Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

Extremely friendly people greet you and explain their mission at Mass Audubon in Welfleet. One of the most well maintained trails I’ve ever been on. The views are spectacular even on a cloudy day. I may be biased though because I love the cape. There is camping, and bathrooms. Memberships are very affordable. Bring bug spray in the warmer months. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. Nice short hike for people of all ages.

We visited on a late Sunday afternoon in mid-June 2025. There were plenty of spaces when we visited. There are a good number of trees as well if you're looking for a shady spot. It is a little bit of a walk to the visitor center from the parking spots. The parking lot was packed gravel and dirt. It was well maintained. There are ADA spots closer to main entrance. We arrived around 4PM and the Nature Center closed at 5PM. You can still stay in the park until dusk and there is a side exit you can take. I'm not sure if there are bathrooms available after the Nature Center closes however. The sign says to pay entrance fee using money pipe next to kiosk signs and map when building is closed. It's $8/adult, $5 (65+) and $3 (2-12yr old). members are free. There are a number of FREE admission for different groups and memberships as well. The Nature Center itself was great and much bigger than expected. When you walk in directly in front of you in the info desk. All the staff were super helpful and told us exactly what we should try and do and answered all of our questions. To the right is the gift shop which had a pretty nice selection but kind of generic items. To the left is the hallway to all the exhibits. This area was a lot bigger than I expected. They had a number of live animals in aquariums and tanks. Kids spent 15-20 mins in here looking around but we wanted to get on the trail. We took the trail straight to Goose Pond and crossed the bridge/boardwalk over and continued to the Try Island Trail. But we just stayed left and walked all the way out on the boardwalks. It does get really sandy so be prepared with the right shoes or be okay with sand in your shoes or going barefoot. There were a few mosquitos here and there but I wouldn't say unbearable. If you kept moving, you were fine. Might be a different story if you were here birdwatching and stayed in one spot for awhile. There were also a ton a little fiddler crabs i think. Kids had fun watching them scurry away as we walked by. It was very photogenic and picturesque especially cause we only ran into 3 or 4 groups the entire time we were there and it was a weekend. Overall a great place to take a walk. If we lived nearby we would probably have a membership here. If you're just visiting, it's a great way to spend maybe half a day. We only had about an hour total so we couldn't explore much more unfortunately. I bet sunset here would've been amazing.

Very accessible for different age groups and scenic trails. Visitor center has wonderful creatures in aquariums and helpful staff. The day we went in October it was quite windy and cold by the water’s edge but we still enjoyed our walks. No dogs allowed as it is a bird sanctuary but at the time of day we went we saw almost no birds. We expected to see at a minimum sea birds and ducks but we did not.

Absolutely gorgeous place! A variety of trails will take you past salt marshes, a bay-side beach, and coastalpine forest. They have a wonderful Discovery center for all ages, a lovely pollinator garden, and a well stocked gift shop. A fun "bonus" is watching the Fiddler Crabs scurry about along the Boardwalk trail... Be mindful of High Tide because the boardwalk goes under water.

We were really lucky to come across this place while driving by. It’s just 5 miles of trails, but they’re all super peaceful. We just walked around, enjoying the nature and the birds singing. There’s also a great spot by the shore with a beautiful view. We spent a lot of time just walking along the beach, checking out the shells in the sand. Definitely a really cool place. Hope we can come back sometime

Enjoyed an easy morning walk at low tide - so many fiddler crabs and mermaid’s purses! They kind ladies at the front desk offered a scavenger hunt/bingo to keep my 3 year old son engaged.

Cool place for family and kids! Theres lots of different trials. The views are beautiful. Very interesting to walk around during low tide where you'll see tons of crabs and mussels. Theres a gift shop along with an indoor area with fish tanks.

We needed to stretch our legs after a long drive I would say 4 miles might do the job! Such beautiful trails!

This is one of my favorite places on the cape. I've gone there at least once a summer for almost 30 years, and sent my kids there for nature camp when they were young. It's always different, depending on time of year, time of day, weather, etc. Today I went on a guided bird walk with Chiara and learned a few new things about birds I didn't know. Always more to learn and see!

Situated along the edge of Wellfleet Harbor, sits 97 acres and 5 miles of extensively groomed trails of breathtaking and raw beauty. Cape Cod is one of the most visited areas in the country and once you visit you will understand why. You can expect tranquility and phenomenal views of a pristine barrier beach and vibrant salt marshes. The sounds of the reeds blowing in the wind is nothing less than paradise and the pine woodlands are a birders delight. They also have an award-winning, economically friendly nature center with wildlife views, aquariums and educational exhibits. The sanctuary offers many programs for all ages based on research and conservation projects focusing on ecologically threatened birds, horseshoe crabs, and sea turtles. When you visit Memorial Day through Labor Day, the trails are open from 8am-dusk. Early October to late May- they're closed on Mondays, but Tues-Saturday you can visit 8:30am-5:00pm. For non-Audubon members it is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for the little ones (ages 2-12). EBT participants are free for up to 4 people when you show your card. This is such a wonderful experience and an educational goldmine for any age! Go. Just go... and that folks is all she wrote.

