バーンステーブル郡の湖・トップ20

What is now Nauset Marsh was once a freshwater system until the shoreline in the area eroded, connecting the landscape to the sea. When the area was mapped by French explorer Champlain in 1605, it was a navigable bay. Over the years, ocean currents deposited a narrow strip of sand along the outer shore, now known as Nauset Spit. The spit acts as a barrier to the Atlantic Ocean and allowed the extensive marsh landscape to develop. https://npshistory.com/publications/caco/guides-guide/salt-pond-nauset-marsh.pdf

The Salt Pond is a twelve-meter-deep tidal pool that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The lake was formed about 18,000 years ago when glaciers retreated and left depressions. The Salt Pond was originally a freshwater lake and became a saltwater lake that is subject to the tides. A narrow channel connects the lake to the Nauset Marsh on the Atlantic Ocean. The Salt Pond continues to change; the connecting channel to the marsh is gradually filling with sand. https://npshistory.com/publications/caco/guides-guide/salt-pond-nauset-marsh.pdf

Little Pleasant Bay is located in the north of the large bay that stretches from Pochet Neck to Chatham in the south. The bay's watershed is designated as a protected area under the Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Program. Opposite the west coast of Pochet Island lies the Barley Neck peninsula; it extends far into Little Pleasant Bay. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/pleasant-bay-acec https://pleasantbay.org/wp-content/uploads/RMP-2018-REv-2020-final.pdf

For sure a stop and take a deep breath

Oyster Pond is a scenic salt pond right off the Shining Sea Bike path. It is comprised of a series of kettle ponds that flooded at the end of the last glacial period. Additionally, it is one of the most studied ponds for its size, in large part due to its proximity to several major science institutions at the world-famous Woods Hole.

Hinckleys Pond is also known as Pleasant Lake and is classified as a Great Pond due to its 172-acre size. It has a well-maintained beach with plenty of activities. The Cape Cod Rail Trail passes nearby, which is a super byway. This is a great place to take a break, especially as nearby you have Pleasant Lake Pizza Shark, a well-known local eatery.

Hinckleys Pond is also known as Pleasant Lake and is classified as a Great Pond due to its 172-acre size. It has a well-maintained beach with plenty of activities. The Cape Cod Rail Trail passes nearby, which is a super byway. This is a great place to take a break, especially as nearby you have Pleasant Lake Pizza Shark, a well-known local eatery.

Nickerson State Park is a great 1,900 acre natural area with a host of hiking, running and biking trails. It is a beautiful wooded area and there are plenty of different routes to go and explore the multitude of scenic ponds in the area. You can enter the park here on your bike but if you have a car you will have to go to the main entrance just off the Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT). From here you have good access to the park trails.