Travel

Popular Cape Cod beach likely closed for the summer due to erosion

The closure is to ensure the safety of visitors.

Swimmers at Longnook Beach in Truro, Aug. 16, 2018. David L. Ryan / The Boston Globe, File

July 15, 2024

A popular beach on the outer Cape is temporarily closed this summer as a safety precaution due to the erosion of the adjacent bluffs.

Longnook Beach is known for its sandy shores and impressive cliff views in Truro. Earlier this month, the town announced closing the beach while comprehensively evaluating the bluffs’ stability.

In an interview with The Cape Cod Times, Truro Town Manager Darrin Tangerman said, “It’s a very likely chance” that Longnook will remain closed for the summer.

“We have some significant concerns,” he told the Times. “We know there is significant demand and appreciation for this beach, and we’re moving forward as quickly as we can.”

The dynamic shoreline, exacerbated by Longnook’s steep topography, periodically poses safety risks to beachgoers.

In 2005, the town closed Longnook for a period that included Memorial Day weekend when cliff erosion posed a threat. In August 1973, the life of an 11-year-old was taken by the bluffs after a 165-foot cliff collapsed, burying him under 20 feet of sand.

While there is always some inherent risk at Longnook due to the dynamic conditions, the town says that the steepened slope of the coastal bank with areas that are undercut and slumping and the collections of large rocks perched precariously above the footpaths and beach have heightened concerns.

In late spring, the town used a 60-foot-long arm excavator and a loader to moderate the slope of the coastal bank and establish pathways.

The longstanding practice of addressing winter erosion provided some access, but the town said it proved to be “no match for the severity of erosion occurring.”

The parking lot and beach access are closed to “avoid the potential for a catastrophic event that could result in injury or death.”

“The town understands that this closure is inconvenient and is frustrating for regular beachgoers, especially during the summer,” the town said in a statement. “However, the Town of Truro remains committed to prioritizing the safety of its residents and visitors.”

Jersey barriers, fencing, and signage saying the beach access is closed were installed.

A team is working with consultants to establish a monitoring plan for the coastal bank.

In addition, an alternative analysis with at least three approaches to access management will be conducted, and recommendations will be provided for balancing safety and public access to the beach.

Other nearby beaches that are still open include Ballston Beach, Coast Guard Beach, and Head of the Meadow Beach.

Further updates will be provided on the Town of Truro website at www.truro-ma.gov.