Hidden On New England's Atlantic Coast Is One Of The East's Best Beaches With Boardwalks, Dunes, And Trails

Cape Cod, with its shores boasting both sandy dunes and spectacular sunsets, may get most of the attention. But there is much more to the Massachusetts coast than its best-selling hotspots. Facing the Cape Ann Peninsula and the tourist towns of Rockport and Gloucester lies a wind-swept spot with marvellous white sand beaches and dunes. Home to some of the finest nature trails for ocean lovers, Crane Beach is also one of the most spectacular beaches on the East Coast. It is an ideal exploration spot if you want to fill your senses with mesmerizing sights of the Gulf of Maine, thanks to its position sandwiched between the historic Castle Hill and the natural dunes of the Castle Neck peninsula.

Salty breezes and New England maritime charm are not the only ingredients making Crane Beach an ideal place to vacation. Its dunes and sandy slopes are interconnected by boardwalks and trails you can explore at your own pace. You can also visit year-round without fear of the place becoming overcrowded thanks to a local crowd management system, something many of its coastal neighbors don't have.

The area gets its name from Richard Teller Crane Jr., a Chicago businessman and industrialist who saw potential in the area and started building his estate in this corner of New England paradise, buying what is now Castle Hill as a summer home for his family in 1910. Today, it attracts nature buffs who are after a peaceful yet breathtaking Atlantic coastal location.

Crane Beach is the perfect starting point for a deep dive into the coastal Massachusetts ecosystem, encompassing salt marshes, sand dunes, and maritime forests. You have a few options when it comes to exploring your surroundings. A popular choice is one of the trails that takes you through the heart of the petite Crane Neck peninsula. If you are after spotting wildlife and native plants, the 3-mile-long Crane Beach Loop is a great way to circumnavigate the beach. This moderately challenging trail is easy to find, as it starts and ends by the main parking lot in Crane Beach. The Trustees, a local preservation organization, provides a comprehensive map of the trails you can explore.

If you are after a more tranquil experience to enjoy the beach views and follow the boardwalks, the designated Green Trail is a shorter 1.7-mile loop through the peninsula's golden dunes. Along the way, you can follow the Red Trail to the top of Wigwam Hill, popular for its views of the glistening Crane Neck River. 

Seven islands in the Essex River estuary, including nearby Long and Choate Islands, are part of the Crane Wildlife Refuge. To access the refuge, you'll need to book a tour or take your own boat or kayak and land on Long Island. Over 200 bird species have been spotted in this wildlife-rich area, which was once used for shellfishing by the local Indigenous tribes. The refuge is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to visit.

If you're planning a day trip to the area, historic and magical spots lie right on the doorstep of Crane Beach. The Stuart-style mansion Castle Hill on the Crane Estate sports decorated interiors and meticulously curated English-style gardens. But the story of this estate goes much further back, when the area it was built on was known as Agawam, after the Indigenous phrase "beyond the marsh" delineating their territory around Ipswich. 

Castle Hill, which you can visit for $10, is only a small part of the wider 2,100-acre Crane Estate. The renowned Olmsted brothers, the landscape architects responsible for Central Park in New York, also designed the Italian gardens on the Castle Hill property. Walk the scenic Grand Allée from Crane Beach to Castle Hill to take in some breathtaking views of where the verdant Massachusetts countryside meets the roaring sea.

You can easily reach Crane Beach from any major hub in Massachusetts. With its infinite opportunities for cultural landmarks, from churches to neighborhoods and public trails, the capital city of Boston is only 35 miles away. Ipswich, on the other hand, is the closest city – a mere 5 miles away from Crane Beach. If you want to extend your exploration of seaside marvels on the East Coast, it's worth continuing your journey on the lighthouse trail running from Cape Ann to legendary Nantucket.