The great Outer Beach described by Thoreau in the 1800s is protected within the national seashore. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses, cultural landscapes, and wild cranberry bogs...
Come find your adventure at the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp trail in Wellfleet!
This trail descends through a stunted oak and pine forest into a mature woodland, leads to a boardwalk that winds through the picturesque Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, and returns via the historic “Wireless Road” (a sand road) to the starting location.
A one story beach vacation rental house managed by Cape Cod National Seashore.
A charming one story cottage with three bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room, kitchen, and screened-in porch. The home is built with the classic Cape Cod style cedar shakes. On the front of the home is a large porch with a picnic table that overlooks Cape Cod Bay. Upon entering the front door, guests walk into the living room, with doors to each bedroom on the far wall. To the immediate right of the front door is the kitchen. As guests walk through the kitchen, the door to the bathroom is on the left, while the door to the screened-in porch is on the far wall of the kitchen.
A one story beach vacation rental house managed by Cape Cod National Seashore.
A charming one-story home sits on a bluff above Coast Guard Beach in Eastham. From the front, the home has a garage and a chimney and the house is shaped like an L. Upon entering the front door, guests enter the master bedroom, which has an en-suite bathroom. To the right is a doorway into the second bedroom, followed by the main living room. At the far end of the living room is the entrance to the galley-style kitchen and the second bathroom. A door from the living room leads out to the spacious desk that overlooks Coast Guard Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. The home is also equipped with an outdoor shower.
Come find your adventure at the Beech Forest trail!
Journey into the heart of a picturesque beech forest, and enjoy great bird watching opportunities, especially in spring and fall. It skirts the shallow Beech Forest Pond. The trail conditions are easy. The extension loop has steep log steps; some soft sand; picnic area and seasonal restrooms are at the trailhead. Province Lands bicycle trail can be accessed from parking area.
Come find your adventure at the accessible Buttonbush trail!
This loop trail includes interactive features great for kids, and involves all the senses as it winds through forest, crosses over the Buttonbush Pond on a boardwalk bridge, and traverses formerly cultivated areas. This trail features a guide rope, and text in both braille and large print to assist those with impaired vision.
With its caramel sands and dynamic coastline, Coast Guard Beach in Eastham is regularly listed among the top beaches in the US.
A path leads through the sand dunes out to the beach. Beach grass and other plants cover the dunes. On the beach, the view across the ocean reaches eastward to the horizon. To the north and south, the soft sand stretches into the distance.
Find your adventure at Cape Cod National Seashore at the Doane Trail!
This paved, wheelchair-accessible loop trail with interpretive text winds through an emerging pine and oak forest. A picnic area is adjacent to the parking area.
Come to Fort Hill to discover scenic views and thousands of years of history!
Historic Fort Hill has seen thousands of years of human habitation due to its unique location on the Nauset Marsh, which provides a buffer from the vast Atlantic Ocean. Today, Fort Hill is maintained as an open grass field as it would have looked in the mid to late 1800s when Captain Edward Penniman owned the land as a farm. There is a one-mile loop trail around the open field with two parking lots. The upper parking lot overlooks Nauset Marsh, a grassy, open marsh land that changes with the tides. There are some log stairs and slopes along the one-mile trail. This is a great habitat for birds with many marshy bushes surrounding the landscape.
Come find your adventure on the Great Island Trail!
This trail follows sandy stretches between the elevated heights of Great Island and Great Beach Hill. Its higher elevations punctuate spectacular vistas which emerge from an even-aged, pitch-pine forest. Part of this trail leads to a colonial-era tavern site (no remains visible). Other sections skirt salt marsh embankments. A picnic area is adjacent to parking area.
The high cliffs that run the backside of Cape Cod spill out into loose rolling sand dunes at Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro.
A narrow sand path winds its way from the parking lot through thickly vegetated dunes out to the open beach. The beach is broad and sandy, backed by dunes to the north and sand cliffs that stretch into the distance to the south.
