Cape Cod National Seashore

Understand

Cape Cod National Seashore stretches over 43,500 acres (176 km²) of dunes, ponds, woods and almost 40 miles (64 km) of Atlantic shoreline. It is located on Cape Cod, principally in the towns of Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, and Eastham, but also covers some shoreline in Orleans and Chatham.

History Cape Cod is relatively young geologically at 18,000 years or so. American Indians began using the land at least 9,000 years ago. In 1620, a group known as "The Pilgrims", a group of English Separatists seeking to establish a settlement in Virginia were forced to land here. They sent out three separate "discovery" expeditions to see what the area had to offer. During these "discoveries" they found their first fresh water, took some Indian corn, and almost had a battle (called the First Encounter) with some Native Americans. Cape Cod had many good features, but after a month of searching, it was decided to finally settle in Plymouth. In 1902 Guglielmo Marconi built one of two North American wireless stations at South Wellfleet. On January 18, 1903 the first public two-way communication (in Morse Code) between Europe and America occurred through this station. The station was closed in 1917 and scrapped in 1920, with the communication station being relocated to Chatham. Cable stations were later established in North Eastham and Orleans. Seashore history also includes shipwrecks and lifesaving. Two lighthouses (Highland or "Cape Cod" and Nauset) have been moved to keep them from toppling down eroding cliffs. The Cape Cod National Seashore was created on August 7, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy.

Landscape The park includes beaches, high cliff dunes, sand spits, tidal flats, salt marshes, and soft-bottom benthos. Inland there are kettle ponds, vernal pools, sphagnum bogs, and swamps. Vegetation includes pitch pine and scrub oak forests, heathlands, dunes, and sandplain grasslands.

Flora and fauna

As a result of almost total deforestation by European settlers betwe

Getting there

By car Route 6 is the main Cape Cod "highway". All areas have signs from this road. From Boston travel south on Interstate 93 and Route 3 to the Sagamore Bridge where Route 6 begins.

By bus Plymouth & Brockton (Street Railway Co), ☏ +1 508 771-6191. Offers four round trips daily from Hyannis to Provincetown and several other lower and outer Cape towns during the summer. After Labor Day, this is cut to two trips past Hyannis per day, mostly used by down Cape residents heading to Logan. $19 one way, $34 round trip for South Station, $25 one way, $45 round trip for the Airport. The Flex (Cape Cod Transit), ☏ +1 800 352-7155, toll-free: +1 800 352-7155. 5AM-7:45PM M-Sa. Makes a variety of stops throughout the Lower and Outer Cape; between Harwich and Provincetown. The Flex can be flagged down anywhere, except along Route 6 (it's too dangerous). You can schedule a pickup pretty much anywhere along the National Seashore if you call ahead and give them at least 2 hours notice. $2 one way, $4 off route.

By plane Cape Air, 660 Barnstable Road (Hyannis), ☏ +1 508 771-6944, toll-free: +1 800 227-3247. This small regional airline offers connections to all the tourist hotspots throughout Cape Cod and the Islands. The closest airports to the National Seashore are in Provincetown and Hyannis. Both routes connect through Boston. Boston to Provincetown will run you around $79-179 one way, depending on the season. (updated Feb 2019)

Getting around

Most people would use a car in order to explore all areas of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Experienced bicyclists could use that method. The Cape Cod Rail Trail connects the Marconi area and the Salt Pond Visitor Center.

See

1 Atwood-Higgins Historic District (Atwood-Higgins House), Bound Brook Island Road (Wellfleet). The Atwood-Higgins House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. In 2010, the scope was expanded to the general area around the home, including several 20th-century out buildings. (updated Mar 2019) 2 Doane Rock, Near Salt Pond Visitor Center (Eastham). 24 hours daily. Pay a visit to Doane Rock to see the largest exposed boulder on Cape Cod. This massive boulder was deposited here by glaciers, maybe around 15,000 years ago. It's all of 18 ft (5.5 m) high, and probably goes an additional 12 ft (3.7 m) below the surface. Free. (updated Mar 2019) 3 Highlands Center (North Truro Air Force Station), Old Dewline Road (North Truro), ☏ +1 508-349-3785 x208. This area is under development by partnership with AmeriCorps Cape Cod, Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Highlands Center, Inc, and Payomet Performing Arts Center in Truro, with the mission of fostering "the unique cultural and natural heritage of Cape Cod by facilitating scientific research, the arts tradition, and educational programs". The eighty acre site is the former North Truro Air Force Station, set atop dramatic sea cliffs. (updated Mar 2019) 4 Highland House Museum, 13 Truro Center Road (Truro), ☏ +1 508 349-0200. M-Sa 10AM-4:30PM; Jun 1-Sep 29. Built in 1907, the artifacts in this building imagine what life was like for folks in the area. Covering a period from the first peoples to today. $7, students and children $5. (updated Mar 2019) 5 Old Harbor Life-Saving Station, Race Point Beach (Provincetown). 10AM-2PM daily. Built in Chatham in 1897, it was moved to its current location in 1977. It was then rehabilitated and furnished exactly it as it would have been at the time, and opened to the public in 1978. Included with beach access fee. (updated Mar 2019)

Lighthouses

These six lighthouses each possess their own poetic beauty, most visitors tour at least one during their time on the

Do

Oversand Beach Driving (Provincetown), ☏ +1 508 487-2100 (x.0928). Apr 10-Nov 15: 8AM-4:30PM. The shoreline between Race Point Light and Head of the Meadow Beach can be driven for those with the right permits and equipment. 400 permits are available per week on a first come, first serve basis. To get started, head over to Race Point Beach for an inspection. To pass you must own a properly licensed 4WD vehicle with special tires and additional kit. Rentals are verboten. Once you fork over the cash and watch a quick safety video, you're free to hit the dunes. Some areas may be off limits due to nesting birds, time of day, and around high tide. $50-75. (updated Mar 2019) Ranger Guided Activities. Ranger-guided programs are offered from spring through fall. Explore the many facets of Cape Cod National Seashore through guided walks, talks, performance and music events, canoe trips, campfires, open houses at historic buildings and yoga. Most activities depart from the Salt Pond Visitors Center during normal business hours. Check in when you arrive to see what's being offered that day. There are usually a good mix of programs suitable for children and adults. (updated Mar 2019) Saltwater fishing. Licenses are $10 each, and are required. If you're younger than 16 or older than 59, you don't have to pay but yo