The Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens ecoregion includes all of Cape Cod, Martha′s Vineyard, Nantucket as well as the other islands off the south coast of Massachusetts. Also include in this ecoregion is a large area of southeast Massachusetts which includes the Myles Standish state forest.

Further, the ecosystem expands across all of the outer shores and some of the inner shores of Long Island, New York. Too, a large portion of New Jersey, the southern half is included in this ecosystem.

The Atlantic coastal pine barrens is a now rare temperate coniferous forest ecoregion of the Northeast United States distinguished by unique species and topographical features (coastal plain ponds, frost pocket), generally nutrient-poor, often acidic soils and a pine tree distribution once controlled by frequent fires. There are sandy beaches, grassy dunes, bays, marches and scrubby oak-pine forests.

This is a transitional ecoregion, between the Middle Atlantic coastal plains ecoregion (12N) to the south and the Northeast Coastal Zone ecoregion (10C) to the north. It differs from the southern coastal area 12C by its coarser-grained soils, cooler climate, and Northeastern oak-pine potential natural vegetation. The climate is milder than the northern coastal ecoregion (10C) which contains Appalachian oak forests and some northern hardwoods forests.

The physiography of this ecoregion is not as flat as that of the southern neighbor (12N), but it is not as irregular as that of the northern neighbor (10C). The shore characteristics of sandy beaches, grassy dunes, bays, marshes, and scrubby oak-pine forests are more like those to the south, in contrast to the more rocky, jagged, forested coastline found to the north.

People have lived among the pine barrens forests for thousands of years as ancient artifacts, such as Paleoindian projectile points found at several locations indicate that humans have occupied these forests ever since the arrival of Ophir and his sons after their migration across the Bering land bridge.

Thousands of archeological sites exist throughout the pine barrens including the outer part of the hook of land that forms Cape Cod . A number of these sites have been scientifically studied and some can even be visited. The interpretation of ancient and historic activities at these sites indicates humans have used the pine barren coastline from the earliest times.

Cape Cod National Seashore. Daily vehicle Entrance fee: $25.00.

Cape Cod National Seashore have beach fees during summer months. Beach entrance fees are collected daily from late June through Labor Day, and at select beaches on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to the middle of September.

Passes accepted: America the Beautiful Annual Pass, Lifetime Senior Pass, Access Pass, Military Pass and the National Seashore Pass.

All beaches listed have public parking lots, and most all are free but there are some parking lots that charge for parking. Also, the further north on Cape Cod peninsula you travel, normally there are fewer people.

Each coastline section will begin at the Race Point Lighthouse at the northern end of Cape Cod peninsula, listing beaches as they appear along the coast when moving south. Both national seashore beaches and other public beaches will be listed.

The South, Nantucket Sound coast is by far the most populated coast and most likely to have crowded beaches.

