Town Forest
Nature preserve
138 acres2.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Photo: Bob Linsdell · CC BY 3.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Chatham
More than half of Chatham’s land is conserved: 65%
65% of Chatham’s land is conserved, about 6,730 acres. Virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park. 27 miles of mapped trail cross Chatham, 1.6 per square mile of land.
Among the top 1% of U.S. towns · #14 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
Conserved land
65%
6,730 acres · of 16.2 sq mi of land
Trails
27 mi
1.6 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,077 ac
161 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%+
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
4.4 mi
0.2 mi lanes · 3.8 mi paths
Highest peak
20 ft
Watch Hill
Lakes & rivers
38
81 beaches · 13 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Chatham?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Land that stays wild65% of the land is conserved; a typical Massachusetts town, 21%.Parks close to homeVirtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park.A trail town1.6 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, more than 90% of U.S. towns.History along the way14 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Chatham have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Chatham is among the top 1% of U.S. towns, #14 of 283 in Massachusetts. All four inputs put Chatham near the top nationally; conserved land ranks highest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Chatham’s overall grade.
Conserved land65% of the land · typical MA town 21% · U.S. 4%A+Trails1.6 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (27 mi) · MA 1.9 · U.S. 0.4APark land161 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,077 acres) · MA 91 · U.S. 13AParks close to homeVirtually all residents within a half mile of a park · MA 93% · U.S. 72%A+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Among the top 1%
LessMore
Massachusetts towns of 2,500+ (283)Ahead of 95%
Massachusetts towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 21%; the U.S., 4%), so Chatham’s 65% is ahead of 100% of Massachusetts towns, while its trails per square mile lead 36% of them.
Water is more than half of Chatham’s area (17 of 33 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 32%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Town Forest, with 2.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Monomoy Wilderness
Managed by United States Fish and Wildlife Service
1,646 acres2.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
Managed by United States Fish and Wildlife Service
4,004 acres2 mi of trail
Monomoy NWR Nature Trail
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the parking lot
Goose Pond Forest
Nature preserve
105 acres2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Bailey Parcel
Nature preserve
44 acres1.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Strong Island
Managed by Chatham Conservation Foundation
66 acres1.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Stage Harbor Dike
Nature preserve
35 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
All 76 parks & preserves
Town Forest138 acres · 2.7 mi of trail
Monomoy Wilderness1,646 acres · 2.2 mi of trail · United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge4,004 acres · 2 mi of trail · United States Fish and Wildlife Service
DirectionsGoose Pond Forest105 acres · 2 mi of trail
DirectionsBailey Parcel44 acres · 1.7 mi of trail
DirectionsStrong Island66 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Chatham Conservation Foundation
DirectionsForest Beach60 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsStage Harbor Dike35 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
Frost Fish Creek - Stepping Stones31 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsSylvan Gardens7 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Town of Chatham
DirectionsOld Queen Anne Road31 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsMcCoy Tree Farm Conservation Area12 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Town of Chatham
DirectionsSamuel Hawes Park12 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Friends of the Samuel Hawes Park
DirectionsOld Comers Woodland11 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Chatham Conservation Foundation
DirectionsQueen Anne Road12 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsRyder Gift10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsGeorge Ryder Forest8 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Chatham
DirectionsIndian Hill Road Conservation Area13 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Star Bog Conservation Area9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Chatham
The Twinefield7 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Veterans' Park7 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSnug Harbor Road / Mill Pond4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Chatham Conservation Foundation
Chase Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsCedar Street3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Chatham
Training Field Triangle39 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Chatham
DirectionsValley Farm Conservation Area9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsLot 15 Frost Fish Creek6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHardings Lane3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Cape Cod National Seashore4,146 acres · National Park Service
Strong Island Marsh69 acres
Sam Ryder Conservation Area57 acres
Red River Conservation Area51 acres · Chatham Conservation Foundation
Frost Fish Creek50 acres · Chatham Conservation Foundation
Tern Island Wildlife Sanctuary44 acres · Massachusetts Audubon Society
DirectionsVolunteer Park44 acres
Barclays Pond29 acres · Town of Chatham
DirectionsCedar Swamp26 acres
Roberts Gift13 acres
DirectionsOff Meadow Brook Road11 acres
DirectionsWhiting Parcel11 acres
DirectionsHardings Beach Road8 acres
DirectionsHoneysuckle Lane7 acres
Minot Acres Conservation Area7 acres · Chatham Conservation Foundation
DirectionsSulfer Springs Conservation Area6 acres · Town of Chatham
Pochet Island6 acres
White Pond Beach4 acres
Ryder Cove4 acres
Barn Hill4 acres
Stage Island Conservation Area4 acres · Chatham Conservation Foundation
Muddy Creek Headwaters Preserve3 acres · Harwich Conservation Trust
Muddy Creek West3 acres
Absegami Run3 acres
DirectionsMain Street Conservation Area3 acres
DirectionsBlack Pond Conservation Area3 acres · Town of Chatham
DirectionsChatham Harbor North Chatham2 acres · Chatham Conservation Foundation
Eldridge Point Conservation Restriction2 acres
Salt Marsh Way Conservation Area2 acres · Chatham Conservation Foundation
Off Old Harbor Road / Patten Lane Parcel2 acres
DirectionsOyster Pond2 acres
Conservation Land1 acres
