Demarest Lloyd State Park, Public beach park in Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Demarest Lloyd State Park is a coastal park on Buzzards Bay in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, with a long sandy beach and a large salt marsh that covers much of the eastern side of the property. The beach faces the bay directly, and the marsh behind it supports a range of plants and animals adapted to brackish water.
The land was donated to the state of Massachusetts in 1953 by the Russell family, who had owned it for generations. It was named in honor of Demarest Lloyd Sr. and his son, a pilot who died during World War II.
On summer days, families gather along the sandy shore while anglers cast lines into Buzzards Bay. The eastern marsh draws people who prefer watching birds over swimming, so the two areas tend to attract quite different visitors.
Parking is available close to the beach, and from there both the shore and the marsh trails are easy to reach on foot. Arriving early on warm days is a good idea, as the beach area can fill up quickly in summer.
The salt marsh on the eastern side of the park is one of the few spots along this stretch of coast where egrets, herons, and ospreys can be seen nesting at close range. Most visitors head straight to the beach and never walk the short distance to reach this part of the park.
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