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Beaches

Minot Beach

Minot Beach, Scituate, MA, USA

Town of Scituate: (781) 545-8700

https://www.scituatema.gov/beach-commission/pages/town-of-scituate-beaches

Owned By: Town of Scituate

Minot is a sandy beach in Scituate with beautiful views of Minot Ledge Light and Massachusetts Bay. Access is available at the corner of Gannett Road & Glades Road, via a passageway on the left side of the Minot Post Office, and from two lots on Bailey’s Causeway.

View a replica of Minot Ledge Light at Government Island in Cohasset, where there are also some memorials and historic markers.

Features

Each year, Scituate sells a limited number of non-resident beach stickers, for Humarock, and for “all access” (which includes Minot). For more information, call (781) 545-8718, or visit this site.

The beach is named for Minots Ledge, which is located in the ocean, about a mile offshore. The rocky ledge was named for George Minot, a prominent Bostonian in the mid-1700s, after one of his ships was wrecked there.

After 40 vessels wrecked at Minots Ledge, plans began to construct lighthouse there. The first was built between 1847 and 1850, but it succumbed to a major storm in April 1851.

Work began in 1855 on a second, more durable, lighthouse, with a 40-foot, solid Quincy granite base, plus massive iron pins holding it in place on the ledge. At the time, it was the most expensive lighthouse built in the United States (final cost: $300,000). It was lit for the first time on November 15, 1860. In 1894, the locally renowned 1-4-3 (I LOVE YOU, referring to the  number of letters in each word) flashing light cycle commenced. The lighthouse began automated 1947.

This land is within the region of the Massachusett (or Massachuseuk). To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Mattakeeset band of the Massachusett, and the Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag, both share information on their websites. 

Trail Description

No trails, but you can walk along the beach for quite a distance.

Habitats and Wildlife

A sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean in North Scituate.

  • A photograph of an entrance to a beach with some property signs.
  • A photograph of a sea wall with large flat rocks between it and the ocean.
  • A photograph of a mural and some large rocks alongside the ocean.
  • A photograph of a concrete ramp leading to a beach, with a sea wall at high tide.
  • A photograph of the entrance to a beach, with a poured concrete area.
  • A photograph from the roadside of a rocky beach.
  • A photograph of a beach with many rocks.
  • A photograph of a railing leading to a rocky beach.
  • A photograph of a stairway leading to a rocky beach.
  • A photograph of a beach at high tide with a sea wall and some houses.
  • A photograph of a sea wall, with benches, overlooking a beach.
  • A photograph of a lighthouse with roaring surf.
Minot Beach, Scituate, MA, USA

Historic Site: No

Park: No

Beach: Yes

Boat Launch: No

Lifeguards: Yes

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Parking: Scituate Beach Sticker required. 4 parking spots at The Glades, 26 parking spots at the lot on Bailey's Causeway East, and 75 parking spots at the lot on Bailey's Causeway West.

Cost: Free for pedestrians.

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Facilities:

Porta potties, in season.

Dogs: Yes, in the off season. From June 15 to September 15, dogs are not permitted on any town beach between the hours of 10am and 6pm.

Boat Ramp: No

ADA Access: No

Scenic Views: Yes

Waterbody/Watershed: Atlantic Ocean

Other Things to Do at This Site

Fishing
Nature Photography