Eastham

See

See Nauset Light

A historic lighthouse at Nauset Light Beach. Free public tours May-October. Hear the history of the light and climb the tower. Tour times on the website.

MapsWebsite☆ Want to go

See Three Sisters Lighthouses

The three small lighthouses that were replaced by the current red and white Nauset Light can be seen in a grassy park 1/4 mile back from Nauset Light Beach. Tours are available through the Cape Cod National Seashore.

📍 Cable Road

Maps☆ Want to go

• The views from Fort Hill, Fort Hill Road. Two parking lots are here. The one at the end has great views of the Eastham harbor, beautiful marshes and the barrier island. Trails are maintained down through the marsh. Caution: greenhead flies will bite in summer.
• Captain Penniman House and Fort Hill Historic District, Fort Hill Rd., +1 508-349-3785. Here you will also find great hiking trails, including a red maple swamp.
• Old Eastham Windmill, Route 6.
• The 1869 Schoolhouse Museum, Nauset Rd. across from the Salt Pond Visitor Center, +1 508-255-0788. Jun-Oct. Free. Unusual whale jaw gate.

Do

• Visit Salt Pond Visitor Center of the Cape Cod National Seashore, Salt Pond Rd. (east of Rte. 6), +1 508-255-3421, . Late May - mid Oct daily 9AM-5PM; mid Oct to late May daily 9AM-4:30PM. The exhibits here are great, but even better is a 1/4 mile long walking path designed with the blind or sight impaired person in mind. The trail continues across a boardwalk over the Great Marsh to connect with the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Free.
• Bike the Cape Cod Rail Trail, The CCRT is a 22 mile long bike path from Dennis to Wellfleet.. The trail follows the old railroad line and runs the complete length of Eastham. A wide paved path with scenic vistas, the trail runs through woods and meadows away from the highway and car traffic. Cape Cod Rail Trail Map. There is also a 1.6 mile bike path from the Salt Pond Visitor Center to Coast Guard beach. Nauset Trail Map
• Rent a Bike, There are two bike shops on the Cape Cod Rail Trail providing rentals and service: (1.) Little Capistrano Bike Shop, Salt Pond Rd., across Route 6 from the CCNS Visitor Center +1 508-255-6515. (2.) Idle Times Bike Shops, 4550 Route 6, near Brackett Road +1 508-255-8281, .
• Play Miniature Golf: (1.) Poit's Lighthouse Mini-Golf, 5270 Route 6, +1 508-255-6321, . Themed. Snack bar with ice cream. (2.) Arnold's Mini-Golf, 3580 Route 6, +1 508-255-2575, Themed. Seafood restaurant with ice cream window.
• Surf the Atlantic Ocean, Good surfing at both Nauset Light Beach and Coast Guard Beach. Lessons and board rentals at Little Overhead Surf Shop, 4900 Route 6, +1 508-240-1455. . Lots of bodyboarding too.

Beaches

Cape Cod National Seashore - Atlantic Ocean beaches.

• Coast Guard Beach, Route 6, Right onto Nauset Road at Salt Pond Visitor Center, Right on Doane Road. Best handicapped access.
• Nauset Light Beach, Route 6, Right onto Brackett Road, Left on Nauset Road, Right on Cable Road, no handicapped access.

Town of Eastham - Cape Cod Bay beaches (permit required to park cars) .

• First Encounter, Route 6 to Samoset Road, follow Samoset Road to the end. Best handicapped access.
• Kingsbury, end of Kingsbury Beach Road, off Herring Brook Road, very small parking lot.
• Thumpertown, small beach at end of Thumpertown Road, off Herring Brook Road.
• Campground, Route 6 to Massasoit Road. Left onto Campground Road to end.
• Cooks Brook, off Massasoit Road in North Eastham. Left onto Steele Road to end.
• Sunken Meadow, small beach at end of South Sunken Meadow Road, off Massasoit Road, tiny parking lot.

Town of Eastham - fresh water pond beaches (permit required to park cars) .

• Wiley Park, off Herring Brook Road. Small beach on the west side of Great Pond. Sandy bottom, lifeguards, morning swimming lessons, playground and a conservation area with a few trails. Great for small kids.
• Great Pond, Great Pond Road. Small beach on the east side of Great Pond with a very small parking lot. Sandy bottom, lifeguards. Great for small kids.
• Herring Pond, off Herring Brook Road (left from Samoset). Beautiful clear kettle pond with sandy beach.

Nature Trails

There are several self-guided nature trails in both the National Seashore (info) and Town of Eastham conservation areas (info). You can also hike the shoreline along Cape Cod Bay at low to mid tide.

• Fort Hill Trail, 1.5 miles, scenic vistas of Nauset Marsh and Nauset Spit. trail guide
• Red Maple Swamp Trail, 1/2 mile, some elevated boardwalk sections through swamp.
• Doane Trail, 1/2 mile, hike to Atlantic Ocean from picnic area.
• Nauset Marsh Trail, 1 mile, loop trail along Salt Pond and through forest. trail guide
• Butonbush Trail, 1/4 mile, with guide rope and braille signage.
• Lamont Smith Conservation Area info
• Cottontail Acres Conservation Area info

Events

• Windmill Weekend, Windmill Green. A town wide celebration held the weekend after Labor Day. Parade, road races, sand art competition, arts & crafts, band concerts, square dancing and a tricycle race.
• Art Shows, The Eastham Painters Guild hosts many fine art shows at the Schoolhouse Museum during the summer months. schedule

Buy

Shopping in Eastham is spread out along the main highway (Route 6) and just off Route 6 at Main Street Mercantile, Seatoller Shops, and the area around Brackett Road. There are many gift shops and smaller markets for groceries and general supplies. For a large supermarket there is Stop & Shop just past the rotary in Orleans (Route 28), or Shaws Market on Route 6A in Orleans.

Eat

• Capone's, 3800 U.S. 6, +1 508 240-7828. Homemade Italian.

• Mitchell's Bistro, Route 6, +1 508-255-4803. Year round, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Best bet for fine dining in the evening. Your source for cheesecake.

Drink

• Rick's Outer Bar, Town Center Plaza on Route 6, North Eastham, +1 508-255-4959. DJs on summer weekends.

Sleep