Two-mile out and back bike trail in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Four miles total.
This 2 mile bike trail connects the dirt parking lot at High Head Road to Head of the Meadow Beach. Enjoy a calm bike ride along berry bushes and trees. Seasonal restrooms are available at Head of the Meadow Beach.
Whale watching from shore, tidal pools for the kids, (slightly!) warmer water, and killer sunsets: what's not to love about Herring Cove Beach?
There are multiple access points leading to the beach from two different parking lots. The paths are fairly level and go through a re-vegetating dune protected by sand fencing. Coming out onto the open beach, the view is to the west over Cape Cod Bay. To the north, Race Point Lighthouse is visible in the distance.
Visit the Herring Cove Snack Bar, open Memorial Day to Labor Day, for delicious summer treats!
The Herring Cove Snack Bar rests within the bathhouse facilities at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown, MA. There is a ramp that leads up to the picnic area from the parking lot. The building is designed in cedar shakes. There are several picnic tables and an awning that surround the snack bar and look out onto Herring Cove Beach. Contact Far on the Land for updated food listings.
Visit Highland Light to learn more about lighthouse history on Cape Cod!
Commissioned by George Washington and established in 1797 as the 20th light station in the United States, the original 45-foot tall wooden tower and keeper's dwelling were built more than 500 feet from the edge of a 125-foot-tall clay cliff. A new brick lighthouse was erected near the original tower in 1831. The present 66-foot-tall brick light tower, keeper's house, and generator shed replaced the previous structures in 1857. An enclosed walkway connects the tower and the one-and-one-half-story, L-shaped, Queen-Anne-style keeper's dwelling.
A one story beach vacation rental house managed by Cape Cod National Seashore.
Upon entering the driveway, guests are met with a large screened-in porch that sits on the front of the home. The screened-in porch has several pieces of patio furniture. Walking through the porch, guests enter into a spacious dining and kitchen area. To the immediate right of the door is a bathroom. As guests continue though the dining area, a hallway splits down the middle of the house with a door to a bedroom on each side. The end of the hallway opens into the living room. The living room holds three large couches, a coffee table, and several end tables. There is an outdoor shower located in the back of the home.
Little Creek is a satellite parking area for Coast Guard Beach. All beach entrance fees for Coast Guard Beach are collected at Little Creek.
A winding entrance road leads to a fee booth and a vast parking lot. There is a bus stop area with a bulletin board, adjacent to the fee booth, where visitors catch the Coast Guard Beach tram. The tram operates every 15-minutes.
The bluffs at Marconi Beach give one the feeling of standing at the edge of a continent.
A large wooden stairway leads down a bluff of sand and clay. The bluff is around 50 feet high and is colored in a mix of browns, reds, and grays. The sand stretches for miles in either direction, backed by the constantly eroding bluff.
Come learn more about wireless history and Guglielmo Marconi!
Nearly all of the once robust Marconi station site is gone, eroded by the relentless pounding of the Atlantic Ocean. The surrounding area is preserved as part of Cape Cod National Seashore. Though few reminders of the site remain, one can still stand on an Atlantic cliff on a winter day in South Wellfleet, Massachusetts and reflect on the event that sparked the birth of global wireless communication.
A charming local hotel located within Cape Cod National Seashore, operated by CJNL, Inc.
Three, one story buildings sit connected on a hillside overlooking the ocean. Lush, green grass grows on the hillside leading up to the buildings. A flagpole with an American flag sits in the middle of the hillside. Adirondack chairs are set outside each room to view the ocean waves. Each of the structures is built with the cedar shakes, in typical Cape Cod fashion.
This 1.6-mile bike path has been recently paved, and connects the Salt Pond Visitor Center, Doane Picnic Area, and Coast Guard Beach. The path also connects to many of the hiking trails in the area.
Visit Nauset Light and learn more about lighthouse history!
