New England Travel

See which 42 beaches are closed this weekend across Massachusetts

The Department of Public Health temporarily closes beaches if there is a "bacterial exceedance."

By Eva Levin

July 25, 2024

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Planning a weekend visit to the beach? Make sure you’re visiting an open one. These 42 beaches across Massachusetts are closed as of Thursday, July 25 due to bacteria concerns. 

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) says bacteria levels tend to rise after periods of heavy rainfall. Dirty runoff from the streets gathers excrement and other harmful bacteria in the sewers, which in turn can run into nearby bodies of water. The Commonwealth experienced some recent summer rain storms, which may be the cause of this spike of bacteria in open water. 

Swimming in unsafe water can lead to a bevy of health problems. The most frequent and notable effect is gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea and diarrhea. When ingested, bacteria can also cause flu-like symptoms, skin rashes, and eye-nose-throat problems.

It is unclear when the beaches will reopen. Water testing results take 24 hours, DPH says, so results typically come out the next day. For now, the department warns beachgoers to be vigilant and check their interactive beach water quality dashboard. 

Beaches closed as of Thursday, July 25

Amherst

• Puffers Pond
• Stanley St. swimming hole

Ashby

• Damon Pond Beach

Ashland

• Ashland Reservoir – Main Beach
• Hopkinton Reservoir – Upper Beach

Bolton

• Bolton Town Beach

Boston

• Malibu 
• Tenean

Braintree

• Smith Beach

Chatham

• Bucks Creek

Concord

• Walden Pond

Framingham

• Saxonville Beach
• Waushakum Beach

Gardner

• Dunn Pond

Greenfield

• Greenfield Municipal Bathing Beach

Holland

• Collette Drive Beach

Lynn

• Kings
• Lynn Shore Beach

Nantucket

• Sesachacha Pond
• Washing Pond

North Andover

• Stevens Pond – Center

Oxford

• Carbuncle Pond

Quincy

• Broady

Rutland

• Whitehall Pond BEach

Salem

• Camp Naumkeag
• Children’s Island

Shutesbury

• Lake Wyola

Swampscott

• Kings

Taunton

• Watsons Pond

Templeton

• Beamans Pond

Townsend

• Pearl Hill Pond Beach

Truro

• Longnook

West Stockbridge

• Card Pond Beach

West Tisbury

• Long Cove
• Seth’s Pond

Westminster

• Crow Hill Pond Beach

Winthrop

• Donovans
• Halford

Worcester

• Lake Quinsigamond-Regatta Point Beach