Stetson Pond Beach
Pembroke, Massachusetts · on Stetson Pond · Stetson Pond Beach
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- pond
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Stetson Pond Beach
Stetson Pond Beach is a small, town-owned swimming hole on 93-acre Stetson Pond in Pembroke, Massachusetts, open to both residents and non-residents and among the free public places to swim in town. It offers a compact sandy shoreline with a pier and canoe/kayak launch, free admission, and no lifeguard on duty.
The beach sits on Stetson Pond, one of several ponds in Pembroke's South Shore pine-flats landscape that historically attracted summer vacationers from nearby cities, leading to cottage colonies around the shoreline that have since transitioned to year-round residences.
Swimming at Stetson Pond Beach
A small, quiet neighborhood pond beach suited to casual, low-key swimming and paddling rather than a destination swim spot; the pond averages about 15 feet deep (33 feet at maximum) and has no lifeguard, so swimmers are unsupervised. One aggregator source's FAQ characterized it as 'not generally considered a good swimming beach,' in some tension with its general description of the site as suitable for swimming and paddling.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 350 Plymouth Street, Pembroke, MA (one source lists 376 Plymouth Street), with a small beach parking lot on site.
Parking: Limited, free on-site parking at the Plymouth Street beach lot; no boat ramp. One aggregator source notes resident parking stickers may be required in peak summer season, though this is not confirmed by an official town source.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up town beach, not a hike-in swimming hole. One aggregator (newenglandswimmingholes.com) describes it as a 'short walk' of about 0.1 mi (roughly 60 ft) across sand from the parking lot to the water's edge.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Small sandy beach and calm quiet pond make it approachable for families, and one aggregator explicitly tags it 'family friendly' for swim/picnic use, but there is no lifeguard on duty and the pond has a sudden depth change near shore (average depth ~15 ft, max ~33 ft), so young or inexperienced swimmers should be watched closely.
Parking
Free
Small free on-site beach lot at 350 Plymouth Street with limited spaces; arrive early on summer weekends. One aggregator (unconfirmed by an official town source) notes a resident parking sticker may be required in peak season.
Restrooms
None on site
No restrooms or showers on site (confirmed by both the NSRWA listing and sandee.com); nearest public restrooms would be elsewhere in town.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
Described by one aggregator (newenglandswimmingholes.com) as a 'typical South Shore kettle pond, clear in cool weather, algae-prone in hot, still spells,' with possible cyanobacteria advisories during hot weather; official sources direct visitors to check the Massachusetts public beach water-quality database before swimming rather than stating a fixed clarity level.
Hours
Dawn to dusk (per NSRWA and sandee.com); exact seasonal hours and any resident-sticker requirement are set by Pembroke Recreation.
On the water
Restrictions: No boat ramp on site, so only carry-in, non-motorized small craft (canoes/kayaks) are practical; a dedicated launch and pier exist for this purpose. No mention of paddleboards being specifically permitted or prohibited.
Facilities are limited to a small pier and canoe/kayak launch; this is a quiet, low-traffic paddling spot rather than a boating destination.
What regulars say
Regulars characterize crowd levels as moderate overall but busy on summer weekends. Little other first-hand visitor commentary specifically about Stetson Pond Beach has surfaced beyond those crowd and water-clarity characterizations.
Backstory
The pond is named for the Stetson family who settled along Plymouth Street. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Pembroke's ponds, including Stetson Pond, became summer retreats for city vacationers, spurring cottage colonies along the shore that have since evolved into year-round homes.
Stetson Pond Beach: FAQ
Does Stetson Pond Beach charge a fee?
Free admission.
Is Stetson Pond Beach kid friendly?
Small sandy beach and calm quiet pond make it approachable for families, and one aggregator explicitly tags it 'family friendly' for swim/picnic use, but there is no lifeguard on duty and the pond has a sudden depth change near shore (average depth ~15 ft, max ~33 ft), so young or inexperienced swimmers should be watched closely.
Do I need to hike to reach Stetson Pond Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Stetson Pond Beach?
Small free on-site beach lot at 350 Plymouth Street with limited spaces; arrive early on summer weekends. One aggregator (unconfirmed by an official town source) notes a resident parking sticker may be required in peak season.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Stetson Pond Beach?
Facilities are limited to a small pier and canoe/kayak launch; this is a quiet, low-traffic paddling spot rather than a boating destination.
What are the rules at Stetson Pond Beach?
Open dawn to dusk. Dogs are not permitted at the beach. Fishing is allowed on the pond but not within the designated beach area. Visitors are advised to check the Massachusetts public beach water-quality database before swimming.
What water body is Stetson Pond Beach on?
Stetson Pond Beach is on Stetson Pond, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.
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