A roughly 100-acre freshwater pond complex made up of Clapps Pond (42.8 acres per Town data) and the smaller Duck Pond. It's tri-owned by Cape Cod National Seashore, the state, and the Town of Provincetown, and managed as a largely unmanaged, passive-recreation trail network popular with wintering waterfowl.
What to expect
Parking
Free lot free · unconfirmed
Birdwatching
Allowed year-round, especially winter for migratory ducks (American wigeon, teal, scaup)
Fishing
Allowed unconfirmed season/species specifics
Managed by
Provincetown Conservation Trust (stewardship); Town of Provincetown (trail facility listing)
(508) 214-3278 · WebsiteGetting in
Parking
Free lot
Costfree
Details unconfirmed
What's here
Not here
No info kiosk
No restroom, kiosk, or dedicated parking documented at either trailhead
Common questions
Can I swim in Clapps or Duck Pond?
No designated swim access is documented; this is a passive conservation and wildlife-viewing area, not a managed swim beach.
No formal launch is documented; sources describe the site only as a walking-trail network, not a paddling access point.
Can I ice skate here in winter?
Kids used to skate and play pond hockey on Clapps Pond, but the Town no longer recommends pond skating since kettle ponds now freeze unevenly or not at all.
Use the Shank Painter Pond Wildlife Sanctuary lot off Route 6 for the west trailhead, or the Route 6 shoulder pull-off for the east trailhead. There's no on-site lot.
Where do I park at Duck Pond and Clapp Pond?
Free lot (free).
Is there an entry fee at Duck Pond and Clapp Pond?
Yes, Free
What rules should I know at Duck Pond and Clapp Pond?
Kettle ponds in this area now freeze unevenly or not at all in many winters; the Town no longer recommends pond skating here. No bonfires or camping. Off-road vehicle/motocross use strictly prohibited.
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