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Outer Cape · Town Guide

Everything in Eastham

Every place below is listed and verified by Cape Cod Certified.

9
Beaches
9
Trails
Eastham landscape
Eat & ShopExperiencesBeachesTrailsTown InfoGuides

Guides for Eastham

6 guides
  • Cape Cod Ferry Guide: Steamship Authority, Hy-Line, and How to Get It Right

    Visiting Cape Cod

    Cape Cod Ferry Guide: Steamship Authority, Hy-Line, and How to Get It Right

    Steamship Authority vs Hy-Line, car vs walk-on, parking, standby lines — everything you need to get the Cape Cod ferry right in 2026. Real costs, real timing.

  • 15 Best Lobster Rolls on Cape Cod, Ranked by a Local

    Visiting Cape Cod

    15 Best Lobster Rolls on Cape Cod, Ranked by a Local

    A Cape Cod local ranks the 15 best lobster rolls of 2026 — with real prices, meat-per-ounce data, and the spots actually worth the wait or the drive.

  • The Outer Cape as Locals Experience It: An Eastham Insider's Guide

    Living on Cape Cod

    The Outer Cape as Locals Experience It: An Eastham Insider's Guide

    Skip the tourist version of Eastham. Year-round residents share the real Outer Cape — Fort Hill in November, tidal flats at First Encounter, and why no downtown is the whole point.

See more guides (6)

Eat & Shop

In town
Restaurants
Dining in Eastham
Shopping
Shops in Eastham
Cafes & Bakeries
Coffee & pastries in Eastham

Experiences

3 experiences
Surf Lessons & SUP ToursBeach Day
Learn to Surf Today

Surf Lessons & SUP Tours

Learn to read the ocean with instructors who teach respect for the water as much as the ride. Surf coaching and bay-side SUP tours along the wild Outer Cape shoreline.

~$100See Pricing & Availability
Guided Kayak Tours in Cape Cod National SeashoreBeach Day
Nauset Marsh · Free Delivery Rentals · ACA Guides

Guided Kayak Tours in Cape Cod National Seashore

ACA-certified guided kayak tours through Nauset Marsh and the Cape Cod National Seashore, launching from Eastham. Rentals delivered free to your location — no boat rack required. Ideal for first-timers and experienced paddlers alike.

See Pricing & Availability
Cape Cod National Seashore — Ranger-Led Canoe & Kayak ProgramsCape Classics
Free · All Equipment Provided · Call to Reserve

Cape Cod National Seashore — Ranger-Led Canoe & Kayak Programs

Free ranger-led canoe and kayak programs inside the Cape Cod National Seashore, running May through October. Guided canoe paddles through Salt Pond depart Wednesdays and Fridays (2.5 hrs); kayak trips run Fridays (3 hrs). All equipment provided; advance phone reservation required.

FreeSee Pricing & Availability

Beaches

9 places
Coast Guard Beach landscape
Ocean / AtlanticCCC Visited

Coast Guard Beach

One of Cape Cod's most celebrated Atlantic-facing beaches, part of Cape Cod National Seashore. Backed by a barrier beach and salt marsh, it offers classic open-ocean surf and sweeping sand. In summer there is no direct parking — visitors ride a free shuttle from the Little Creek lot or bike/hike the Nauset Trail from the Salt Pond Visitor Center. Lifeguards staff a designated stretch from late June through Labor Day.

RestroomsLifeguardShowersSwimmingSurfWalkingFamilies
Verified 2026-06-25Cape Cod National Seashore (NPS)
Nauset Light Beach landscape
Ocean / AtlanticCCC Visited

Nauset Light Beach

An iconic Atlantic Ocean beach within Cape Cod National Seashore, set beneath the red-and-white Nauset Light — the lighthouse made famous on the Cape Cod potato chip bag. Steep stairs descend the dune to a wide surf beach. Lifeguards are on duty late June through Labor Day. A National Seashore pass (not a town sticker) is required.

RestroomsLifeguardShowersSwimmingSurfWalkingFamilies
Verified 2026-06-25Cape Cod National Seashore (NPS)
Bay / SoundListed & Verified

First Encounter Beach

Eastham's most famous Cape Cod Bay beach, named for the first encounter between the Mayflower Pilgrims and the Nauset people in 1620. On the west-facing bay side, it is renowned for spectacular sunsets over the water. At low tide the bay recedes nearly half a mile, exposing vast warm tidal flats and pools ideal for walking, shelling, and tidepooling with children. Calm, shallow water makes it a favorite for families.

RestroomsPicnic areaSunsetFamiliesCalm waterWalkingTide poolsShelling
Verified 2026-06-19Town of Eastham Recreation & Beach Department
Cooks Brook Beach landscape
Bay / SoundListed & Verified

Cooks Brook Beach

Cooks Brook is one of Eastham's quieter Bay-side town beaches, tucked at the end of a residential road with a calm, shallow tidal shoreline that rewards patient explorers at low tide. The west-facing exposure serves up reliable sunset views away from the National Seashore crowds, and the smaller scale makes it feel like a neighborhood secret even in high season. Eastham sticker or day fee required.

