Day Trip from Boston: Kayak Castle Neck River at Crane Estate

One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate, operated by the Trustees is a vast barrier beach that protects the tidal estuary of the Essex River basin. Running along its back side is the Castle Neck River, a superb location for paddlers of all skill levels to explore these sheltered waters.

This intimate kayak tour that includes round trip transportation from Boston offers the perfect vantage point to observe the unique environment of the salt marsh and the wildlife that calls it home. Keep your eyes peeled for herons, egrets, and other shore-birds—with luck we may even spot an osprey soaring overhead! Depending on the wind and tide conditions on the day of the trip, destinations may include a beach landing on Castle Neck or one of the various islands in the Crane Wildlife Refuge.

The Approx. Duration of the kayaking experience is 2.5 hours, you are also provided time on your own after the tour to enjoy Crane Beach. There is a bath house where you can change, snack bar, and gift shop on site.

Please note: Per the Trustee’s guidelines Participants must be competent swimmers and age 15 or older. 

We will also send these details along via email with more information on how to get to/from North Station upon booking. Your train ticket will be emailed to you 48 hours in advance of the trip.