Kettle Cove Beach
Set on a secluded cove on the Buzzards Bay side of Naushon Island, Kettle Cove Beach offers boaters a quiet place to anchor and relax. It’s one of three beaches on this private island where public visitors are welcome, courtesy of the Naushon Island Trust. Help keep this island an unspoiled treasure for all by following posted rules and not exploring beyond the beach.
Features
If you’re a Buzzards Bay boater looking for a daytrip destination, check out Kettle Cove Beach, located on Naushon in the Elizabeth Islands chain. This pristine crescent of sand is a peaceful place to enjoy a few hours swimming, snorkeling, and appreciating the Bay’s natural beauty. The cove is open to wind from the west through the north, but on a calm day, larger boats can anchor offshore in sandy Kettle Cove and cast a line for scup or stripers.
When you visit Kettle Cove Beach, please respect the island’s residents by following all posted rules. Do not trespass beyond the beach, and keep dogs under your control. Keep the beach clean by carrying out any trash. No fires or overnight camping allowed. Kettle Cove Beach is one of three Naushon beaches (along with West Beach next to Robinsons Hole and Tarpaulin Cove Beach on Vineyard Sound) where members of the public are welcome.
Habitats & Wildlife
Of Naushon’s three public beaches, Kettle Cove Beach has the rockiest shoreline – which makes it an interesting place for all ages to beachcomb along the water’s edge. Bring along a pair of water shoes to wade in the shallows in search of small crabs and fish.
Grass-covered sand dunes line the back edge of all of Naushon’s beaches. These fragile dunes create a natural barrier between the Bay and the private oak forests beyond. Please stay off the sand dunes to protect them from damage.
For birders, the beaches of Naushon are a prime place to look out for coastal birds like ospreys, cormorants, gulls, terns, and plovers. Birds frequently nest on the beach and dunes, so please keep clear of any nests, eggs, and chicks during the spring and summer breeding season.