A roughly 1,100-acre Mass Audubon sanctuary along Cape Cod Bay with five miles of trails through salt marsh, sandplain grassland, pine woods, and a freshwater pond, plus a nature center and admission gate. One of the largest Mass Audubon properties in the state.
What to expect
Entry fee
Adults $8, seniors (65+) $5, children (2-12) $3; free for Mass Audubon members.
Dogs
Dog walking is prohibited sanctuary-wide; leave pets at home (service animals welcome). This is Mass Audubon's own rule, not the town default.
Accessibility
Nature Center and the 0.5-mile Sensory Trail are universally accessible (no steep slopes or steps); powered mobility devices allowed with a day pass; the rest of the trail network is natural surface, foot travel only.
Birding
Allowed year-round
Camping
Allowed program-based, not drop-in
Managed by
Mass Audubon (Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary)
508-349-2615 · WebsiteWhat's here
On site
Restroom
Nature Center, universally accessible
Info kiosk
Nature Center functions as visitor center/kiosk with exhibits and maps.
Common questions
Is Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary open today?
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is a public preserve in Wellfleet, MA. There is no live closure feed for preserves & forests; the town's site is the authority for temporary closures.
No. Dog walking is prohibited throughout the sanctuary; only service animals are welcome.
How long are the trails and are they hard?
About 5 miles total across salt marsh, woods, and grassland, ranging from an easy 0.5-mile universally accessible loop to longer natural-surface trails.
Is there an entrance fee?
Yes: $8 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for children 2-12; free for Mass Audubon members.
Is there an entry fee at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary?
Yes, Adults $8, seniors (65+) $5, children (2-12) $3; free for Mass Audubon members.
Can I bring my dog to Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary?
Dog walking is prohibited sanctuary-wide; leave pets at home (service animals welcome). This is Mass Audubon's own rule, not the town default.
Is Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary wheelchair accessible?
Nature Center and the 0.5-mile Sensory Trail are universally accessible (no steep slopes or steps); powered mobility devices allowed with a day pass; the rest of the trail network is natural surface, foot travel only.
What rules should I know at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary?
Collecting, swimming, wading, smoking, hunting, fishing, releasing of animals, and feeding wildlife are all prohibited sanctuary-wide. Dog walking and horseback riding prohibited.