Bay / Calm
Eel Point Road
Nantucket, MA
Plover closureHidden gem
No rating0
NatureSeclusionBirdingWalking
Calm waterUncrowdedDog-friendlySunsets
1 / 5
Heads up
- Piping plover nesting closure active this month — sections of the beach may be roped off.
Sound SideFree & OpenHidden gemBest in August
Steps Beach Nantucket
Nantucket, Massachusetts · Nantucket Sound
4.8(215 reviews)
Nantucket's snorkeling cove — earned by a long flight of stairs
A hidden gem down a steep staircase near the Cliff area. Rocky shore with the best snorkeling on Nantucket. Small and quiet — the stairs keep the crowds away.
Steps Beach lives up to its name — you reach it down a long wooden staircase from the Cliff Road bluff, which is exactly why almost no one is ever down there. The beach itself is a rocky cove with a fringe of sand at the high tide line and clear, cooler-than-most Nantucket Sound water. The rocks and eelgrass make it one of the only places on the island worth bringing a snorkel — bait fish, small crabs, the occasional flounder buried in the bottom. There are no facilities, no lifeguards. The houses along Cliff Road are some of the most photographed on Nantucket; walk east along the bluff after a swim.
Photo spot
The staircase descending from the Cliff Road bluff to the beach
Arrive
Anytime — small crowd ceiling enforced by the stairsCrowds
LowDogs
WelcomeSunsets
Great spotBest for
SnorkelingSeclusionWalking
The beach
Lay of the land
- Orientation
- North-facing
- Length
- ~0.2 mi
- Backshore
- Bluff-backed
- Sand
- Mixed sand and rock with eelgrass beds offshore
- Shade
- Bluff casts late-afternoon shade
Wildlife
Birds you may see: common tern, double-crested cormorant, great black-backed gull
TidepoolsEelgrass beds
Things to know
- Occasional seal haul-outs nearby — a shark factor on outer-Cape waters.
- Jellyfish more likely in August.
Plan your visit
Parking & fees
- Lot size
- Small
- Enforcement
- Street parking only on Lincoln Avenue.
Street parking, bike recommended
Getting there
- Ferry
- 60 min from Hyannis · Steamship Authority (fast ferry)
- Cell signal
- good
Accessibility
- Beach wheelchair
- Not available
- Mobi Mat
- No
- Path from parking
- stairs
Dogs
Allowed on leash; the stairs are not dog-friendly.
Rules & activities
What’s allowed
UmbrellasTents / canopies · small onlyAlcoholGrillsFiresDronesSmoking
Activities
Unofficial SUP/kayak launchSnorkeling · good
Safety & stewardship
Partial plover closure (seasonal)
Photo by Dasha Elgart via Google Places
Today
Water67°F
Sunrise5:08 AM
Sunset8:17 PM
Conditions
WavesCalm water
Water64–70°F (July–Aug)
TidesModerate
SharksLow risk
Jellyfishlow
Length~0.2 mi
Facilities
Bike rack
None on-site; downtown ~1.5mi
Steps Beach Nantucket — good to know
How much does parking cost at Steps Beach Nantucket?
Parking at Steps Beach Nantucket is free and open to the public, but lots fill early on summer weekends — arrive before about 10am for the best chance of a spot.
Are dogs allowed at Steps Beach Nantucket?
Dogs are allowed at Steps Beach Nantucket — Allowed on leash; the stairs are not dog-friendly.
Does Steps Beach Nantucket have lifeguards?
No — Steps Beach Nantucket does not have lifeguards on duty, so swim with caution.
Are there restrooms at Steps Beach Nantucket?
Steps Beach Nantucket does not have public restrooms on site, so plan accordingly.
What is the water like at Steps Beach Nantucket?
Steps Beach Nantucket is a Nantucket Sound beach on Nantucket Sound. Expect calm, gentle water that's good for young kids and easy swimming. Average summer water temperature is around 64–70°F (July–Aug).
What is Steps Beach Nantucket best for?
Steps Beach Nantucket is especially good for snorkeling, seclusion and walking.
When is the best time to visit Steps Beach Nantucket?
Anytime — small crowd ceiling enforced by the stairs.
