Stoney Beach in Woods Hole is a small gem, popular with people staying on this side of Falmouth. Falmouth has two coastlines, one facing Buzzards Bay and the other facing Vineyard Sound. Stoney Beach faces the Bay side, and because of that it tends to be out of the dominant wind in the summertime.
With really nice sand and a shallow waterline where you can walk way out before it gets too deep, Stoney Beach is especially popular with families and children. There are rarely any big waves here, and a local swim school uses it as the perfect place to teach small children to swim.
There is a lifeguard here, plus fresh water shower and porta-potties in season. The ice cream truck comes by several times a day. The parking lot is very small and you must have a day pass ($10) available at the Town’s beach office on Surf Drive. That pass is good for all Falmouth public beaches. Many members of the Falmouth Bed & Breakfast Association will also facilitate getting you one of these day passes.
Another way to enjoy this local beach is to ride the WHOOSH trolley which runs hourly from the Wal-mart parking lot through downtown Main Street Falmouth to Woods Hole. The trolley stops wherever people ask so just put your hand up if you want a ride into Woods Hole. The trolley lets you off in front of the ferry terminal and it is about a half mile walk from there to Stoney Beach.
Another popular way to explore this beach is to come by bicycle. Rent a bike (or bring your own) at Corner Cycle or Holiday Bikes and ride into Woods Hole in the Shining Sea bike path. Stoney Beach is a short bit farther through the back streets of Woods Hole (Water St to Albatross Street to Spenser Baird to Gosnold Road – sounds harder than it is, just look at the map).
A trip to Woods Hole is one of the highlights of the summer for many lovers of Falmouth and Cape Cod. Come visit Stoney Beach and see what it’s all about.
