Scorton Creek Cape Cod Kayaking Trip

One of our favorite places to go kayaking on Cape Cod is Scorton Creek, a tidal river in East Sandwich.

It's just a few miles from our home and offers easy access and parking for a limited number of cars at the State Wildlife Reservation right off Route 6a. This is known as the Marsh put in and it's the one we recommend for all but the most experienced kayakers.

You can also put in on the Bay side of Route 6a, but you may need a 4 wheel drive vehicle and the rip current there can be brutal. An ebb current can suck you out into Scorton Bay before you know it and you'll have a very difficult time paddling back in.

Insiders' Tip

In high summer teenagers from all over town will be doing cannon ball jumps off the bridge at high tide (it's something of a rite of passage here).

They're usually pretty good about stopping to allow kayakers to pass, but be aware of this potential hazard, or more importantly, make sure the jumpers are aware of you (singing show tunes at the top of your voice usually works ), as you pass under 6a.

If you start your trip at the Marsh put in at high tide, you can head inland and have plenty of time to explore some wonderful salt marshes as far as Talbots Point before the tide turns. You may even have time to hike along the trail there, but be aware that the tide will turn and you'll need to begin the trip back within no more than two hours or risk being stranded on the mud.

On your return journey, you may decide to pass by your original departure point and paddle on all the way to the ocean at East Sandwich beach.

This is a lovely way to extend your trip by about a mile and a half, but it's best done only if you have a car spotted at the other end. Otherwise the paddle back (against the tide, and after what will have already been several hours on the water) will be strenuous in the extreme.

The water is very clear here, allowing you to peer into it looking for snails, crabs, or even the occasional striped bass.

One word of warning if you take this leg of the trip. When you get down to the Bay, be sure to take out on the left before you begin to enter the main channel. The tides there can make it very difficult to paddle back inland.

You can take a nice leisurely walk on the beach here before packing your gear up and heading home.

Directions

To get to the ocean side, follow the same info as above except after your right onto Route 6a take a left onto Ploughed Neck Road at the Tedeschi/ Dunkin Donuts. Bear to the left as you drive down that road until you get to the intersection. Take a right and go all the way to the end where there is a right turn. It looks just like a driveway but it wraps around the back of the houses there and leads to the loading area. Parking here can be tight. It may be best to leave just one car here and other(s) at the Marsh put in.

Independent Reviews

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