Provincetown Causeway in Cape Cod
Nestled at the tip of Cape Cod, the Provincetown Causeway makes for a scenic place to explore and enjoy nature. This rocky path spans across salt marshes and glistening tidal flats taking you to miles of beach along Cape Cod Bay. If you love nature and the beach, this is definitely a must visit in Provincetown.
About The Causeway
The Provincetown Causeway was built in 1911 to prevent shifting dunes from creating a beach and wrecking nearby marshland. The marsh serves as a valuable ecosystem for local wildlife. So far, the causeway has been successful in protecting this marsh and ecosystem.
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Getting There
The causeway is located in Provincetown, MA at the tip of Cape Cod. The causeway is where Province Lands Road and Commercial Street intersect. There’s a circle here that has Pilgrims’ First Landing Park. This park is actually where the Pilgrims first landed before they made it Plymouth. You can view the plaque in the small park that commemorates the Pilgrims first landing in Provincetown on November 11, 1620.
In terms of parking in the area, there’s limited street parking for the causeway at the rotary circle. If you’re looking for another spot to park, you can try the West End Parking Lot on Commercial Street. When I went, it was in the off-season so I parked in the lot of the Provicetown Inn because it was closed for the season.
Things To Keep In Mind Before You Go
- Pay attention to the tides. Parts of the causeway can end up under water at high tide. It’s recommended that you walk this path during low tide. Give yourself plenty of time to make it back so you’re not racing the tide to get back. If you do happen to not time it correctly, you can take the cash-only Long Point Shuttle. But, this is a seasonal service.
- Wear appropriate shoes. The causeway is made up of big rocks and the surface can be uneven. Additionally, there are some pretty big gaps. Another hazard I found as I walked on the causeway were shells from the seagulls. I’d recommend wearing some sturdy shoes with a thick sole and good traction on the bottom.
- Bring plenty of food and water. If you’re planning on exploring the shoreline once you make it across the walkway, I recommend bringing plenty of food and water for your trek. The causeway itself is just over a mile long so just doing the causeway out and back is a little over two miles. If you’re planning on venturing to the tip of The Cape or to some of the lighthouses, you’ll be walking a lot of miles. By the end of my adventure here, I had walked a whopping 6 miles.
Things to See & Do
There’s plenty to see while crossing the causeway and when you reach the other side of the walkway. Below are some of the things you can expect to see and what I’d recommend you check out while here.
Water Views
As you walk across the causeway, you’ll get some stunning views of the Provincetown Harbor and a great view of Provincetown in the distance. This is the body of water that you’re crossing while on the causeway. At low tide, you might see more sand than water.
Once you successfully make it across the causeway, you can continue straight and make it to the beach that sits on the Cape Cod Bay. There are miles of beach to walk along the bay or to sit back and relax by the water.
Wildlife
You can expect to see a lot of coastal birds as you walk along the Provincetown Causeway. During my trip here, there were tons of seagulls dropping clam shells on the causeway to break them open to eat. I also saw some sea ducks like Common Eiders. In the marshier areas with tall grass, I spotted a blue heron.
Aside from birds, you might also be lucky enough to see some seals swimming close to shore in the harbor or the bay. When I went, I spotted a gray seal swimming along the beach on the Cape Cod Bay side. It was super curious about me and was watching me as I walked along the beach.
Wood End Lighthouse
This lighthouse is a short walk from the end of the causeway. When you get to the end of the causeway, you’ll want to take a right. If you want to walk along Cape Cod Bay, continue straight to get to the beach before taking a right. You can also take a right as soon as the causeway ends and walk along the marsh area.
No matter which way you go, the views are pretty. If you walk on the bay side, you’ll find a path on your right that will take you to the lighthouse. If you walk on the marsh side, you’ll find a couple of paths on your left that will take you right up to the lighthouse.
Long Point Light Station
This second lighthouse is significantly farther away than Wood End. To get to Long Point Light Station, you’ll have to make the trek down the beach to the point of the Cape. I won’t sugar coat it…it’s definitely a long walk.
If you’re into lighthouses, I’d definitely recommend making the walk to the tip. As far as it was, I decided to do the walk because I like lighthouses and I also wanted to be able to say that I walked all the way to the very tip of the Cape.
You can walk along the beach with views of the Bay or you can walk along the harbor and enjoy a nice view of Provincetown and the Pilgrim Tower on the other side of the harbor. We took the beach side when we went. It was the longer way and you couldn’t see the lighthouse for most of the walk, which made it seem never ending.
If you’re looking for a shorter walk and one where you can actually see the lighthouse to track your progress, I definitely recommend walking the harbor side if possible. The only thing that might keep you from being able to walk on the harbor side is if the tide isn’t super low.
When you get to the end, you’ll be greeted by a 38-foot white square tower lighthouse. You can walk right up to the lighthouse if you’d like, but you can’t climb it. There’s a sand dune you can stand on to get really nice views from a higher vantage point where you can see the water in the background.
Fishing & Shellfishing
While walking and taking in the views are why most tourists come here, it’s also a great spot for fishing and shellfishing. When we went, it was low tide and there were a lot of people along the causeway shellfishing. Before shellfishing, be sure to check out the Shellfishing Regulations for Provincetown, MA.
Why Visit the Provincetown Causeway
In conclusion, the Provincetown Causeway offers a unique and picturesque experience for visitors, with its stunning views of Cape Cod Bay and the surrounding natural beauty. Whether you are interested in seeing wildlife or simply relaxing on pristine beaches with breathtaking views, the causeway has something for everyone.
Its historical significance as the site of the first landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims adds an enriching layer to the visit, allowing visitors to connect with America’s early colonial history. Be sure to also check out Pilgrims’ First Landing Park while you’re there.
FAQs
Dogs are allowed here. However, it should be noted that the causeway itself is made up of big rocks so the terrain might be difficult for some dogs due to large gaps that might be between rocks.
The path is kid friendly due to the fact that it’s short and fairly flat. But because of the uneven terrain and the fact that there are some gaps between some of the large rocks that make up the path, you’ll need to keep a close eye on children. If you have smaller children you might have to help them navigate some parts of the causeway.
The causeway stretches 1.2 miles. But keep in mind that there’s miles of beach to explore on the other end of it that you might want to explore. By the time I was done walking to the Long Point lighthouse and the Wood End Lighthouse, I had walked 6 miles.
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