Brewster Flats
At low tide, Cape Cod Bay exposes several kilometers of tidal flats, where you can walk barefoot toward the horizon, look for hermit crabs and tidal channels, and enjoy spectacular sunsets.
Brewster Flats is a large intertidal zone on the Cape Cod Bay side. At low tide the water recedes about 3 km, exposing ripple-patterned sand and tidal channels where you can walk barefoot and look for hermit crabs and shells. It is considered one of the largest tidal flats in North America. Several public beaches, including Paines Creek Beach, provide access, and the reflection of the sky at sunset is very photogenic. Be sure to check the tide tables and return before the tide comes in. Some town beaches charge parking fees in summer.
Opening hours
All day (tide-dependent)
Nearby sights
- Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
- Cape Cod Rail Trail
- Cape Cod National Seashore (Salt Pond Visitor Center)
- Fort Hill
- Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
- Chatham Fish Pier & Main Street
- Nauset Beach (Orleans)
- Chatham Light