DirectionsKate Gould Park1 acres
DirectionsCockle Cove Creek Headwaters Reforestation Project1 acres · Town of Chatham
DirectionsCrowell Road Parcel1 acres
Scatteree Road Parcel1 acres
Fox Hill Island1 acres
Ministers Point1 acres
Old Harbor Road1 acres
George Ryder Road South / Ryder Cove1 acres
Periwinkle Point1 acres
Town Land1 acres
Doggans Pond Parcel1 acres
DirectionsStage Island Road1 acres
Eastward Point1 acres
Shore Road1 acres
Lighthouse Park1 acres · City of Chatham, Massachusetts
DirectionsEmery Pond1 acres
Who protects it
6,730 conserved acres
65% of Chatham’s land. Water is left out: Chatham has 16.2 square miles of land and 16.8 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Chatham’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service8,997 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits257 ac
National Park Service147 ac
Town or city32 ac
Other state land22 ac
Not recorded1,871 ac
National Wildlife Refuge · 8,997 acLocal Other or Unknown · 806 acState Conservation Area · 529 acPrivate Conservation · 330 acConservation Easement · 271 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 165 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 7 of 263 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 8,997 | Restricted |
| Hardings Beach Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 226 | Restricted |
| South Beach Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 200 | Unknown |
| Cape Cod National Seashore National Lakeshore or Seashore | National Park Service | 136 | Open |
| Town Forest Local Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 136 | Open |
| Eastward Ho Country Club State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 134 | Restricted |
| Strong Island North State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 76 | Restricted |
| Town of Chatham State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 69 | Open |
| Strong Island Marsh State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 68 | Restricted |
| Forest Beach Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 61 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
105 places to go in Chatham
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Chatham
Fisherman's Landing
DirectionsForest Beach
DirectionsHardings Beach
DirectionsStrong Island Beach
Directions81 beaches are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Swimming spots in Chatham
1 swimming spot without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Chatham
3 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Boat launches in Chatham
13 boat launches without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Chatham
2 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Chatham
Watch Hill20 ft elevation
DirectionsCannon Hill16 ft elevation
DirectionsNauset Beach Dunes3 ft elevation · In Cape Cod National Seashore
DirectionsPicnic areas in Chatham
Hardings Beach Picnic Area
DirectionsCampgrounds in Chatham
Biologist CampsiteIn Monomoy Wilderness
DirectionsTrails & water
11 named trails and 38 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 10.0 mi
Robert Verity Clem Trail0.4 mi
Valley Farm Trail0.4 mi
Monomoy NWR Nature Trail0.3 mi
High Trail0.3 mi
Old Comers Woodland Trail0.3 mi
Black Pond Loop0.2 mi
Antenna Field Trail0.2 mi
Sylvan Path0.2 mi
Access Trail0.1 mi
Rhododendron Trail0.1 mi
1 more trails
Azalea Trail
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Barclays PondpondBearses PondpondBlack PondpondBlue PondpondCommon FlatsCrows PondpondEmery PondpondFox PondpondGoose PondpondHospital PondreservoirLittle Mill PondpondLovers LakelakeMarys PondpondMill PondpondMinisters PondMuddy CreekOyster PondpondPerch PondpondPickeral PondpondPinkwink PondpondPowder HoleRyders PondpondSalt PondpondSchoolhouse PondpondStage HarborStation PondStillwater PondpondSulphur SpringspondTaylors PondpondTrout PondpondWhite PondpondBuck's CreekCockle Cove CreekFrost Fish CreekMill CreekMitchell RiverMuddy RiverRed River
Biking & sports
4.4 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.2 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
3.8 mi
off-road bike paths
0.4 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
31Tennis
7Baseball
3Basketball
2Pickleball
1Equestrian
1Skate park
1Soccer
1Beach volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →14 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 14 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving StationBuilding · listed 1975
About itHalf Way HouseBuilding · listed 1978
About itChatham Railroad DepotBuilding · listed 1978
About itChatham WindmillStructure · listed 1978
About itBrick BlockBuilding · listed 1979
About itMonomoy Point LighthouseBuilding · listed 1979
About itPort Royal HouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itChatham Light StationStructure · listed 1987
About itEldredge Public LibraryBuilding · listed 1992
About itMarconi-RCA Wireless Receiving StationDistrict · listed 1994
About itOld Village Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2001
About it2 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Chatham: May to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 39 | 40 | 44 | 52 | 61 | 70 | 77 | 77 | 71 | 61 | 52 | 44 |
| Rain (in) | 4.0 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.7 |
July is the driest month (2.4 in) and the warmest (highs of 77 °F). 4.7 inches fall in December, the wettest month. The climate in Chatham →
Next door
Chatham and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham | 65% | 1.6 | 161 | 99%+ | A+ |
| Harwich | 19% | 3.5 | 114 | 95% | A+ |
| Harwich Port | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| East Harwich | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| West Chatham | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Orleans | 32% | 1.7 | 68 | 99%+ | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Chatham
Where can I hike in Chatham?
The longest trail networks: Town Forest, 2.7 miles; Monomoy Wilderness, 2.2 miles; Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, 2 miles; Goose Pond Forest, 2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Chatham is conserved land?
65% of its land, against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Chatham’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Chatham?
4.4 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.2 of painted or protected lanes, 3.8 of off-road paths and 0.4 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Chatham?
11,466 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Chatham or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,182 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Chatham have?
Among the top 1% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #14 of 283 in Massachusetts. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Chatham neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →