Crane Beach

CraneWellness: HIIT The Beach

CraneWellness events are designed to support your mental and physical wellness goals, surrounded by the awe-inspiring beauty of the Crane Estate. From yoga on the Grand Alée to mindfulness meditation walks around Castle Hill, these CraneOutdoors activities all represent an excellent way to enhance your personal health and well-being by… Read More

Full Moon at Crane Beach

CraneOutdoors: Dunes by the Light of the Full Moon

Transformed and illuminated by the glow of the full moon, the beach and dunes of Castle Neck are a stunningly beautiful landscape. To experience this special place at this magical time, join us for a unique hiking experience. We’ll start with the beauty of a sunset while taking an evening… Read More

Full Moon Over Dunes

CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes

CraneExplorer events are designed to appeal to the little ones* while giving their parents a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Crane Estate. These hikes cover less ground to accommodate smaller strides and have more frequent stops to look, listen, and learn from our CraneOutdoors guides. Not just… Read More

Wolly Hudsonia on Castle Neck (photo credit T. Barrieau)

CraneOutdoors: Castle Neck Hike in the Dunes

While just about everybody on the North Shore has probably been to Crane Beach, the dunes of Castle Neck are a much less-explored world unto themselves. Offering one of the most accessible dune ecosystems north of Cape Cod, Castle Neck has over six miles of trails, traversing the dunes, maritime… Read More

REI Womens Intro to Map & Compass Navigation

CraneExplorer: Navigate the Estate

Join this Castle Hill education program and scavenger hunt to learn compass, map reading, and orienteering skills, and use these skills to solve challenges around the Castle Hill trails and grounds. Learn about the habitats, history, and culture of the estate while collecting clues to solve our explorer’s challenge!… Read More

Full Moon at Crane Beach

CraneOutdoors: Dunes by the Light of the Full Moon

Transformed and illuminated by the glow of the full moon, the beach and dunes of Castle Neck are a stunningly beautiful landscape. To experience this special place at this magical time, join us for a unique hiking experience. We’ll start with the beauty of a sunset while taking an evening… Read More

Full Moon Over Dunes

CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes

CraneExplorer events are designed to appeal to the little ones* while giving their parents a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Crane Estate. These hikes cover less ground to accommodate smaller strides and have more frequent stops to look, listen, and learn from our CraneOutdoors guides. Not just… Read More

crane boat dock

CraneExplorer: Animals in the Estuary

Take in beautiful views of the Crane Wildlife Refuge while learning about estuary flora and fauna and environmental conditions at the Crane Boat Dock. Families will conduct measurements of water quality and weather, census native vs. Non-native crabs, collect and observe plankton using field microscopes, and observe the ever-shifting tides. Read More

Dune shrooms

CraneOutdoors: Fascinating Fungi Dune Hike

Mushrooms and lichen abounding! The Crane Estate is a haven for a large diversity of fungi, from the dunes to the maritime forest to the interdunal swales. Join this guided hike, led by local expert Jana Harris from Essex Forays, to learn about these fantastic fungi, how to identify them,… Read More