Last Updated on January 12, 2024

The most famous sand dunes in Massachusetts are found on Cape Cod, in particular in the Cape Cod National Seashore.

This national park is home to a number of beautiful beaches and dunes, including the dunes on the Nantucket Sound side of Cape Cod, where sand-skiing was first practiced in the United States in the 1930s.

The Cape Cod peninsula is home to some of New England’s best sandy beaches, and coastal sand dunes make up roughly one third of the seashore, covering approximately 8,500 acres.

The dunes are located primarily in the OuterCape, from Chatham to Provincetown. This area is one of the largest coastal reserves in the United States and well worth a visit, with many beaches and trails for sand lovers accessible year round.

Cape Cod Sand Dunes
Cape Cod National Seashore

Cape Cod Sand Dunes

Dunes of the Provincelands

The extraordinary Provincetown dunes are part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Established in 1961, the park protects this unique but fragile ecological system, ensuring the preservation of its beauty and the natural habitat living in it.

The park works to ensure the preservation of the dunes and the natural habitat that exists within them, helping to maintain their beauty and ecological significance for future generations.


White Crest Beach Dunes

White Crest Beach is one of the most breathtaking beaches in all of New England, known for its windswept sands and towering dunes. The dunes are covered in soft, white sand that is perfect for sandboarding or simply lounging in the sun.

Dune Shacks Trail

The Dune Shacks Trail is a fantastic hiking trail that winds its way through the stunning sand dunes of the Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts. This trail offers a unique and exciting way to explore the natural beauty of this region, with a variety of landscapes to discover along the way.


Nauset Beach Dunes

Nauset Beach is a popular destination for surfers and sandboarders, thanks to its beautiful dunes and ideal conditions for these activities. But this beach is not just a playground for outdoor enthusiasts – it is also a unique and important natural environment, home to a range of plant and animal species.

The cliffs and dunes of Nauset Beach are a particularly interesting and important feature of this coastline. These features are a result of the forces of erosion that have shaped the landscape over time, and they provide a valuable opportunity to observe and study the ongoing process of coastal erosion.


Marconi Wireless Station Site

In 1902 the Italian Gugliemo Marconi built one of the two North American wireless stations at South Wellfleet. On January 18, 1903 the first communication in Morse code between Europe and the Atlantic took place through the Cape Cod station.

From this vantage point you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, with all its high cliffs and dunes.


Art’s Dune Tours

Art’s Dune Tours offers off-road tours to visitors through the dunes the Cape Cod National Seashore Park.

These tours are available seasonally, from March through mid-November, providing visitors with the opportunity to experience the beauty of the dunes in a unique and exciting way.

During the tour, you’ll be transported in a specialized off-road vehicle through the dunes, enjoying breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and the Atlantic Ocean.

The drivers of these tours are highly knowledgeable and will provide you with a wealth of information about the local history of the dune shacks, life-saving stations, and the wildlife that calls this area home.

Whether you’re a nature lover, history buff, or simply looking for a fun and memorable way to experience the beauty of the Cape Cod National Seashore, Art’s Dune Tours is an excellent choice.

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Read also: Sandboarding in Cape Cod


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