Wellfleet Bay is a place I come every few years while on Cape. Free admission with a Mass Audubon membership. They have quite a few trails along Cape Cod Bay, as well as some freshwater streams and ponds. Time your visit to low tide. Take the boardwalk trail down to the Bay. You can walk for miles on the sandbars. You can walk forever in the shallow water. On a rainy day you can sit in the huge window seats at the visitor center and watch the bird feeders.

This an amazing experience that everyone visiting Cape Cod should visit. We did the Bay View Trail.

Great place for a variety of short hikes, down by the marshland, overlooking the marshes, and in woody areas. Some involve crossing bridges and walking on boardwalks (fun!). Despite high winds the day we went, we saw some wildlife - cormorans, small herons, and huge evidently well-feed wild turkeys.

Great collection of trails of varying lengths. Different vistas, marsh, beach, woods. Great wildlife and wild flowers. All walks are easy with benches throughout. Main center has a handful of interesting exhibits.

Such a beautiful place. Helpful staff, interesting exhibits and events. Nice facility and well-marked trails. Mass Audubon, thank you for doing the work you do!

A lovely place to hike and enjoy the nature of Cape Cod. We loved our time strolling amidst sand, grass and varying terrain. Beautiful. Go early in the morning.

This place is amazing! I'm not all that interested in bird watching but this seems to be the perfect place to do just that. The staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgable and for $5 you have access to 5 miles of walking trails. The trails are very easy to walk, even for the less than fit like myself. The views are picture postcard perfect. Well worth stopping by while you're in the area. I know I'll be back!

Beautiful area. Price is ridiculously overpriced! Suggest the many National Seashore areas instead where most are free to hike/walk nature trails. Certain staff stuck up. I love some of the work these people do saving and preserving the area but the area cannot be enjoyed if you are on a budget, just too expensive for those trying to do a family vacation without endless funds. No pets allowed.

A great place to spend a morning if you like nature walks, nice vistas and spotting little animals in their natural glory. We took the Goose Pond Trail all the way out to the bay, past the neat wooden catwalks with all the Fiddler Crabs eying you suspiciously. Its beautiful out there. Go to the water's edge to see the Hermit Crabs scrambling about, and the fish fry darting to and fro, as the pleasant breeze rustles thru the tall green sea grass. A friend suggested that this would be a ideal spot to propose. We had to retreat after a bit, as the tide began to come in and we were losing ground fast. Look for turtles and shorebirds at the salt marsh, but be careful of the GreenHead flies. Also check out the freshwater pond for plenty of frog action, and more turtles basking in the sun. As we were winding along the trails, we kept seeing older volunteers answering questions or maintaining the path. I was told this would be me in 35 years. A note of caution - there is Poison Ivy along the trail. Look for the signs warning of its locations, and avoid. Also, do a THOROUGH tick check when you are done - I had a rather large tick tangled in my leg hair (Thank God I have hairy legs!!!). And, wear sneakers or closed up shoes - flip flops is just asking for it. If you have a bit of a naturalist in you - take a stop in, you won't be sorry.

Excellent stop for birders, or just those looking for a connection to the Cape Cod natural world without all the people and commercialism. Great visitors' center. Excellent trails and boardwalks connecting to several types of ecosystems (dunes, estuaries, wooded areas, etc.). $5 per person might seem a bit steep, but it goes to help support Mass Audubon, which is doing extraordinary work statewide. Or you can become a member for $32, get admission for a year to the entire statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries, and get other prizes too!

A must visit for nature lovers! One of the favorite places I went on the Cape. I agree with another Yelper -- watch closely for the entrance on the bay side of Rt 6. It's easy to miss. Entrance fee is $5, but well worth it. Start out at the LEED Platinum visitors center! LEED Platinum means that the facility has the highest rating out there for its carbon footprint and using recycled and renewable materials. For example, the facility has 2 solar arrays, composting toilets, and a graywater system. Floors, cabinetry, etc are made out of renewable materials such as cork and bamboo. The docents will provide you with a map for a self-guided walking tour of the facility and everything that makes it LEED Platinum, if you're into that sort of thing. The visitors center has all kinds of neat exhibits, including plenty that will interest kids. When you're ready for the great outdoors, head out to the beautiful garden, fed by the graywater system. Then on to the beautiful nature trails! The fresh water pond is such a gorgeous site with all the lily pads, the marsh is a peaceful paradise, and the fiddler crabs are fun to watch. Tips: Bring bug spray and dress for ticks. Also, watch out for poison ivy! Hike the Goose Pond Trail at low tide so you can cross over to Try Island.

Love this place. Super low price for a great nature experience. For $5 you have access to all of their trails, which are relatively flat, making them good for kids or those who aren't in great shape. There are trails in the woods, but also through the marsh and to the beach, so you get to see all the different environments the Cape has to offer. There are many birds, crabs, and other animals out all the time. There's also a nature center with good info about the sanctuary.

