Squibnocket Pond Reservation

No dogs are permitted on the Squibnocket Pond Reservation South, per the directive of the commonwealth natural heritage office.  

Dogs are currently not permitted on the Squibnocket Pond Reservation North but will, in the future, be allowed on a trial basis once the North trail system has been completed.

335.7 acres

Jointly owned by the land bank and Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation (SMF), its private-sector counterpart, the Squibnocket Pond Reservation possesses a scale unique among the island’s preserves and reservations: it’s mondo. Visitors need pre-consecrate much more time than they would elsewhere in order to explore this open space fully. 

The property comprises 336 acres divided into two separate holdings. The northhold — Squibnocket Pond Reservation North, located on the State Road — tallies out at 62 acres, at the spot where the Herring Creek drains the pond and chains it to the next, Menemsha Pond. The southhold — Squibnocket Pond Reservation South, on the Moshup Trail — encompasses 274 acres of woodland, coastal dune and Atlantic Ocean beach.

Opening these lands to public use will be phased. The northhold is currently open, with a trail affording views of the creek and pond. The southhold will shortly open; its topography permits a universal access trail with views of the old Joel Gershom homestead, plus a trail leading to one mile of remote ocean beach. Swimmers are welcome but — remember, the reservation’s mondo — this is not Katama:  it’s at least twenty minutes of trekking before reaching the surf.

In phase-two, northhold trails will extend to Witch Pond (also known as Black Pond) and will include an unusual kayak access.   Because portage from the trailhead is too far (mondo) and includes both steep terrain and wetland crossings, the land bank and SMF will, in upcoming years, supply kayaks located at the pond edge (at no cost) for visitors to reserve and use. Southhold trails in phase-two will connect to a kayak landing area but, notably, will also guide hikers through the coastal dune to the Lily Pond overlook and along the upper slope of the rocky Squibnocket Pond shoreline. Phase-two is slated for 2026.

Owing to expected demand, space in the trailheads is allocated via advance reservation; click here for the north trailhead (and, eventually, here for the south trailhead). Bypass the effort — bicycle there, or, for the north, take the bus.

• Difficulty rating: easy
• Trail: 400’ of hardened trail
• Points of Interest: view orientation toward the Joel Gershom homestead
• Benches: 1

Start on the State Road at the Chilmark - Aquinnah town line. Proceed into Aquinnah 0.3 miles; driveway is on the left.

The reservation includes three 19th century homesteads, belonging to the Thaddeus Cook, Joel Gershom and Jonathan Francis families.