Sand Pond is Harwich's freshwater town beach off Great Western Road, with an 80-space lot, restrooms, handicapped parking, mobile concessions and a non-motorized craft launch. The town lists no lifeguard here.
What to expect
Parking
Resident sticker Beach sticker required through Labor Day; no day pass sold here
Swimming
Water not monitored by DPH
Hours
Harwich beaches close midnight to 6am, and beach lots close 10pm to 6am.
Season
Open year-round; sticker rule applies Memorial Day-Labor Day only.
Accessibility
The town's beach brochure lists handicapped parking and handicap-accessible restrooms here.
Dogs
Pets are banned from Harwich beaches, landings, and public ponds May 1 through September 15; leashed dogs are fine the rest of the year.
Banned now · back September 15Kayak/Canoe/Sup
Allowed year-round, weather permitting
Birdwatching
Allowed year-round
Managed by
Town of Harwich
(508) 430-7553 · WebsiteGetting in
Parking
Resident sticker
CostBeach sticker required through Labor Day; no day pass sold hereStickerHarwich beach sticker (day passes sold only at Red River, Earle Road, Pleasant Road and Long Pond)
180 Great Western Road lot
180 Great Western Road lot
CostBeach sticker required through Labor Day; no day pass sold hereSpaces80
Access points along this beach
Great Western Road entrance
What's here
Facilities
Restrooms
at the beach lot
Concessions
mobile concessions
Common questions
Is Sandy Pond Beach in Harwich open today?
open to the public; water quality here is not monitored by MA DPH (updated 2026-09-13). MA DPH is the authority. Check the status the morning you go.
Is there a lifeguard at Sand Pond?
No. The town's beach brochure lists lifeguards at its guarded beaches and Sand Pond is not among them, so anyone swimming here is unsupervised.
Is there parking at Sandy Pond Beach, and what does it cost?
Resident sticker (Beach sticker required through Labor Day; no day pass sold here). 180 Great Western Road lot
Are there restrooms at Sandy Pond Beach?
Public restrooms are listed near the beach. Seasonal hours are common, so they may be closed off-season.
What rules should I know at Sandy Pond Beach?
No lifeguard on duty. No dogs on any Harwich beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day; off-season dogs are allowed on the sand. Red River Beach is the only exception, with on-leash dog walking permitted in the parking lot dawn-9am and 4:30pm-dusk in season.
Can you swim at Sandy Pond Beach?
Sandy Pond Beach is town-owned and its water is not monitored by MA DPH, so there is no official swim status. Check conditions posted at the beach.
Are dogs allowed at Sandy Pond Beach?
Pets are banned from Harwich beaches, landings, and public ponds May 1 through September 15; leashed dogs are fine the rest of the year.
Is there an entry fee at Sandy Pond Beach?
No, entry is free.
Do you need a beach sticker to park at Sandy Pond Beach?
Yes, parking here uses a resident sticker. Beach sticker required through Labor Day; no day pass sold here.