Beaches

Season passes are valid at all three town-operated beaches:

• Ferry Beach
• Pine Point Beach (Hurd Park)
• Higgins Beach

All beach passes must be obtained in person. This includes the free senior resident passes (Ages 60+). Passes may be purchased in the Town Clerk’s Office, or, if you are conducting other business in the Revenue Office, such as a vehicle or boat registration, you may purchase your beach pass there at the same time. Please bring your vehicle registration as it is required for the purchase of a beach pass. If you are purchasing additional passes for all household vehicles, all vehicles’ registrations must be presented, as well. Cash or check payment is recommended; cards are accepted with an additional convenience fee.

New Traffic Flow at Pine Point Beach This Summer

We are quickly approaching the official beach season in Scarborough, so we wanted to prepare everyone for the traffic flow changes that will be taking place this summer:

ENTERING PARKING LOT: There is now a dedicated entrance and exit to the Pine Point lot. Cars will enter the lot off of Avenue 5. This entrance will be divided into two lanes. 

• Season pass or paying with cash? Please stay to the right. Upon entry to the lot, you will be directed to turn right.
• Paying with debit or credit card? Please stay to the left. After paying the attendant, you will be directed to continue straight.

EXITING PARKING LOT: All users will now leave through a dedicated exit onto King Street. Please pull up slowly and the gate will automatically open for you once you are close enough. Please use caution while pulling onto King Street. 

NEW TROLLEY STOP AND PEDESTRIAN WALK: There is now a dedicated trolley stop at the top of the parking lot on the corner of King Street and Avenue 5. There is also a pedestrian walkway down Avenue 5 that follows the split rail fence line. Beachgoers who use this will enter through the sandy pedestrian path to the left of the parking lot.

 

Dogs and Horses on Town-Operated Beaches

May 15-Labor Day: No dogs are allowed on any beach from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; dogs allowed on leash from 5:00 p.m. to dusk and off-leash from dawn to 9:00 a.m.

Day after Labor Day-May 14: Dogs allowed on beaches; must be on leash from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Please note areas of beaches where dogs are restricted (April 1 to Labor Day) to protect endangered plover species. When off-leash dog access is permitted, dogs must be under voice and sight control.

For detailed information about bringing a dog to the beach, including maps showing restricted areas, refer to the Animal Control Ordinance. For current, detailed information about riding a horse on the beach, refer to the Horse Beach Permit Ordinance.

Please Note: Dogs are not permitted at Scarborough Beach State Park from April 1 through October 1.

Each summer, endangered piping plovers call Scarborough's beaches home. Piping plovers are small, sandy-colored birds that nest in front of sand dunes on the upper beach. They are vulnerable to natural predators, roaming pets, storms, and human activity.

Help protect endangered piping plovers by adhering to the following:

• Keep your dog leashed on the beach during nesting season and be aware of Restricted Areas, staked and twined nesting areas, and leash laws.
• Keep away from staked and twined nesting areas. Dog owners must keep their dogs 200 feet away from fencing to avoid disturbing nesting birds and chicks.
• Use the blue trash receptacles provided on the beach. Help keep Scarborough’s beaches, parking lots, and roads clean.
• Homeowners and renters with cats should keep their pets indoors or add a bell to the cat’s collar during nesting season (April - October).

Read more about Piping Plovers