Race Point Beach NP 42.079377, -70.218273 Restrooms and showers

High Head Beach, North Turo half mile walk,secluded, 42.064929, -70.111296

Head of the Meadow Beach, NP 42.052908, -70.082707

Coast Guard Beach, limited parking, 42.0481823, -70.072504

Highland Lighthouse observation deck, 42.039723, -70.060348

Longnook Beach, 42.019799, -70.038224

Ballston Beach, 41.999118, -70.021339

Newcomb Hollow Beach, 41.963140, -69.996450

White Crest Beach, 41.934321, -69.980161

Lecount Hollow Beach, 41.922562, -69.974712

White Cedar Swamp Trail and Beach Boardwalk, 41.913113, -69.972454

Marconi Beach NP, 41.890978, -69.964485

Three Sisters Lights and Nauset Light, 41.860142, -69.952895

Nauset Light Beach NS, 41.859085, -69.951813

Coast Guard Beach, 41.843536, -69.948134

Fort Hill NS free parking, 41.818716, -69.965677

Nauset Beach, NS, 41.788635, -69.936856

Orleans Beach, NS, 41.787373, -69.936659

Chatham Lighthouse, 41.671357, -69.949159

Lighthouse Beach, 41.671357, -69.949159

Monomoy Lighthouse, (boat access only) 41.559344, -69.993646

Stage Harbor Lighthouse, (.9 mile from Harding Beach) 41.658715, -69.983695

Harding Beach, 41.667053, -69.995208

Ridgevale Beach, 41.673260, -70.006084

Cockle Cove Beach, 41.672847, -70.011502

Forest Beach, 41.669447, -70.026614

Red River Beach, dog free beach, 41.667574, -70.043149

Bank Street Beach, 41.664505, -70.072158

Earl Road Beach, 41.661887, -70.097060

Grey Neck Beah, small but cozy, stairs, 41.661273, -70.099406

Pleasant Road Beach, bathroom, shower, foot wash, 41.659894, -70.106045

Sea Street Beach, 41.65259872065608, -70.13373374897714

Glendon Road Beach, 41.650888, -70.143130

Haigis Beach, 41.651247, -70.148778

West Dennis Light, lighthouse inn, 41.651730, -70.169184

West Dennis Beach, mile long beach, 41.651557, -70.172461

Bass River Beach, 41.644556, -70.198984

Parkers River Beach, 41.641447, -70.211191

Seaview Beach, small tucked away, 41.640098, -70.2140356

Thatcher Beach, 41.638599, -70.216590

Seagull Beach, 41.635714, -70.225153

Seagull Beach Lighthouse, 41.633629, -70.231435

Martha′s Vineyard and Nantucket Ferry

Kalmus Park Beach, bathroom, 41.635163, -70.278340

keyes Memorial Beach, 41.636236, -70.291459

Covells Beach, 41.636076, -70.334350

Craigville Beach, 41.637108, -70.339491

Dowses Beach, town sticker required 41.623712, -70.365541

Herring Cove Beach, 42.044026, -70.216260

Pilgrims First Landing Park, 42.036868, -70.196511

Dog Beach, 42.041847, -70.193153

Ryder St Beach and Public Bath House, 42.051182, -70.185872

Johnson Street Parking Lot and Beach, 42.053302, -70.183443

Noons Landing Beach, 42.049782, -70.118169

Cold Storage Beach, North Truro, 42.030933, -70.093660

Great Hallow Beach, 42.010153, -70.082936

Corn Hill Beach and Harbor Bar, 42.000452, -70.079683

Duck Harbor Beach, very isolated, hard to get to. 41.945910, -70.074980

Powers Landing Beach, 41.93012286486125, -70.04865246791995

Wellfleet Town Park Beach, 41.930359, -70.032830

Indian Neck Beach, Scenic, 41.924081, -70.031775

Cooks Brook Beach, 41.864498, -70.007794

Campground Beach, 41.850996, -70.006003

Thumpertown Beach, 41.843622, -70.004917

First Encounter Beach 41.821446, -70.003731

Hatch Beach, 41.8174518, -70.003241

Rock Harbor Beach, inter tidal zone, 41.799731, -70.008427

Skaket Beach, white sandy beach 41.794559, -70.016706

Crosby Landing Beach, 41.783573, -70.033610

Linnell Landing Beach, 41.783573, -70.033610

Ellis Landing Beach, 41.775565, -70.054841

Breakwater Beach, 41.775565, -70.054841

Saints Landing Beach, 41.764053, -70.101844

Robbins Hill Beach, 41.764053, -70.101844

Cold Storage Beach, 41.756210, -70.151297

Harbor View Beach, 41.755805, -70.156723

Howes Beach, 41.749886, -70.185217

Corporation Beach, 41.751322, -70.188014

Mayflower Beach, nice, very large, 41.741399, -70.218425

Sandy Neck Beach, 41.738875, -70.380587

East Sandwich Beach, 41.753196, -70.446599