The outer Cape begins at Eastham. Cross the Orleans town line heading north on Route 6 and something shifts — the commercial strip thins out, the pitch pines close in, and the scale of the landscape changes. Cape Cod National Seashore claims the majority of the town's coastline, and the result is miles of protected beach, marsh, and forest that look essentially the same as they did when President Kennedy signed the park into existence in 1961. Eastham is the right place to start any serious exploration of the National Seashore: the visitor center is here, the best beach in New England may be here, and the natural history is extraordinary.
Salt Pond Visitor Center: Start Here
The Salt Pond Visitor Center is the headquarters of Cape Cod National Seashore and the right first stop for any visit to the outer Cape. Exhibits cover the Cape's glacial geology, ecology, maritime history, and the communities that lived within what is now the park. Rangers offer programs daily in summer — guided walks, lighthouse tours, and talks on everything from sharks to shorebirds. The short film about the Cape's formation is genuinely good. Pick up a map, get current beach conditions, and find out what ranger programs are running before you head out.
Coast Guard Beach
Coast Guard Beach is consistently rated one of the best beaches in the United States — a wide, clean Atlantic beach with a historic former lifesaving station at the access point and views that extend to the horizon in both directions. In summer, the small parking lot fills by 7:30–8:00 am; the park runs a free shuttle from the Little Creek parking lot in Eastham, and that's how most visitors arrive. The shuttle runs frequently and it's a better experience than fighting for a parking spot. The surf is real Atlantic surf — boogie boards and careful swimmers do well here; strong rip currents form, and lifeguards are on duty in season.
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Claim a spotFort Hill Area
Fort Hill is one of the most underrated spots in the National Seashore. The Skiff Hill overlook provides a sweeping view of Nauset Marsh — an immense salt marsh system that is one of the most productive bird habitats in New England. The trail through the Red Maple Swamp boardwalk passes through a freshwater swamp in autumn becomes a tunnel of brilliant red foliage. Birders know Fort Hill well; the marsh reliably holds great blue herons, snowy egrets, ospreys, and in fall, large concentrations of migrating shorebirds and songbirds.
Nauset Light and the Three Sisters
Nauset Light — a red-and-white striped lighthouse — stands on the bluffs above Nauset Light Beach and is one of the most photographed lighthouses on Cape Cod. Nearby, in a grove off Cable Road, stand the Three Sisters: three small wooden lighthouses (the 1892 towers that replaced the original brick trio) that now sit in the woods, preserved by the National Park Service. They're free to visit, atmospheric, and easy to miss if you don't know to look.
First Encounter Beach
First Encounter Beach on the bay side gets its name from the 1620 skirmish here between the Pilgrims — exploring by shallop before settling at Plymouth — and the Nauset people, the Pilgrims' first, brief, and hostile encounter with the Cape's Native inhabitants. A monument marks the site. The beach itself is a wide tidal flat on Cape Cod Bay, with water that can be exceptionally warm by August and tidal conditions similar to Brewster's. Because it faces west across the bay, sunset here is spectacular.
Eastham Windmill
The Eastham Windmill, built around 1680, is the oldest windmill on Cape Cod and one of the oldest surviving windmills in the United States. It sits in the town center, free to view from outside. In summer it opens for tours — worth a stop, particularly with kids.
First Encounter Coffee
First Encounter Coffee is the local coffee shop and community gathering place in Eastham — the kind of unpretentious, genuinely good coffee spot that makes a town feel like a town rather than a resort. It's the place to grab breakfast before the beach shuttle fills up.
Beaches & trails in this guide
Pack Smart for This One
Cape Cod Certified picks — essentials worth packing for this trip:
- MalsiPree Portable Dog Water Bottle — $15: One-handed, leak-proof bottle with a built-in bowl that recycles unused water back into the bottle. Under six ounces and ready for every boardwalk, trail, and dune walk.
- Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm — $4: Zinc-based broad-spectrum lip protection with vitamin E; reef-safe.
The Eastham Names to Know
Cape Cod Certified recommends these verified local spots:
- Caroline's Bar & Grill — 4.6★ (473 Google reviews)
- Lucky's Corner Cafe — 4.7★ (197 Google reviews)
- Fairway Restaurant & Pizzeria — 4.4★ (779 Google reviews)
- Hole in One Bakery & Coffee Shop — 4.5★ (688 Google reviews)
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Guides, hidden spots, and seasonal tips from people who actually live here.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Coast Guard Beach without driving?
The National Park Service runs a shuttle from the Little Creek parking lot in Eastham directly to Coast Guard Beach. The lot fills up early in the morning in summer, so most visitors find the shuttle a better option than competing for a parking spot.
What are the Three Sisters lighthouses?
The Three Sisters are three small wooden lighthouses — the 1892 towers that replaced the original brick trio — preserved by the National Park Service in a grove off Cable Road near Nauset Light. They're easy to overlook if you don't know to look for them.
Why is First Encounter Beach called that?
The name comes from a 1620 skirmish between Pilgrim explorers and the Nauset people — the first hostile contact between the Pilgrims and the Cape's Native inhabitants, before the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth. A monument marks the site on the beach.
Is Fort Hill worth visiting for birdwatching?
Fort Hill is one of the best birdwatching spots in the National Seashore. The Skiff Hill overlook surveys Nauset Marsh, where great blue herons, snowy egrets, and ospreys are reliably present, and fall brings large concentrations of migrating shorebirds and songbirds.