Nauset Lighthouse is made of cast iron with a brick lining and stands 48 feet high. It was built in 1877, and was located in Chatham as a twin to the one that is there today. In 1923, the smaller wooden lighthouse in Eastham was retired, and the north tower in Chatham was dismantled, moved to Eastham, and reconstructed about 200 feet from the edge of the cliff near the relocated keeper's house. In the 1940s, Nauset Lighthouse was painted red and white as a daytime indicator. In 1981, the light's Fresnel lens was replaced by two two rotating aero beacons. The signal was changed from three white flashes to one red and one white flash of 5 second intervals between them.
Named for the famous red and white lighthouse that stands on the bluff above, Nauset Light Beach in Eastham features a sandy beach that changes with the seasons.
A hard-packed path winds through trees from the parking lot down to a broad sandy beach. Backed by a bluff of sand and clay about 30 feet high, the beach stretches down to the ocean.
Visit the Nauset Marsh trail and find your adventure!
The Nauset Marsh trail descends from the back of the Salt Pond Visitor Center. The trail winds down a set of log stairs onto the shores of Salt Pond. The trail follows around Salt Pond and opens up to the larger area of Nauset Marsh. Cross a boardwalk and up a hill for a scenic viewing area of Nauset Marsh out to the Atlantic Ocean. Continue down the trail and visitors will reach a one-mile spur that follows down to Doane Rock. The trail continues to wind back to the visitor center and parallels the Buttonbush trail and the Nauset Bike trail. The loop trail drops visitors back to the Salt Pond Visitor Center.
A one story beach vacation rental house managed by Cape Cod National Seashore.
Upon pulling into the driveway, guests will view the home at a corner, with the steps to the main entrance to the left and steps to a back deck on the right. Upon entering the front door, guests will enter a small hallway and find the main level bedroom on the left and the living area on the right. Next to the bedroom, there are stairs that lead to a basement area with more sleeping space. The living area is sectioned off with a large kitchen table and an ample seating area with two full sized couches. In the back of the living area is the kitchen. On the far wall, there is a door that leads to the back deck, which offers sweeping views of Massachusetts Bay.
Visit the Old Harbor Life-Saving Station and learn about maritime history on Cape Cod!
A building with cedar shakes on the exterior and a large tower sits on the edge of Race Point Beach. Sand and dunes surround the building. The main home serves as the offices and sleeping quarters for the Coast Guard staff who lived and worked here. The garage portion of the building houses the two boats that were used for rescues. The tower served as a lookout station for potential shipwrecks.
The Bearberry Hill overlooks offer spectacular views of the Pamet landscape, with views of the Atlantic and the glacial terrain of the Pamet River valley, and a former boghouse from the era of commercial cranberry harvesting. Outdoor exhibits and a folder keyed to trail markers describe the area.
Find your adventure at the Pilgrim Spring trail at Cape Cod National Seashore!
Path leads to a site representative of where the Pilgrims drank their first fresh water in New England. This short loop trail winds through the recovering pine and oak forest, and passes a marker which commemorates the Pilgrim’s initial exploration of this area. Trail conditions are easy. There are some log steps; moderate grade; picnic area and seasonal restrooms in parking area at end of trail.
5.45-mile long bike path located in Provincetown, Masschusetts.
This trail loops around the Province Lands, passing through pine forests, sandy dunes, and low-lying cranberry bogs. There are connections to both Herring Cove and Race Point beaches, as well as Bennett Pond. Enjoy a nice afternoon bike ride and then cool off at the beach.
Race Point Beach is located at the northernmost point on Cape Cod. With swift currents and deeper water closer to shore, the magic of the ocean ecosystem is just beyond the sand.
Multiple access points lead from the parking lot over the dunes to the beach. Paths lead through low dunes to a broad sandy beach that stretches west to east. Off-road vehicles are sometimes seen in the distance to the east.
Come find adventure on the boardwalk at the Red Maple Swamp!
