Town of Duxbury - Beach Operations - Beach Update 7/23/2025
Town of Duxbury - Beach Operations - Beach Update
7/23/2025
Crossover Status Update:
As of today, Wednesday 7/23/25, all crossovers remain temporarily closed for OSV access due to avian activity spread throughout the crossover beaches. After conferring with DBR Field Staff yesterday, it does not appear at this time that any limited OSV access will be available over the next several days.
Beach Ops and DBR Field Staff will continue to look for opportunities that allow for limited OSV access. If an opportunity becomes available for approved limited OSV access, Beach Ops will alert OSV permit holders via social media and a beach email update.
We appreciate your cooperation and patronage to Duxbury Beach. We are fully aware that the limited OSV access, or the full closure of crossovers are not ideal to permit holders, but Beach Ops and DBR Field Staff will continue to do our best to provide what OSV access we can under difficult circumstances of protecting state/federal avian species along with public recreational opportunities. We will be constantly evaluating opportunities that may present itself for future OSV access.
Please see the DBR Avian Update listed at the bottom of this email for their most recent information regarding state/federal protected avian species.
Backroad Cut-Outs/Speed Limits
The backroad and cut-outs will remain open during the summer from 8am-8pm for OSV permit holders, and will remain open for during the time that crossover access is closed. This will allow for those OSV permit holders that want to park in an open cut-out an opportunity to utilize the limited backroad parking for the summer months for recreational activities. However, please be aware that 2 small cut-outs have been closed due to avian activity. If you see saw-horses at a cut-out or a closed crossover entrance please do not move the saw-horses to park there. This will be a beach violation and you can receive a ticket/fine.
Speed limits are 5 MPH in all areas of the backroad and beach lots. Posted speed limits are located along several areas of the roadways for safety. Please follow the posted speed limits and any direction given by Beach Ops Rangers. and Duxbury Beach Reservation staff.
Please do not pass and go around other moving vehicles while driving on the backroad. There has been an increase in the number of vehicles passing moving vehicles. Passing vehicles is not allowed on the backroad as it creates a safety issue for people, as well as maintaining the state allowed permit for recreational opportunities at Duxbury Beach while protected avian species are present.
Duxbury Police will be monitoring the backroad and parking lots for speeding & safety violations.
Night time Driving Hours
Per state and federal regulations once plover chicks are present on the beach we must close at 8pm for recreational activity for vehicles utilizing the backroad and cut-outs.
Overflow Lot for Non-Resident OSV Permits
The Non-Resident parking lot will be across from Blakeman’s restaurant public parking lot. The entry point will be at the northern end where Beach Ops has 2 large trailers parked. We will have a sign that states ‘Non-Resident Parking”. Across from the entry point will be two portable toilets for use of non-resident permit holders. Beach Ops will have a Ranger at the entrance checking permits. You will have beach access by walking along the pedestrian beach pathway in the Blakeman’s Restaurant parking lot. Hours of operation will be 8am to 8pm.
Walk-On Beaches
The walk-on beaches remain open at the Resident Parking Lot for both the oceanside and bayside areas. The Resident Lot can be utilized by both Resident Parking Lot and OSV permit holders. The Non-Resident OSV parking is open for Non-Resident permit holders while the crossovers are closed. The walk-on oceanside access is located by way of walking thru the Blakeman’s public parking lot and up the most northern pedestrian beach path.
Dogs
Now that all crossovers are temporarily closed, leashed dogs are not allowed on any part of the oceanside beaches. Leashed dogs are also not allowed on the bayside beaches north of the Powder Point Bridge. Leashed dogs are allowed on the bayside beach south of the Powder Point Bridge that is located behind the Ranger Station and the small parking lot. Leashed dogs are also welcome along the roadways and parking lots to be walked.
If a crossover does temporarily open for limited OSV access, that portion of the open crossover beach will allow leashed dogs on the oceanside, but they must remain in that area that has been opened for OSV access. Owners may not walk leashed dogs into the Sensitive or Closed areas of the beach, even at low tide. Sawhorses and cones will mark off the areas both north and south where OSV vehicles and dogs must be within.