RestroomsLifeguardFamiliesCalm waterSunsets (west-facing)Small Kids
Verified 2026-07-12CCC Research
Campground Beach landscape
Bay / SoundListed & Verified

Campground Beach

One of Eastham's three Bay-side town beaches, Campground Beach offers protected, warm-water swimming on Cape Cod Bay with a gently sloping sandy bottom ideal for families with young children. The west-facing shoreline delivers the kind of long, slow sunsets that make the Outer Cape famous, with the water warming noticeably more than the ocean side by midsummer. Eastham resident sticker or day-use fee required; arrive early on summer weekends.

RestroomsLifeguardShowersPicnic areaFamiliesSwimmingCalm waterSunsets (west-facing)Small Kids
Verified 2026-07-12CCC Research
Sunken Meadow Beach landscape
Bay / SoundListed & Verified

Sunken Meadow Beach

Sunken Meadow Beach sits along Eastham's Bay-side town beaches, where the tidal flats extend far at low tide making it a favorite for clam diggers, shore birds, and families letting kids loose in ankle-deep water. The wide sandy flats and protected Cape Cod Bay water warm up well by July, creating ideal conditions for young swimmers and anyone who prefers a gentler ocean experience. Eastham sticker or day fee required.

RestroomsLifeguardFamiliesCalm waterSunsets (west-facing)BirdingSmall Kids
Verified 2026-07-12CCC Research
Bay / SoundListed & Verified

Thumpertown Beach

A small, scenic Cape Cod Bay beach reached by a staircase down the dune. West-facing with calm, warm bay water and wide tidal flats at low tide, it is prized for peaceful sunsets and quiet walks. A town beach sticker is required.

SunsetCalm waterWalkingShelling
Verified 2026-06-19Town of Eastham Recreation & Beach Department
Bay / SoundListed & Verified

Boat Meadow Beach

A small Cape Cod Bay beach at the mouth of Boat Meadow Creek on Eastham's west shore. Marsh-fringed with calm, shallow bay water and broad low-tide flats, it is a quiet spot for wading, walking, and bayside sunsets. A town beach sticker is required.

Calm waterSunsetWalkingShelling
Verified 2026-06-19Town of Eastham Recreation & Beach Department
Freshwater PondListed & Verified

Wiley Park (Great Pond)

Wiley Park is Eastham's freshwater swimming beach on the shore of Great Pond, the town's largest kettle pond. Warm, fresh, still water and a gentle bottom make it ideal for young children and a calmer alternative to the ocean. It is one of the four town beaches that accepts a $30 daily gate pass in addition to the season sticker.

RestroomsPicnic areaFamiliesSwimmingCalm water
Verified 2026-06-19Town of Eastham Recreation & Beach Department

Trails

9 places
Easy · 1.5 mi · MixedListed & Verified

Salt Pond Visitor Center Trail System

Cape Cod National Seashore / National Park Service

The gateway trail hub for Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham. The 1.5-mile Nauset Marsh Trail skirts Salt Pond and Nauset Marsh, crossing meadows and recovering forest back to the Visitor Center. The short Buttonbush Trail (0.25 miles) is a fully accessible sensory loop with guide rope, boardwalk, and braille signs designed for visually impaired visitors. A paved 2-mile bike/walk path also connects here to Coast Guard Beach.

Salt marshPondWheelchair accessibleKid-friendlyBoardwalkBird sanctuaryStroller-friendlyWalkingBikingBirding
Verified 2026-06-25NPS Cape Cod National Seashore, AllTrails
Easy · 1.7 mi · MixedListed & Verified

Skiff Hill Overlook & Fort Hill Loop (Hemenway Landing Spur)

Cape Cod National Seashore / National Park Service

A 1.7-mile loop beginning at the Penniman House parking lot in the Fort Hill area, connecting to Skiff Hill Overlook — one of the finest panoramic views over Nauset Marsh on the Outer Cape. A hexagonal gazebo at the summit shelters a glacial boulder with Native American sharpening grooves. The trail continues to Hemenway Landing on the marsh edge, where clammers launch and the Red Maple Swamp trail begins. A must-do for views, history, and birds.

Ocean viewsSalt marshWater viewsBird sanctuaryKid-friendlyHikingWalkingBirding
Verified 2026-06-25NPS Cape Cod National Seashore, Eastham Chamber of Commerce
Fort Hill Trail landscape
Moderate · 1 mi · Natural trailCCC Visited

Fort Hill Trail

Cape Cod National Seashore / National Park Service

A scenic 1-mile loop over open hilltop fields above Nauset Marsh with sweeping views of the salt marsh and the Atlantic beyond. Passes the historic Captain Edward Penniman House and Indian Rock. Connects directly to the Red Maple Swamp Trail boardwalk. Hilly in places; bring insect repellent in summer.

