohibited under federal law. It's a short, easy stop and a real look at Chatham's fishing life.

CCC Visited · Verified 2026-10-06

See details

Easy · 1 mi

George Ryder Forest Conservation Trail

Natural trail · Town of Chatham Conservation Division

A quiet wooded trail through oak, cedar, and pitch pine forest on Chatham Conservation land. The narrow sandy trail descends near Mary's Pond and borders Barclay Pond Conservation Foundation land to the north. Unique and threatened native vegetation throughout; be aware of poison ivy near the trail edge and dense deer tick populations in summer.

Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-25

See details

Easy

Morris Island Trail (Monomoy NWR)

Mixed · U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

A self-guided interpretive walk on Morris Island, the mainland gateway to Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. The trail descends to the shore with sweeping views over the flats toward the Monomoy islands and is one of the Cape's premier spots for shorebirds and seals. Portions along the beach are tide-dependent.

Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19

See details

Easy · 1.1 mi

Forest Beach Conservation Area Loop

Natural trail · Town of Chatham Conservation

An easy loop trail through a 74-acre conservation area on Nantucket Sound, winding past a tidal salt marsh, coastal scrub, and a small beach. A favorite of birders, especially during fall migration, and home to remnants of the historic WCC ship-to-shore radio station.

Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19

See details

Easy · 0.75 mi

Old Comers Woodland Trail

Natural trail · Chatham Conservation Foundation

A quiet 0.75-mile loop through a 39-acre oak and pine forest preserved by the Chatham Conservation Foundation. A shaded, easygoing walk well suited to families and casual hikers.

Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19

See details

Easy

Rolf E. Sylvan Gardens Trail

Natural trail · Chatham Conservation Foundation

Nearly 10 acres of woodland with Chatham's first ADA-accessible trail, offering gentle walking and views overlooking White Pond and Black Pond. Maintained by the Chatham Conservation Foundation.

Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19

See details