Eastham: Beaches, Trails and History

Eastham brings together sandy beaches, trails along Nauset Marsh and historic buildings. When planning your visit, you can decide whether to focus on beaches and coastal features, a loop trail or the history of individual sites. Nauset Light Beach, the Nauset Marsh Trail and the Eastham Windmill represent these different interests.

Beaches and Coastal Landscape

Nauset Light Beach is a broad sandy beach bordered by a steep glacial landform. A paved path leads down from the parking lot to the beach. The broad expanse of sand meets a distinctive landform here, and the paved path provides a clear landmark for your visit.

Coast Guard Beach is particularly suitable for swimming during the summer season. Its sandy beach also offers opportunities to study coastal processes such as longshore sand transport and coastal erosion. The two beach descriptions emphasize different features: at Nauset Light Beach, the landform shapes the landscape, while at Coast Guard Beach, the focus is on seasonal swimming and coastal processes.

The Nauset Marsh Trail

The Nauset Marsh Trail is a 1.5-mile loop around Nauset Marsh that returns to the Salt Pond Visitor Center. There is also a one-mile extension to the Doane Picnic Area and a separate one-mile extension to Coast Guard Beach. These distances refer to different route options: 1.5 miles for the loop and one mile each for the extensions. If you have a particular destination in mind, you can choose between the loop and the two named extensions.

Lighthouses and Historic Sites

Nauset Light is designated as the first lighthouse in Eastham. Nauset Lighthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Three Sisters lighthouses are a short walk from the Nauset Light Beach parking lot. The 1869 Schoolhouse Museum is across from the National Seashore Visitor Center.

Windmill and Swift-Daley House

The Eastham Windmill is considered the oldest and last still-operating gristmill on Cape Cod and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The 1741 Swift-Daley House has different historic features: its gambrel roof is typical of early shipwrights’ houses, and the house is also listed in the National Register. Its collection includes examples of historic furniture, clothing, porcelain and quilts. The topics range from milling traditions to a distinctive roof shape and a variety of collection items.

Windmill Weekend

Windmill Weekend takes place every year over the weekend after Labor Day as a three-day celebration. The specific program may change. If you are planning your trip around a particular activity, check the program for that year.

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