Barnstable: Coastal Trails, Nature and Culture

Cape Cod National Seashore is on the Atlantic-facing eastern coast of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Options for your trip to Barnstable range from coastal trails and wildlife watching to museums and historic sites.

Coastal Trails and Outdoor Activities

At Cape Cod National Seashore, you can swim, fish, hike, bike, canoe, snorkel and go sightseeing; conditions may vary by season. The Boardwalk Trail in Wellfleet Bay crosses a salt marsh to a sandy beach and the tidal flats of Cape Cod Bay. The 1.6-mile Nauset Bike Trail connects the Salt Pond Visitor Center with Coast Guard Beach and runs through pine forests and sand dunes.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a 25-mile paved, car-free path for cycling and walking between Yarmouth and Wellfleet. The routes differ in length, which can help with planning: at 1.6 miles, the Nauset Bike Trail is considerably shorter. The All Persons Trail in Wellfleet Bay is a self-guided nature trail that is fully accessible.

The Cape Cod Canal also offers trails in varied settings: a 1.5-mile walking trail runs parallel to the canal through Bournedale Hills Woods. The bicycle path there also serves as a service road and is open to walking and other non-motorized recreational activities. Rangers share the history and environment of the canal through programs; campfire programs with storytelling are also offered.

Salt Marshes and Wildlife Watching

At Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable, 2.5 miles of woodland and meadow trails lead to views of Barnstable Harbor and Sandy Neck Barrier Beach. The Marsh Boardwalk provides access to part of Barnstable Great Marsh and features informational panels about salt marsh ecology. Barnstable Great Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary has 1.5 miles of trails, two ponds, oak woods and a coastal overlook with views of the harbor and Sandy Neck Barrier Beach.

On the Otter Trail in Barnstable Great Marsh, you can watch otters at Otter Pond and along the salt marsh creeks, especially in February and March. The trails in the Morris Island unit of Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge may offer sightings of songbirds, shorebirds, horseshoe crabs and, occasionally, seals. The trails in this unit are accessible year-round from the parking area in Chatham. North Monomoy, South Monomoy and Minimoy, however, are accessible only by boat; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not operate public boat access to these locations.

History, Museums and Gardens

The Truro Highlands Historic District encompasses 85 acres of a wind-shaped landscape with Highland Light, Highland House and Highland Golf Links. Highland Light was established in 1797. The present 66-foot brick tower replaced the earlier structure in 1857. The Old Harbor Life-Saving Station was built in Chatham in 1897 and now stands as a museum at Race Point Beach in Provincetown; its museum program is seasonal.

The Marconi Station Site in Wellfleet is designated “America’s First Wireless Station.” An observation platform at Marconi Beach offers views across Outer Cape Cod, including the ocean and bay; exhibits about the area’s history are also available. The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History covers coastal change and the formation of Cape Cod, the presence of Indigenous peoples, 8,000 years of archaeology, and native animals and habitats in its exhibits. The Cape Cod Maritime Museum features topics in maritime history, ecology and marine biology, and hosts events and talks.

In the historic town of Sandwich, Heritage Museums & Gardens spans 100 acres of grounds and trails along the shore of Shawme Pond. Visitors can see internationally significant rhododendron collections and more than 1,000 daylily varieties. The galleries showcase automobiles, a working historic carousel, American folk art and special exhibitions. The Sandwich Glass Museum adds to your cultural itinerary with live glassblowing demonstrations and exhibits on the history of glassmaking in Sandwich. At the Glass Experience, visitors can make their own handcrafted glass souvenir.

Practical Travel Information

The Salt Pond Visitor Center is the Cape Cod National Seashore’s visitor facility, open year-round. It offers information services, orientation films, a museum and a park store. For travel to the area, the CapeFLYER connects Boston and Hyannis on weekends; this seasonal service runs from late May to mid-October. Check the current schedule before your trip.

Farm tours can also be part of your stay: Cape Cod Cranberry Bog Tours offers them by request and with advance reservations during the growing and harvest season. Availability depends on the weather and farm schedules. If you plan to visit, arrange the date in advance. When choosing a hotel, you can first decide whether coastal trails, wildlife watching, museums or a seasonal experience will be the focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Wellfleet, Harwich, Falmouth, Yarmouth, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Barnstable, Provincetown, Mashpee, Orleans, Truro, Sandwich, Eastham

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