Walk the boardwalk through the Red Maple Swamp. This swamp land is adjacent to Fort Hill in Eastham. There are a plethora of trees and bushes throughout the watered swamp. Birds and small mammals live and thrive in the swamp. The color of the trees are most colorful in the fall. Wonderful, peaceful walk in the woods.
A one story beach vacation rental house managed by Cape Cod National Seashore.
Guests enter the building from the back side of the house, closest to the ocean. Upon opening the front door, guests enter into a small entryway. On the immediate left, guests enter into the large and spacious main living area. The entire left side of the room, facing the ocean, is a wall of windows offering sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. The living room is furnished with a sofa, several chairs, and a coffee table, all incorporating the mid-century modern style of the 1960s. Towards the back of the living room, guests will find a fireplace, the kitchen, and a bathroom. On the other side of the living room, across from the main entrance, are two bedrooms. There is also a porch in the back of the house with several pieces of patio furniture, a grill, and an outdoor shower.
Find your adventure at the Small's Swamp Trail in Truro!
Chosen by Native People for living sites for thousands of years for water, protection, and food sources, early-European settlers also sought to make a living on this landscape. Gradually, the soil gave out, farms were abandoned, and the landscape began its slow recovery. The forest here now hides most, but not all, of the former land uses in this area.
A multi-level beach vacation rental house managed by Cape Cod National Seashore.
A charming multi-level home with four bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, and sleeps ten. Upon pulling up to the home, guests will find a brown home with stairs and a small deck leading up to the main living area. Upon entering the front door, guests will find stairs to take them up to three of the bedrooms and both bathrooms, or take them down into the main living room. The living room is an open living space with a fire place, a large couch, several chairs, and a coffee table. In the back of the living room is a spacious kitchen. The basement of the home offers another bedroom space. Outside of the home, there are several picnic tables and an outdoor shower.
Stop by the Captain Penniman House to learn about Victorian architecture and whaling history!
The Penniman House is a 2.5 story, wood-frame structure with a mansard roof. The mansard roof is the characteristic feature of French Second Empire style architecture in mid-19th century America. The exterior is painted yellow with green and red accents. The first floor contains a parlor, sitting room, dining room, kitchen and pantry. A center hall divides these rooms and contains the stairs to the second floor. A rear door gives access to the kitchen and the back stairs. Upstairs, four bedrooms are separated by a center hall. A small bathroom and stairs to the attic and cupola are at the rear.
Stop by the Three Sisters Lighthouses to learn more about lighthouse history on Cape Cod!
Three 15-foot high masonry towers. The lights soon gained the nickname “The Three Sisters” because from sea they looked like women in white dresses with black hats.
A charming multi-room hostel located within Cape Cod National Seashore, operated by Hostelling International.
A faded white Georgian-style home sits atop a small hill. Both the roof and the front door are a rusty reddish color. A small front porch sits on the front of the house. The front door opens into a large living room filled with couches and tables. for guests to mingle. A fireplace sits on the right side of the room. Towards the back of the room, a staircase takes guests to the second floor. Bedrooms are outfitted with multiple twin-sized bunk beds.
A picnic table at the trailhead of Beech Forest Trail features a poem by Mary Oliver selected by the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate, Ada Limón as part of her signature project "You Are Here: Poetry in Parks."
A printed panel on top of a picnic table features a poem titled "Can You Imagine" and a question to the reader about what you would write in response to the landscape around you. The picnic table is located at a trailhead for the Beech Forest Trail, which begins with a wooden boardwalk that passes through a forest of leafy beech trees.
Open seasonally mid-May to mid-October. Let us help you plan a fabulous seashore visit! Exhibits, our award-winning orientation film, Standing Bold, and dramatic views of dunes and ocean await. Walking and biking trails are nearby, and whales may be observed swimming offshore. Ask about our Junior Ranger Program and ranger-guided activities. Want swag? The America's National Parks store is open during visitor center hours. The observation decks at the visitor center is open year-round.