Salt marshWater viewsOcean viewsKid-friendlyHiking
Verified 2026-06-25Cape Cod National Seashore / NPS
Easy · 0.8 mi · BoardwalkListed & Verified

Red Maple Swamp Trail

Cape Cod National Seashore / National Park Service

A roughly 0.8-mile round-trip boardwalk that winds through the heart of a lush red maple swamp, an unusual wetland forest. Often linked with the Fort Hill Trail to form an 1.8-mile loop. Shaded and atmospheric; the elevated boardwalk keeps you above the wet ground.

ForestSalt marshKid-friendlyBoardwalk
Verified 2026-06-19Cape Cod National Seashore / NPS
Nauset Marsh Trail landscape
Easy · 1.3 mi · Natural trailCCC Visited

Nauset Marsh Trail

Cape Cod National Seashore / National Park Service

A 1.3-mile loop from the Salt Pond Visitor Center that traces the edge of Salt Pond and Nauset Marsh, crosses open fields, and returns through recovering forest. Excellent birding and water views; a spur connects toward Coast Guard Beach. Some sections can flood at high tide, so check conditions first.

Salt marshWater viewsPondForestBird sanctuaryHiking
Verified 2026-06-25Cape Cod National Seashore / NPS
Easy · 0.3 mi · MixedListed & Verified

Buttonbush Trail

Cape Cod National Seashore / National Park Service

A short 0.3-mile interpretive loop designed as a sensory trail, with a guide rope and signs in both Braille and large print. Crosses Buttonbush Pond on a boardwalk bridge. The first half is wheelchair accessible; the second half has a few log steps. Great for kids and a quick nature break near the visitor center.

ForestPondWheelchair accessibleKid-friendlyBoardwalk
Verified 2026-06-19Cape Cod National Seashore / NPS
Easy · 0.6 mi · PavedListed & Verified

Doane Trail

Cape Cod National Seashore / National Park Service

A paved, wheelchair- and stroller-accessible 0.6-mile loop with interpretive signs winding through emerging pine and oak forest. Begins at Doane Rock, the largest exposed glacial boulder on Cape Cod (about 18 feet tall). Easy and family-friendly with an adjacent picnic area.

ForestWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyKid-friendlyWalking
Verified 2026-06-19Cape Cod National Seashore / NPS
Easy · PavedListed & Verified

Cape Cod Rail Trail (Eastham)

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

The flat, paved Cape Cod Rail Trail runs through Eastham as part of a 25+ mile rail-trail spanning Dennis to Wellfleet. The Eastham stretch passes a large salt marsh and connects via Locust Road to the Nauset Bicycle Trail and the Salt Pond Visitor Center. Ideal for biking, walking, and strollers. Leashed dogs (6-ft leash) welcome.

Salt marshForestDog-friendlyStroller-friendlyKid-friendlyBiking
Verified 2026-06-19Mass.gov / DCR
Easy · Natural trailListed & Verified

Wiley Park Trail (Great Pond)

Town of Eastham

A town conservation area on the shore of Great Pond, one of Eastham's freshwater kettle ponds. Easy walking trails wind through the Wiley conservation area with educational signs about the kettle pond, plus a small swimming beach, playground, and tennis courts. Lifeguards in summer. A relaxed, family-friendly spot away from the busier Seashore trails.

PondForestKid-friendlyStroller-friendlyWalking
Verified 2026-06-19Town of Eastham

Town Info

Services
Town Hall
Eastham Town Hall
2500 State Highway (Route 6), Eastham, MA 02642
508-240-5900
Monday–Thursday 8:00am–4:00pm; Friday 8:00am–12:00pm (by appointment 12:00–4:00pm)
Senior Center
Eastham Senior Center (Council on Aging)
1405 Nauset Rd, Eastham, MA 02651
774-801-3151
Monday–Friday 8:00am–3:00pm
Transfer Station
Eastham Transfer Station
255 Old Orchard Road, Eastham, MA 02642
Saturday–Wednesday 7:30am–3:00pm (closed Thursday & Friday)
Schools
Nauset Public Schools (Eastham Elementary)
Beach Sticker Info
Town beaches require a Town of Eastham beach sticker; four beaches (First Encounter, Campground, Cooks Brook, Wiley Park) also sell a $30 daily gate pass. National Seashore beaches require an NPS pass ($25/day or $60 season) — town stickers not valid there.
Transfer Station Permits
A Transfer Station permit/sticker is required to dispose of trash and recycling; permits are available through the Department of Public Works. Pay-as-you-throw bags required for household trash. See town site for current fees and rules.
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