Cape Cod National Seashore

Cape Cod National Seashore is a national seashore in the state of Massachusetts in the United States of America.

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 between 1650 and 1900, globally rare heathland habitats have resulted here. Bayberry and beach plum are common.

Twenty-five federally-protected species occur in the park. The Seashore is a significant site for the piping plover, with roughly 5% of the entire Atlantic coast population nesting here. Cape Cod National Seashore also supports 32 species that are rare or endangered in the state of Massachusetts. Some of these, such as the common tern, are conspicuous. Much less visible is the spadefoot toad which spends most its life buried in the sand, emerging only on warm nights with torrential rainfall.

Climate
Spring is generally cool and damp with temperatures of 40°F-60°F (4°-15°C). Summer brings temperatures in the 70s and 80s°F (20-30°C), and cool nights. Autumn is drier than spring with similar temperatures. Winter is milder than inland, but dampness and wind chill can make winter days bitter cold. Temperatures range between 30°F and 40°F (-1° to 4°C) in mid-winter, but intervals of below 0°F (-18°C) as well as milder temperatures are also possible.

Visitor information
Generally, the Cape Cod National Seashore&mdash;encompassing all beaches, parking areas, and trails&mdash;is open year-round from 6AM through midnight. The Seashore is additionally served by two visitor centers, with different hours. Although it sounds important, don't waste your time at Park Headquarters (99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet). Passes are not sold at Park Headquarters, this is an administrative facility primarily for park personnel.
 * Park website



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.

Fees and permits
Entrance fees are collected daily at all six swimming beaches from late June through early September, when lifeguards are on duty. Fees are also collected on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to the end of September. The daily fee per vehicle is $20. Motorcycles are $10 a day, while pedestrians and cyclists are charged $3 per day. For repeat visitors, a Cape Cod National Seashore annual pass is offered for $60. All fees waived for active duty military and their dependents (with proper ID), and children under the age of 16. Fees may be paid at all beach entrances, annual passes may be purchased at either visitor center.

Rules and regulations
Due to the fragile ecosystem, and the relative popularity of the Cape Cod National Seashore, there are a fair number of rules and regulations for visitors to follow. At the end of the day, they're really not that inconvenient, and following the rules helps keep the park healthy and beautiful for the next generation to enjoy.

Do not disturb natural or cultural features, all are protected by federal law. Glass containers, flotation devices (like rafts and rubber-tubes), snorkels, and masks are prohibited on any life-guard-protected beach. Pets must be leashed and under control at all times. Leashes may not exceed six feet. Pets are not permitted in public buildings, picnic areas, on protected beaches, or on self-guided trails. Climbing slopes is hazardous and prohibited, sand here is constantly shifting and collapses easily. Digging holes above knee level is also prohibited.

There are plenty more rules too, depending on your interests. Want to make a campfire? See the "Drink" section. Want to drive on the beach? See "Do". For rules regarding sleeping on the beach, look to the "Sleep" section.

Get 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.

Lighthouses
These six lighthouses each possess their own poetic beauty, most visitors tour at least one during their time on the Seashore. The grounds of Wood End, and Long Point lights are accessible, but the towers themselves are not open to the public.



Do




Beaches
These six swimming beaches are all a part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Access to any of these beaches is included in your entrance fee, see "Fees and permits" section above. All beaches have paved parking, showers and rest rooms (seasonal, except at Salt Pond Visitor Center), changing rooms, drinking water, and water quality testing. Lifeguards are on duty late June through Labor Day. Beachside passenger drop off and pick up prohibited. Coast Guard Beach in Eastham and Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown, are handicapped accessible and can provide wheelchairs capable of traveling over sand.



Self-guided walking trails
The Seashore has twelve self-guided trails, all are open year round. Individual route maps are available at some trailheads. Many have picnic areas.



Bicycle trails
Whether you ride or not, you'll find cycling to be a popular activity on the Seashore. All public facilities will provide bike racks where you can lock up. Bikes are basically allowed anywhere you can ride them, except for hiking trails and beaches.



Buy

 * Eastern National runs bookstores at the Visitor Centers, selling books, tapes, videos, toys and gifts.

Eat
Additional food options may be purchased at the Highland Links clubhouse, in Truro. See the "Do" section for more information.



Drink
While there are no bars or clubs here, there is one option for fun after sundown. If you're staying at the beach into the night, it's possible to make a beach fire with a free permit. There are a limited number available every day, and they can be reserved by calling one of the visitors centers. However, it is recommended, by far, to actually go and pick up the campfire permit in person. Demand is extremely high during popular summer months, and phone reservations may not be accepted then.



Sleep
There are no hotels, motels, b&b's, caravansaries, or lodging of any kind within Cape Cod National Seashore. You can; however, find umpteen options in any of the nearby towns: see Provincetown, Truro, Eastham, or Orleans for options. But if you absolutely positively must spend the night on the Seashore, you do have one option: camping. Not camping in a tent, mind you, but camping in a "self contained vehicle". If you don't already know, an SCV is any vehicle that has had a permanent toilet installed. Additionally, this vehicle must have 4WD capabilities so it can be driven around on the beach. About 100 camping spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis. To find out if your rig qualifies, visit the NPS SCV site to find out what makes the cut.



Stay safe

 * Rip currents and undertow are common, dangerous conditions along ocean beaches. Swim in lifeguard protected areas and if caught in a rip current free yourself by swimming parallel to the beach first.
 * Take precautions to avoid contact with ticks and mosquitoes. Deer ticks may carry lyme disease. Mosquitoes may carry encephalitis or the West Nile virus. Stay on trails and out of tall grasses. Use repellent and wear proper clothing.
 * Poison ivy is prolific on Cape Cod and the rash it produces can cause severe discomfort. “Leaves of three, let it be.”
 * Be alert for bicycles and pedestrians on the Seashore's narrow roads.

Go next

 * Check out the seals and multitudes of wild birds in Chatham's Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge.
 * Many folks will either arrive or depart to Boston, New England's unofficial capital.
 * Tired of all that nature? Tour the gilded age mansions of Newport, Rhode Island.
 * If you're not ready to leave, but you'd like someone else to make dinner, Provincetown's got options.
 * Keep exploring the area's shifting sands on Nantucket island. Similar landscapes, but totally different vibes.