dog-friendly beaches in harwich
Dogs are only allowed on beaches in Harwich during the offseason. Dogs not allowed on harwich beaches during the summer season, which ranges from Memorial Day – Labor DAY each year.
Bank Street Beach
Bank Street Beach in Harwich requires a town parking sticker. The beach is very popular and the parking lot fills up early in the day. You can always walk from the free town lot (from the beach, take a left at rt. 28 and its just ahead on your right, near the Chamber of Commerce). Dogs only allowed during the offseason.
Earle Road Beach
parking sticker required. Earle Road Beach is a fairly small beach with a similarly sized parking lot. Fills up much later than Bank Street.
Long Pond Beach
Long Pond – cahoon’s hollow beach
Pleasant Bay Beach
#1 BEACH DOG RULE for pleasant bay beach in harwich on cape cod: you Must clean up after your dog! please bring a bag and clean up your mess, keep the beach looking cleaner than when you found it!
harwich’s pleasant bay beach allows dogs to play in a limited sandy beach area. main beach tends to be rocky and have broken shells. bring foot protection. pleasant bay beach’s access road on chatham side of the beach can flood in high tides, be aware or your tires will get to say hello to the ocean.
Pleasant bay beach in harwich is a fun place to swim after a tennis ball. the shallow, gentle waters of pleasant bay are great for youngsters or poor swimmers, dog and human alike. lots of hermit crabs, blue crabs, and horshoe crabs will keep children entertained all day long.
Pleasant Street Beach
parking sticker required. Pleasant Street beach is pretty popular. Large parking lot usually fills up during nice days. If you get there and it’s full, head back towards Lower County road and take a right to try Earle Road Beach which is close by.
Red River Beach
Red River Beach is a long, narrow beach with a large parking lot. It is the only beach in Harwich that sells daily parking passes. Because it is so long, you’ll have more room to spread out your towel here than at most other beaches in the area.
There are lots of jetties (and occasionally lots of seaweed onshore). Drive to the left to the far end of the parking lot for a great beachcombing, there’s a path down the shore side to a narrow river that fills with the tides .
Red River Beach is the only beach in Harwich that allows dogs in the summer – but not on the sand. Dog walking is allowed in the parking lot from 7:30am-9:00am and also from 4:30pm-dusk year round.
Dog-friendly hotels in harwich
Cape Cod Claddagh Inn
77 Main St., West Harwich, Massachusetts – 508-432-9628
The Cape Cod Claddagh Inn allows dogs year round.
Coachman Motor Inn
774 Route 28, Harwichport, Massachusetts – 508-432-0707
The Coachman Motor Inn allows dogs year round.
The Coachman Motor Inn website
Handkerchief Shoals Inn
888 Main Street (route 28), South Harwich, MA 02661 – 508-432-2200
Handkerchief shoals inn website
Dog-friendly restaurants in harwich
know any restaurants in harwich that allow pets? please email us
harwich dog park
harwich doesn’t have a dog park. a few years back it seemed like there was a chance for a dog area at thompson’s field off of route 39, but due to a few incidents dogs are not allowed off leash.
on-leash dogs will love this place though. just watch out for ticks.
Dog walks and pet-friendly hiking trails in harwich
Cape Cod Rail Trail
Hawks Nest State Park
Dogs are allowed at hawk’s nest, there’s some nice wooded areas and a small kettle pond that await you after a somewhat bumpy trail ride in.
Be nice to hawks nest. The natural beauty of this place is suffering somewhat due to visitors. Take an extra piece of trash with you when you leave. wear sandals, barefoot not recommeded. there’s broken glass in the parking area as well as the trails to the water and, occasionally, in the sand near the water. 🙁
There’s two tiny sections of water access with limited beach area. there’s usually lots of kids and people in the summertime, and only a few feet of shoreline to sit on depending on water level. let your dog have fun splashing around. but be considerate, not everyone loves a big wet dog jumping on them.
please dilligently clean up all dog waste, even in the parking area and trails located away from beach. The rain runoff pushes bacteria back towards the water. gross. erosion of the parking area is an ongoing issue.
Herring Rive trail/ Bells Neck Road Conservation Area
Old Colony Rail Trail
Thompson’s Field Conservation Area
Dogs are allowed off-leash