LocationsMassachusetts
Eastham, Massachusetts
Salt Pond & Nauset Marsh
A round pond joined to the sea by a narrow neck, a marsh full of birds behind it, and a loop that runs along the edge of both before turning back through a forest that is still growing itself back.
Researched from this park's own sources. Nobody's walked it yet.
Read this bit out
Salt Pond is round because it was a kettle hole — a lump of ice left behind by a glacier, sitting there so long that the ground sank around it. It was fresh water for thousands of years. Then the sea broke through the neck you can see from the visitor centre, and now the tide runs in and out of it twice a day and it is salty. Everything living in it now arrived by sea.
One of your three free places, or the Explorer Pass. What that costs
Before you go
- Time there
- Plan on about an hour and a half at the park.
- Parking
- Free. Park at the Salt Pond Visitor Center, 50 Nauset Road, just off Route 6. No dogs are allowed on this trail — the Seashore does not permit them on any of its walking trails.
- Underfoot
- Rated easy, with a solid surface, some log steps on the slopes and a moderate grade. The loop takes about an hour. Take care where it crosses the bike trail.
- Stroller
- A stroller works on some of it.
- Bathrooms
- There are bathrooms.
22 challenges written for this place
A game deals seven to fifteen of them, so no two visits are alike.
Every game includes this one
Where The Sea Gets In
Find the narrow neck where the sea runs into Salt Pond. Work out which way the water is going right now.
A few of the others
A Spectacular Vista
The trail has several places where the whole marsh opens up in front of you. Stop at one and count how far you can see.
The Whole Marsh Behind You
One photo of everybody with the marsh spread out behind.
On The Log Steps
Find the log steps on the slope. One photo of everybody standing on a different one.
Their Turn
Hand the phone to the youngest. They take one picture of whatever they want.
It Used To Be Fresh
This pond was fresh water until the sea broke through. Work out what had to leave and what arrived.
A Forest Growing Back
The last stretch runs through forest that is still growing back. Find something that shows it is young.
The rest are a surprise — that's the whole point.
Play this at Salt Pond & Nauset Marsh
Free. Works with no signal once you're there.