Town of Duxbury - Beach Operations - Beach Update - 8/22/2025

Town of Duxbury - Beach Operations - Beach Update 

8/22/2025

Summer Beach/Crossover Hours:

Monday – Sunday: 8:00AM – 10:00PM

Crossovers will be open tide, weather and avian activity dependent.  Please check the tidal charts for high tides prior to coming to the beach.

Crossover Status Update- Crossovers 2 & 3 are now OPEN- Late Night Hours

DBR Field Staff have informed us that one plover chick still remains at Crossover 1, but is expected to fledge within the next several days.  Once this occurs, we will be able to fully open up all crossovers.  Due to the plover chick still remaining past the expected date it was anticipated to fledge, DBR was able to ask for and received approval from Mass Fish & Wildlife to allow night time driving past 8pm for both Crossovers 2 & 3.  Starting today Friday 8/22 we will go to closing hours until 10pm each day of the week.  To allow this to occur Beach Operations must place protective barriers daily at 8pm and then remove them at 10pm to allow vehicles to remain on the open crossovers for recreational access.

Beach Operations can accommodate 486 OSV vehicles at Crossover 2 & 3.  These are to be split evenly between resident & non-resident OSV permit holders.

Please see the DBR Avian Update listed at the bottom of this email for their most recent information regarding state/federal protected avian species.

Beach Permit Sales/Town Hall Updated Hours:

Beach permits can be purchased ONLINE through City Hall Systems via the Town of Duxbury Website or IN-PERSON at the Treasurer/Collector's office during regular Town Hall hours:

Monday 8:00AM-7PM & Tuesday-Thursday 8:00AM-4PM

Please note: Town Hall is CLOSED to the public FRIDAYS (effective 7/1/2025):
The Treasurer/Collector’s office will not be able to accommodate permit sales of any kind including temporary permits on Fridays. Please plan accordingly.

Backroad Speed Limits

Speed limits are back in most areas to 15 MPH, but is still 5 MPH in one area of the backroad, that is just south of Crossover 1. 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. Duxbury Police will be monitoring the backroad and parking lots for speeding & safety violations.

Equipment & Guidelines for OSV Operation

Per the Town of Duxbury Beach Rules & Regulations guidebook, each vehicle operating on the OSV must have the following:

All off-road vehicles must have 4WD and the proper tire pressure for beach conditions (15PSI), as this pressure will lessen damage to beach roads and crossovers and promote a safe and comfortable ride. All off-road vehicles must be properly equipped before they are permitted on the beach, and vehicles may be subject to inspection for the following equipment at any time: shovel; tow rope, tow strap, or chain; spare tire, jack, and 18” square plywood support pad; and tires that are properly pressurized for beach conditions. Vehicles lacking this equipment or tire pressure may be cited and/or refused entry for any missing items.

Vehicles Stuck in Sand

Due to liability concerns, the Town of Duxbury does not tow or remove vehicles that become stuck in the sand.  Vehicle operators must be responsible for operating their vehicles in the proper gear, have the ability/knowledge to drive properly on the sand, and have the required equipment to remove themselves from the sand if their vehicle becomes stuck.  Most if not all tow companies are now refusing to come assist drivers who become stuck in sand on the beach. Beach Operations staff will come assist drivers as much as possible if they do become stuck, but we ask that drivers be aware of issues that may occur on the beach.  Recently we have had several vehicles stuck in sand in which the driver did not have their vehicle in 4WD, did not have the required equipment in order to free themselves and had their tires fully inflated.  Tow companies that have come out have charged $500 or more to help remove the vehicles from the sand.

If stuck, do not spin the tires. Let air out of your tires and try again. If your car frame is touching the sand, stop everything and follow this procedure:

Jack up each wheel and fill in the holes under each tire;

Drop the tire pressure further and attempt to back up the car about 15 feet;

Fill in all holes;

Proceed forward

Dogs

Leashed dogs are allowed back on any part of the oceanside crossover beaches that are currently open (Crossover 1 still closed to dogs and vehicles). Leashed dogs are also not allowed on the bayside beaches north of the Powder Point Bridge or the oceanside resident beach by the main parking lot.  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.

Fires on the Beach

Bonfires and campfires are prohibited anywhere on Duxbury Beach. Small cooking fires in a metal container are permitted but only on the OSV portion of the beach. No materials may be added to a fire within one hour of beach closing. All fires must be extinguished with water within a half hour of beach closing, and all fire remnants must be removed from beach property by the beach user.  If beach goers see unauthorized fires on the beach please alert the Duxbury Fire Department and Duxbury Police Department.

Overflow Lot for Non-Resident OSV Permits

The Non-Resident parking lot will be across from Blakeman’s restaurant public parking lot when Non-Resident permit holders cannot access the limited available parking on the OSV beach. 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.

DBR Avian Update

One Piping Plover brood is still on the beach. The second to last brood fledged successfully on Friday 8/15 for a total of 24 broods fledged. A total of 51 nests and 16 broods have been lost this season. An estimated 54 pairs are on the beach.

Least Terns have completed breeding for the season and have started migrating south.

Please follow posted 5 mph speed limit signs as there is one section still in place along the backroad.

1. Eastern Cutout to south of Crossover 1

As the season winds down and birds fledge, this final 5 mph speed limit section will be lifted. Thank you for your patience and for following posted speed limits. 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 and speeding on the backroad creates a public safety risk.

One Sensitive Wildlife Area is still in place from the Eastern Cutout to just south of Crossover 1.

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.

A 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.