East Beach at Dike Bridge
Edgartown, MA
East Beach is the Atlantic shoreline of Chappaquiddick along Cape Pogue Wildlife Refuge, and the Dike Bridge is the well known crossing that leads to it. The bridge, a narrow wooden span over Poucha Pond, is the gateway to some of the island's emptiest sand. Views run for miles in both directions.
Empty sand, big Atlantic views, and a famous bridge make the trip worthwhile, though there are no lifeguards and it relies on the ferry.
How we score beachesTake the Chappaquiddick ferry over from Edgartown and plan your return trip before you go, since evening lines can build once the day's beach traffic heads home.
There is limited parking near the bridge, and driving on the beach requires a Trustees over-sand permit. You need to cross by ferry from Edgartown to get here at all.
Sand roads lead to the bridge, and the beach itself is soft and exposed. There are no facilities or lifeguards.
Summer weekdays are calm, and fall brings striped bass and clear light. Nesting shorebird closures can affect parts of the beach in early summer.
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