One of the top reasons to spend your vacation on the Cape is the time you’ll spend outdoors. There’s something for everyone in this part of the world, as even those who don’t love the beach will find something to do.

For example, Cape Cod is full of wildlife sanctuaries, many of which have hiking trails, forests, and ponds or swamps you can explore throughout your vacation. Mass Audubon, New England’s largest nature-based conservation organization, has 17 sanctuaries on the Cape, five of which are easy to visit and explore with no special equipment required.

You can hike most of these Mass Audubon trails for free, but visiting any locations with nature centers requires an admission fee. Here’s a look at five wildlife sanctuaries to check out on your trip to the Cape.

Long Pasture

The Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary features 2.5 miles of hiking trails and a beautiful sandy beach with views over Barnstable Harbor, Cape Cod Bay, and Sandy Neck. You’ll also experience some dunes and have the opportunity to explore the tidal flats if you visit at the right time of day.

Boat cruises and kayak tours leave from the Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, too, and there’s a family nature program at the visitor center. Long Pasture is located in Cummaquid and provides hours of entertainment for the entire family.

Wellfleet Bay

You’ll find about five miles of hiking trails at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, including hills along the shoreline that offer beautiful views of the town. You’ll also get to see salt marshes, woodlands, and a barrier beach during your travels, along with views over Cape Cod Bay.

Wellfleet Bay’s nature center has aquariums and other exhibits, too, making it a hit with children, and there are early-morning bird walks that are popular with adults.

Ashumet Holly

The Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary in Falmouth is relatively small and often overshadowed by the nearby Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area. However, this small sanctuary has 1.5 miles worth of hiking trails and over 1,000 holly trees across 65 different varieties to experience.

It’s also a globally rare ecosystem with an eight-acre coastal plain pond, creating the perfect environment for its 300 species of dragonflies. The view over the pond makes any excursion to Ashumet Holly worth the time and effort.

Barnstable Great Marsh

The Barnstable Great Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Sandy Neck Salt Marsh, an ecologically important location that is home to numerous shorebird species, oak woodlands, and two open ponds. You’ll also find 1.5 miles of maintained hiking trails that will take you through the region.

Of note, you might encounter five different species of turtles at Barnstable Great Marsh in the summer and three species of owls in the winter. Keep an eye out for this wildlife as you explore the area.

Skunknett River

The Skunknett River Wildlife Sanctuary in Osterville offers the rare opportunity to hike through the woods toward an Atlantic White Cedar swap and explore abandoned mill sites along the way. Although there’s only one mile of hiking trails in this sanctuary, you’ll see a lot as you walk through the woods.

It’s worth noting that Skunknett is an Algonquin word meaning a fishing place for eel, so there’s a chance you’ll see some American eels in the waterways as you travel.

Explore These Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries

Mass Audubon has other sanctuaries in Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, and Mashpee, but they don’t have trails and aren’t yet ready for visitors. There’s also the Sampsons Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Osterville, but you can’t reach it without a kayak. If you end up paddling through Cotuit Bay on your vacation, a stop on Sampsons Island is well worth your time.

The only Mass Audubon locations you’ll have to pay to access the Cape are Long Pasture and Wellfleet Bay. Individual and family memberships are just $35 and provide access to over 60 sanctuaries throughout Massachusetts, including Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Boston, and the Berkshires. If you’re a Massachusetts resident, there might be a sanctuary near your home that ensures you receive outstanding value from your membership.

Booking a vacation rental on the Cape provides a convenient base for exploring these sanctuaries. Reserve yours today to ensure availability at the ideal time of year.