About Wellfleet Bay

View out to ocean at WB © Lauren Fenn
© Lauren Fenn

Members Visit for Free

Join Mass Audubon

Wellfleet Bay provides peace and unmatched beauty on the hillsides and shoreline overlooking Wellfleet Harbor. Extensive trails bring you to a panoramic salt marsh, sandy barrier beach, and pine woodlands, each attracting a wide array of wildlife.

The sanctuary features a universally accessible trail and an award-winning "green" Nature Center with numerous exhibits and aquariums.

Location

291 State Highway, Route 6, South Wellfleet, MA 02663
Get directions or contact us >

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 236, South Wellfleet, MA 02663

Hours

Nature Center

Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm.

Trails

Open every day, dawn to dusk

Admission

Members: Free
Nonmembers: $8 Adults, $5 Seniors (65+), $3 Children (2-12), Free for children under 2

As a way to increase access to nature, Mass Audubon also offers several free admission programs at our wildlife sanctuaries.

Facilities

  • Parking
  • Universally Accessible Nature Center
  • Universally Accessible Restrooms
  • Universally Accessible Trail
  • Picnic Area
  • Camping (members-only)
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Acres

1,183

Trail Mileage

5 miles (0.5 miles universally accessible) 
Details & map >

Sanctuary Highlights

  • Fiddler crabs scurrying in the salt marsh and Green Herons fishing in Goose Pond.
  • Hands-on activities during marine cruises in Cape Cod Bay.
  • Summer day camp programs designed to promote curiosity about the natural world.
  • Year-round programs for all ages based on research and conservation projects focusing on threatened shorebirds, terrapins, horseshoe crabs, and sea turtles.
  • Family camping at our members-only campground for exploration and enjoyment of the natural world. 
  • Cape Cod Field School with courses for adults that focus on the area's unique coastal environment and wildlife.

Property Regulations

All of the land at our wildlife sanctuaries is protected. By conserving these open spaces, Mass Audubon, along with our members and partners, is able to fulfill its mission of protecting the nature of Massachusetts. When visiting, please take note of the following regulations: 

  • No dog walking or horseback riding; please leave all animals and pets at home (service animals welcome) 
  • No walking off trail  
  • No collecting or picking natural items
  • No bike riding or operating motorized vehicles; day passes are available for powered mobility devices   
  • No running, swimming, or camping 
  • No operating drones or other remote-controlled vehicles   
  • No fishing, hunting, trapping, or releasing of animals   
  • No feeding wildlife   
  • No smoking 

Photography Guidelines

Mass Audubon welcomes visitors to capture the beauty and wonder of our statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries through photography. If you would like to use a wildlife sanctuary for commercial photography purposes, please review the complete guidelines and learn how to schedule a time.