Skaket Beach
Orleans, MA
Skaket Beach is Orleans's Cape Cod Bay beach, a shallow, warm stretch that families favor over the surf on the Atlantic side. The tide draws far out, leaving sandbars and pools that hold crabs and small fish. Sunsets over the bay are a big part of the evening routine here.
Warm, calm water and strong sunsets make it a family favorite, but the lot can fill on hot summer days.
How we score beachesGo about an hour before sunset. The flats glow in that light, and the parking lot thins out after dinner.
Orleans town parking stickers or daily and weekly passes are required in season. The lot is popular and can fill early on hot days.
The lot leads to a short walk to the sand. The beach is soft underfoot, with restrooms in season.
The bay side warms faster than the ocean side, and the water is at its best in August. Sunsets last into September.
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