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Canoe Beach

Location: Nahant, MA
Exposure: north
Depth: 20-30'
Entry: sandy

Description

Canoe beach is a pebble beach in a sheltered cove. After an easy entry, the bottom becomes rocky. Near the center of the cove is a large vertical rock formation called "the chimneys". At low tide this formation will break the surface. This is a good location for a night dive.

Notes: Parking is a major concern at Canoe Beach. The small parking lot is open to residents only, and beware: Nahant Police eat their young. The only public parking in the whole town is off the causeway near the public beach. Your best bet is to find someone with a Nahant sticker.

Directions from Boston

• Take route 1 North to route 16 East. 1A will become the Lynnway after a prominent draw-bridge. The Lynnway is easily recognized by the surplus of car-dealers and fast-food.
• Towards the end of the Lynnway, take care to follow it to the right as 1A splits off to the left. You should see signs to Nahant at this point.
• The Lynnway will end at a traffic circle. Take the first right out of the circle onto Nahant Road (the Nahant causeway). Nahant Road will take you all the way through Nahant.
• Towards the end of the road you will past 40 Steps road on the right and a seawall/cove on the left. At the end of the seawall is a small road/parking lot for Canoe Beach and Northeastern University's Marine Science Institute.