This is a jewel of a place, especially the Silver Lake Trail...the first half of the trail is paved with wood chips around this beautiful lake, filled with lily pads, white birds birches on tree branches over water and dragon flies chasing one another...what a gem!

Lovely wildlife sanctuary with great programs for both kids and adults. Check beforehand on their website, or simply stop in for a walk on one of their hiking trails.

Great for a day out on the Cape if you're looking for something other than the beach. Many, many trails with different types of views from woodsy ponds to ocean bays.

We've been coming to the Cape for years but this was our first visit here. So glad we did. We love the National Seashore too, but the "Seaside Ramble" walk was the perfect adventure for our four and six year olds. A mile walk (so not too too long for little feet) with a tide pool exploration period. Our guide Heidi was wonderful. A retired second grade teacher, she handled the little ones with ease, expertise and enthusiasm and they responded in kind. The parents learned a lot too. Well worth the cost (register in advance online). We were happy to support this beautiful sanctuary.

Definitely worth a visit! The trails were very walkable, well maintained and interesting. We enjoyed the visitors center and the information on the horseshoe crabs.

For a place to take a nice easy stroll outdoors, this place is a good stopping point on a little cape cod adventure. You might miss it driving down the highway so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the sign! Once you park you pay a small entrance fee which helps to maintain the sanctuary and you can even check out a plant/nature sighting book that you can use while you walk along the very flat sanctuary. The whole trail doesn't take that long, and you do get to see some cool plants and whatnot, but overall we thought there would be a little more to this sanctuary and we thought it would be a little bigger, meaning they would have had more trail options. It does end out on the water front where you get to pass by all of these sand crabs that have village after village out to the water and being at the water was probably the best part. Supposedly the tide can come in and block access to the beach, so try and time your trip right for this nice and easy and relaxing outdoor stroll. I wish there were more places like this to walk around in. And if you are an Audubon member it is free I believe. My favorite part though was the baby little turtles they had inside the museum part here! If you like squirt from Nemo, then this place is definitely for you! Hope they have more baby turtles if you go here too! They are so tiny and amazing!

I brought my 2 year old here with my husband. Showed up on time for a program for my daughter. The lady at the desk told me to wait in the exhibit hall. After 10 mins no one showed up and I went back to the women at the front desk who could not tell me what was going on. After waiting an additional 5 mins, another co-worker walked by and said it was in the auditorium. Very disorganized and I missed half the program. The girl running the program was very nice and she offered to show us what we missed. The programs itself are very disorganized and I can't believe I payed $20 to see some seashells, a hermit crab, and a fiddler crab. I could have seen all that for free somewhere else. Don't take your kids to the daily programs. and the people at the front desk were very unhelpful

I know this might be Cape Cod blasphemy, but I'm really not into sitting on the beach all day. Squeezing myself into three square feet of open sand, surrounded by people with crying children, smelly food, loud radios, and/or annoying laughs so I can sit on my butt and sweat all day just doesn't do it for me. If you're like me, or just looking for something outdoorsy to do on the Cape other than the beach, this is a great place to visit. If you're a non-member of the Mass Audubon Society, a couple of bucks will get you in. I don't have kids, but if I did, I would bring them here as there's a lot of learning opportunities. There are a handful of trails and tons of wildlife to be seen, including fresh water ponds, marshes, and the ocean. If you use a keen eye, you will see all sorts of animals: turtles, bullfrogs, blue birds, herons, and more. My favorite part is walking across the boardwalk towards the beach where at low tide you will see thousands upon thousands of tiny crabs who scatter in all directions as you walk by. The trails are well marked and groomed and anyone who can walk can make the trek. Make sure you check the tides before you take the trail out to Wellfleet Bay, as the trail floods during high tide. This is located near the Cape Cod National Seashore, but the entrance is blink-and-you'll-miss-it, so if you've never been here before I recommend deploying the GPS.

This is an easy hike for a romantic stroll or family outing. We took the Goose Pond trail, which from the trail map is clearly the most interesting. You start by the small exhibit/store facility and walk by a small butterfly garden. Most of the walk winds around classic cape wetlands and is well shaded by coastal pine and other tree varieties. Goose Pond itself is a cute pond with a platform where a pile of turtles bask in the sun. Toward the end of the hike the trail opens into salt marsh and board walk that leads to a nice ocean beach. 1.5-2 hours just for the round trip if you take your time and enjoy it, longer if you plan to stay at the beach. My wife, myself, and my 2 year old all had a great time and look forward to returning.

One star for not calling us about a cancelled boat cruise that cost us much of a day of our vacation and crying children. If you plan on one of these boat trips, keep this risk in mind.

Well worth visiting! Great visitor's center with a small aquarium, a sand table where kids can play with shells, and other exhibits. The trails are perfect for a nature hike with kids. Relatively flat and not too long. We saw turkeys, turtles, frogs, crabs, and lots of other interesting things. I really recommend it.