SamThe Cape Cod National Seashore is one of the many gems of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The National Seashore takes up a majority of the land in the Outer Cape. With so many landscapes, historical monuments, and ecosystems to explore, it can be very overwhelming. But have no fear, this is your local’s guide to the Cape Cod National Seashore!
Information
A key aspect of the Cape Cod National Seashore is the Salt Pond Visitor Center. There’s no better place to develop an understanding of the geology, ecology, and culture of Cape Cod than this visitor center. Start your adventure off on the right foot by gaining some knowledge on all the landscapes you are about to explore. There is a gift shop, a small museum full of fabulous artifacts, and informative videos available for viewing in the park theater.
From one end of the park to the other, there is a smaller visitor center at the tip of the Cape, in Provincetown. The Province Lands Visitor Center shining point is the observation deck that allows you to overlook the beautiful and serene dunes unique to Provincetown. The center also highlights the indigenous and pilgrim history of the area, as well as the pristine ocean ecosystem right offshore!
Ranger Programs provided by the parks service are a great way to learn more about the local ecosystems, wildlife, and enjoy guided hikes! Click here to check out the ranger programs happening during your visit.
While often white-washed and overlooked, Indigenous Culture is incredibly rich in the area. The Cape Cod National Seashore is one of the first places where European settlers and natives came into contact with one another. With many locations and memorials scattered throughout the park, there is much to be learned about these first interactions that took place here. Additionally, the small museum inside of the Salt Pond Visitor Center is a great place to learn more about these locations.
If after your visit you are itching to know more about the history of these lands, click here to read more about the archeology, historical figures, significant places, and more within the park!
Activities
There are so many activities to enjoy while exploring the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Swimming
With 6 main beaches in the park, from Eastham to P-town, there are so many to explore. While all a bit different, each one will allow you to enjoy the miles of sandy coastline, lush dunes, and beautiful blue waters.
- Marconi Beach
- Nauset Light Beach
- Coast Guard Beach
- Head of the Meadow Beach
- Race Point Beach
- Herring Cove Beach
Kayaking & Paddleboarding
Much of the Cape Cod National Seashore is marshlands, allowing for endless opportunities for exploration on kayaks and SUPs. My favorite areas to explore on kayak are Salt Pond and the Nauset Marshes. These areas are so serene and beautiful. However, there are endless opportunities throughout the National Seashore for amazing paddling.
Biking
With many bike paths throughout the National Seashore, from Nauset area up to Provincetown, there are so many chances to get out on your bike, get moving, and enjoy the scenery.
Hiking
Given the terrain of the Cape Cod National Seashore, there are limited opportunities for hiking. However, there are still so many trails throughout the outer cape to explore. Many of these trails are shorter and more family friendly, but they are still beautiful and well worth doing!
Read more here about the best trails in the park!
Wildlife Viewing
If you ask me, one of the best parts of the Cape Cod National Seashore is the endless opportunities to observe wildlife. From birding, to tidepooling, to looking for marine mammals, there are so many fun critters to look for.
Some notable destinations for sighting wildlife:
Fort Hill
Well known as one of the best birding locations in New England, Fort Hill is home to more than 270 species of birds. A bird lover’s paradise, this is a must-visit destination for birders of all levels. Due to the wide range of habitats in the small area (salt marshes, fields, woods, swamps, freshwater ponds, etc.), there is so much opportunity for diverse avian life.
Chatham and Orleans Beaches
These ocean side beaches are the prime location for watching seals play in the water all day long. And with seals nearby, you always have the chance of spotting an infamous great white shark!
Race Point Beach
Looking out towards the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, this is a great place to look for whales from shore! Many of the whale watching boats head to this are due to the high activity levels of humpback whales in the summer time. Keep your eyes on the water and look out for their blows. You may be lucky enough to spot a couple whales.
Estuary and Marshlands
With drastic tides and constant moisture, these areas are perfect for going tidepooling and looking for fun small creatures.Fiddler crabs, horseshoe crabs, muscles, clams, snails, and more, are all creatures that you can find in almost any marsh area of the National Seashore!
For more on Cape Cod wildlife, check out this post!
Landmarks
Beyond the beautiful scenery, the Cape Cod National Seashore is home to an array of landmarks. The most notable landmarks are the several lighthouses scattered across the shores. These lighthouses are a constant reminder of how connected Cape Cod has and always will be to the ocean. While there are more lighthouses throughout Cape Cod, these are the lighthouses specifically in the National Seashore.
- Eastham: Nauset Light, Three Sister’s Lights
- Truro: Highland Light
- Provincetown: Race Point Light, Wood End Light, Long Point Light
Marconi Station is the location of where the first ever transatlantic wireless communication was successfully exchanged between the U.S. and England in 1902. This progression in technology later played a crucial role in WWII. Today, you can visit this site and learn more about Marconi’s inventions at Marconi Beach itself.
Trails
There is a bounty of trails throughout the National Seashore, most ranging from easy to moderate difficulty.
Nauset Marsh Trail
This is not just one of my favorite trails within the National Seashore, but in all of Cape Cod! Taking you through serene marshes, picturesque wooded forests, and white sandy beaches, this trail allows you to experience all the beautiful landscapes of Cape Cod within this 4 mile out-and-back trail.
Buttonbush & Nauset Marsh Trail
A shorter version of the Nauset Marsh trail, the Buttonbush Trail is for those wanting a quick walk out in nature. About 1.5 miles in total, this loop trail will take you through the beautiful oak and cedar forests before emerging at the beautiful marshes of Salt Pond.
Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail
Get an up close look at a unique and rare ecosystem on this beautiful boardwalk trail. Atlantic white cedars have been harvested to near extinction, and the swamps they need to thrive have been virtually destroyed. The Cape Cod National Seashore is home to one of the few places you can still experience this ecosystem in the wild.
The trail is fairly easy and is located in the Marconi Station parking area (a 2-in-1 stop).
Provincetown Breakwater
Be warned that this is less of a trail, and more an adventure to cross P-town harbor. The breakwater that protects the harbor is entirely accessible at low tide, allowing you to maneuver your way across the rocks to reach the remote areas of Provincetown, Cape Cod. The breakwater is about a mile long, where you will be completely surrounded by the ocean. Once you get across you will be greeted by beautiful white sand beaches. From here you can continue walking to get to the remote lighthouses along the shores.
The Wood End lighthouse is the closest to the breakwater, followed by the Long Point Lighthouse that is another 1.5 miles out to the very tip of Cape Cod. However, this is a fairly difficult and time consuming trek through miles of sand.
The journey is well worth it, however be aware of the tides and your timing. The breakwater is entirely covered during high tide, so don’t get yourself stuck at Long Point!
Great Island Trail
The longest and most remote trail in the National Seashore, the Great Island Trail takes you through the beautiful green dunes as you overlook the beautiful Cape Cod Bay.
This island is very remote being only accessible by foot or boat. It is about 2.5 miles to the farthest point before you loop back and make your return journey. Treking through miles of sand is no easy task, but it is much worth the effort. Since Great Island and Jeremy Point are so remote making removing debris nearly impossible, a lot of fascinating remnants of marine life can be found in the area. Hikers are often coming across whale bones, deceased marine mammals, beautiful seashells, and much much more! And of course you will see a bounty of live seals playing in the water. It is a marine lover’s paradise.
The Cape Cod National Seashore is full of gems and definitely worth exploring during your time on Cape Cod. If you visit the Cape Cod National Seashore, please share your favorite parts about the park in the comments below!