Open year-round. Let us help you plan the perfect seashore day! Visit the park museum to learn about the many layers of human history here, watch our award-winning orientation film, Standing Bold, and take in the expansive view of Salt Pond, Nauset Marsh, and the Atlantic. Walking and biking trails start nearby. Ask about the Junior Ranger Program and ranger-guided activities. Want swag? The America's National Parks store operated by Eastern National is open daily.
What better way to enjoy a day on Cape Cod than to relax on the beach? Cape Cod National Seashore features 6 beaches for visitors to enjoy. So grab you beach umbrella, your sunscreen, and get ready for a day of fun in the sun!
Hike the Pilgrim Spring Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Pilgrim Spring Trail, a 1-mile loop trail in Truro, Massachusetts.
Hike the Doane Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Doane Trail, a 0.6-mile loop trail that begins at Doane Rock in Eastham.
Bike the Nauset Bike Trail
Get ready to explore! The Nauset Bike Trail offers a variety of environments to explore along nearly 2 miles of paved trail. Explore wooded ponds and sandy beaches!
Bike the Province Lands Bike Trail
Get ready to explore! The Province Lands Bike Trail offers a variety of environments to explore along over 7 miles of paved trail. Explore rolling dunes, wooded ponds, and sandy beaches!
Bike the Head of the Meadow Bike Trail
Get ready to explore! Enjoy a calm bike ride along berry bushes and trees.
Visit the Eastern National Park Store
Looking for a gift or souvenir to remember your visit to Cape Cod National Seashore? Look no further than the park's Eastern National Bookstore, located in the Salt Pond Visitor Center. The park has an excellent selection of books, clothing, trinkets, and other fun items to represent Cape Cod National Seashore.
Grab a Bite at the Herring Cove Snack Bar
Herring Cove Snack Bar is a food and beverage service located at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown. This is a vintage beach food concession facility that offers lunch and other beach snacks, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Become a Cape Cod Junior Ranger
Visit Cape Cod National Seashore and become a Junior Ranger!
Hit the Links at Highland Links
One of Cape Cod’s oldest golf courses, perhaps its most scenic, Highland Links in North Truro is one of America’s golf treasures, perched high along windswept bluffs overlooking the Atlantic next to the vintage Highland Light.
Hike the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, a 1.2-mile loop trail in Wellfleet, Massachusetts.
Hike the Beech Forest Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Beech Forest Trail, a 1-mile loop trail in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Hike the Small's Swamp Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Small's Swamp Trail, a 0.6-mile loop trail located in Truro, Massachusetts.
Hike the Pamet Area Trails
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Pamet Area Trails, a 0.6-mile out and back trail with several spurs in Truro, Massachusetts.
Hike the Great Island Trail
Are you looking for a day of adventure? Look no further than Cape Cod National Seashore's longest hiking trail, Great Island! Make your own adventure to enjoy the shorter 3.9-mile loop or go for gold with the full 8.8 mile loop to Jeremy Point!
Hike the Buttonbush Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Buttonbrush trail, a 0.3-mile loop trail that begins at the Salt Pond Visitor Center.
Hike the Red Maple Swamp
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Red Maple Swamp, 0.8-mile round trip boardwalk trail.
Hike the Nauset Marsh Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Nauset Marsh Trail, a 1.5-mile loop trail that winds around Nauset Marsh.
Hike the Fort Hill Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Fort Hill loop, a one-mile loop trail that winds around the historic Fort Hill site.
Tours
Count: 2
North District Driving Tour
Enjoy this driving tour of the highlights of the North District of Cape Cod National Seashore (Truro and Provincetown areas). Stop by the visitor center to plan your trip or follow along on this short, 1-2 hour tour!
South District Driving Tour
Enjoy this driving tour of the highlights of the South District of Cape Cod National Seashore (Eastham and Wellfleet areas). Stop by the visitor center to plan your trip or follow along on this short, 2-3 hour tour!