Kitesurfing
Beach Ops has been advised by DBR Field Staff that due to avian activity along the beach, that kitesurfing still remains temporarily prohibited from all areas of Duxbury Beach. Once we are advised that this activity can resume, we will make sure and send an update out for kite surfers to resume activities. Kite surfers may continue to utilize any areas on the west end of the bridge in the Town public parking lot or other areas not owned by DBR where kite surfers can launch safely under proper conditions.
DBR Avian Update
On Sunday 7/20 evening a serious safety incident occurred on the backroad during a plover brood crossing. As normal, DBR staff stopped traffic as a plover brood entered the road. A vehicle traveling north initially stopped for the crossing but after a few minutes began to move into the crossing area, approaching so close that the DBR shorebird monitor had to put a hand on the vehicle to have it stop. As the monitor moved to talk to the driver the vehicle continued past the shorebird monitor and through the active crossing.
Beach Operation Rangers stopped the driver as they exited the beach to explain the rules and regulations. A police report was filed with the Duxbury Police Department after the incident due to the safety issue for staff and state regulators were notified of potential take to listed species.
In addition, other vehicles that were stopped at the crossing did not adhere to DBR staff directions and continued to slowly move their vehicles into the crossing area. Not adhering to town or DBR staff instructions on Duxbury Beach puts all staff present on the road at risk. It also disrupts the bird’s movements and extends the amount of time that all vehicles have to be stopped.
DBR wanted to share this incident to remind the public that following DBR and Town Beach Operations staff instructions helps ensure that bird crossings are safe and efficient for all involved.
Last Monday July 14th, multiple informational signs at Crossover 1 were vandalized with graffiti. A police report was filed. If you have information relating to this incident, please contact DBR or the Duxbury Police Department.
1 Piping Plover incubating nest,18 broods on the beach and 13 fledged broods. A total of 50 nests and 10 broods have been lost this season. DBR Field Staff estimates there are 54 pairs on the beach.
Least Terns are continuing to incubate nests, feed chicks, and older chicks have started to fledge.
The speed limit on all sections of the back road remains at 5mph.
Increases in traffic on the back road have resulted in a higher incidence of field staff being passed by vehicles going the same way as them. Due to the narrowness of the road, field staff working along the road, as well as a high level of recreational users on the road, passing on the backroad creates a public safety risk.
DBR and Beach Ops continue to observe:
- Dogs in “no dog” areas and off-leash dogs
- Speeding on the backroad
- Passing on the backroad
Please follow all posted signage, sawhorses, and instructions from Rangers and DBR Field Staff.
Sensitive Wildlife Areas: Are in place to help increase access to areas that would otherwise be closed due to Piping Plovers.
- Marked by large blue signs with white lettering
- Set up around areas with unfledged plover chicks
- Beach bathing, set up, and blankets allowed
- Prohibited: dogs, OSVs, bikes, kites, and beach sports
- Back road speed limit drops to 5 mph
Piping Plover barriers return this year to help keep more resident parking spaces open at the north end of the resident lot!
Low barriers (8” high) will be placed in pedestrian paths; these barriers prevent chicks from entering the lot and avoid causing vehicle parking closures.
Symbolic fencing (twine and rebar) marks closed areas along the upper dune and back dune near Gurnet Road. These areas are off-limits to the public. Closed areas also extend to the back dune near Gurnet Road, marked by posts and cable fencing.
Fencing may shift (“bump out”) east in spots to protect nests while maintaining access for pedestrians and OSVs where possible.
Reminder, as per town ordinance, dog regulations are in effect from April 1 to September 15.
Please be sure to monitor our X feed for the most up-to-date information including any changes to vehicular capacity or operational updates: https://twitter.com/BeachDuxbury
As always, we appreciate your continued cooperation in adhering to all signage and directives from Beach Rangers and DBR Personnel.