The rough corner of Chilmark
Squibnocket Beach, in the town of Chilmark, is one of the roughest beaches on Martha’s Vineyard: Atlantic waves, steep dunes, stones underfoot and an open horizon.
There are no concessions or boardwalks, just wind, waves, surfers and a lot of space. The Atlantic still shapes this end of the island.
Stones underfoot instead of soft sand, fog that can roll in without warning, and a well-known surf break just offshore.
Plate 01
What people do at Squibnocket
It draws people who want open space and strong surf.
A 
B 
C A: low sun on the boulder field that gives the beach its footing; B: a lone surfer working a line beyond the shorebreak; C: the causeway in fog, which is how a good share of the year actually looks here.
Surfing at Squibnocket
Squibnocket faces the open Atlantic, which is why island surfers watch it. On the right days the waves are big and well shaped, and the people on them know what they are doing.
Food and supplies nearby
There is nothing to eat or buy at Squibnocket Beach itself, so it’s worth bringing water, food and anything else you need.
Nearby areas such as Menemsha, Chilmark, and West Tisbury have small markets and places to eat. Most people bring a picnic.
Know Before You Go
Before you go
There are no lifeguards at Squibnocket. Currents, rocks and a steep shore break make this a beach to read carefully before you enter the water.
Roughly June 15 through Labor Day a Chilmark beach sticker is required, or an authorized walk-on or guest pass. Outside peak season access is less restricted. The beach is open 9 AM to 5 PM, dogs are not allowed, and the town’s rules keep surfboards and windsurfers out of the water in front of the parking lot.
Surf, swell and wind change quickly here, so it pays to watch the water a while before going in.
No services on site. Water, food, sun protection and layers.
They are protected and best left alone, and whatever you carry in goes out with you.
Squibnocket loses ground to the Atlantic every year, and the old stone revetment and parking lot were crumbling into it. In 2017 and 2018 Chilmark took the revetment out, restored the barrier beach and rebuilt the lot about 100 feet farther back toward Squibnocket Pond; the beach reopened in May 2018. The walk down is over that restored beach, so keep to the path.
Questions
Questions about Squibnocket
Is Squibnocket Beach open to the public?
It is a Chilmark town beach. From mid-June through Labor Day, access is restricted to Chilmark residents, renters and their guests with a valid sticker or walk-on pass. Outside peak season access is more flexible but still governed by town rules.
Are there lifeguards?
No. There are no lifeguards at Squibnocket, and ocean conditions here can be hazardous.
Is it family-friendly?
Strong surf, rocks and no facilities make it better suited to strong swimmers who know the ocean than to young children.
Squibnocket shows the rough side of Martha’s Vineyard. The water, the sticker rules and the dunes all ask for a little care.
The causeway in from the lot, reeds on both sides and the Atlantic beyond. There are no concessions and no lifeguards here.
Keep Reading
Keep exploring
More photos: our Squibnocket Beach gallery.
From Our Lens Stone, fog and a well-known surf break. 10 photographs · View the beach galleries
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