A 12-acre pocket of Town conservation land off Namequoit Road where under a mile of woodland trail ends at benches looking over Little Pleasant Bay and the pond itself. Bring your own gear: there's no lifeguard, no facilities, and it rewards a quiet paddle more than a beach day.
What to expect
Swimming
Allowed water tested by the state
Hours
Beach parking passes are required 7:30am to 4:30pm from early June through Labor Day (weekends only from late May); the lots are free at all other times.
From early JuneSeason
Open year-round, dawn to dusk; not on the Town's resident-sticker-enforcement landings list
Dogs
Allowed on this conservation property; Orleans has no fixed leash law, so a dog must be restrained or under voice control per the Town's general public-property rule
Birdwatching
Allowed year-round
Managed by
Orleans Natural Resources Department
(508) 240-3775 · WebsiteGetting in
Parking
Free lot
CostFree
163 Namequoit Rd trailhead lot
Details unconfirmed
163 Namequoit Rd trailhead lot
CostFreeSpacessmall, limited
Access points along this beach
163 Namequoit Rd trailhead
Bay-overlook benches
trail's-end benches over Little Pleasant Bay and the pond
Tides & weather
Tide and sun: NOAA astronomy · forecast: NWS, up to 7 days
Show the full year
Average water temperature at Paw Wah Pond by month, in °F| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|
| Water °F | 40° | 39° | 42° | 49° | 55° | 63° | 69° | 68° | 66° | 60° | 50° | 44° |
|---|
Monthly averages from NOAA, Chatham (2022 to 2024). Today's reading is in the conditions above.
Common questions
Is Paw Wah Pond in Orleans open today?
Open, no advisory on record in the latest MA DPH posting (updated 2026-09-13). MA DPH is the authority. Check the status the morning you go.
Can I swim at Paw Wah Pond?
The 12-acre conservation area's trails lead to benches on Little Pleasant Bay where swimming is possible, and overlooks the pond itself which is used for canoeing - there's no lifeguard or facilities, so it's a bring-your-own-gear, self-supervised spot.
Is there parking at Paw Wah Pond, and what does it cost?
Free lot (Free). 163 Namequoit Rd trailhead lot
What's the water temperature at Paw Wah Pond?
Water at Paw Wah Pond averages about 39°F in February and 69°F in July, based on NOAA readings at Chatham from 2022 to 2024. For today's temperature, see the conditions above.
Are dogs allowed at Paw Wah Pond?
Allowed on this conservation property; Orleans has no fixed leash law, so a dog must be restrained or under voice control per the Town's general public-property rule
Is there an entry fee at Paw Wah Pond?
No, entry is free.