As temperatures warm on Cape Cod in late March and early April, visitors begin returning to the area’s vacation rentals. Booking in the spring allows you to explore without fighting the summer’s crowds, and there’s a chance you’ll get some great weather, too.
While you probably won’t spend much time on the Cape’s beaches in springtime, you’ll find plenty of other outdoor activities.
Some of the most popular spring experiences on Cape Cod are the herring runs, which start in mid to late March and extend into May.
In short, the herring runs are the migration of the region’s alewife and blueback herring from the ocean to the Cape’s freshwater ponds. Once there, the herring spawn before returning to the sea.
Cape Cod has many different spots to get up close to these fish as they migrate through the region’s creeks, brooks, and rivers, and there are fish ladders in certain places to assist as they navigate obstacles.
Here’s a look at some of the best places to watch the herring runs on Cape Cod. There’s sure to be at least one location close to your vacation rental.
Herring Run Recreation Area in Bourne
One of the easiest herring runs to access is in the appropriately named Herring Run Recreation Area in Bourne. This park is on Bourne’s mainland side but is easy to reach from the Upper Cape because it’s minutes from the Sagamore Bridge.
The Herring Run Recreation Area is on the banks of the Cape Cod Canal, providing you with multiple ways to see the herring.
First, you can walk to the shore to watch the fish as they approach the Herring River. There’s also an observation area at the south end of the park where you can see the herring climb a fish ladder before heading under the highway and continuing on their journey.
Mashpee River Herring Run
Another easily accessible herring-viewing area sits on Main Street in Mashpee, a short distance from Attaquin Park and Mashpee Pond. This spot shares a parking lot with the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Museum and features a bridge overlooking the Mashpee River.
The great thing about the Mashpee River Herring Run is that you can watch from the bridge or get a bit closer to the water. There’s a fish ladder there, too, and the museum is open by reservation only starting in mid-April.
When you combine the herring run, museum, Attaquin Park, and the nearby Naukabout Brewery and Taproom, you can see why this area is so popular in the spring.
Dexter’s Gristmill
Dexter’s Gristmill is a working facility originally constructed in 1654 and restored in 1961. It sits on Water Street in Sandwich Village and is one of the Cape’s most photographed locations.
The history at Dexter’s Gristmill is reason enough to visit during your Cape Cod vacation, but the herring run makes the site even more memorable.
The mill’s grounds offer views of a fish ladder that assists herring as they exit Mill Creek and enter Shawme Pond. Bridges and platforms make it easier to see the fish, and it’s also possible to visit Mill Creek Park across the street for more viewing options.
Parking in this part of Sandwich is limited, but if you’re making a day of exploring this historic part of town or, better yet, renting a nearby vacation rental, Dexter Grist Mill is well worth a stop.
Stony Brook Grist Mill in Brewster
When booking a vacation rental in Brewster, you could be close to another historic grist mill called Stony Brook. This facility opened in 1751 and is still functional to this day.
The mill is located where Stony Brook meets Lower Millpond and provides excellent fish-viewing opportunities. Here, you can hike the trails or wander the grounds and sit right beside the water as the herring pass through to the pond.
There’s also a fish ladder on-site that provides a unique look at the fish as they near their destination.
Other Herring Runs
This list looks at the easiest herring runs for visitors to access, but there are other locations throughout Cape Cod, too.
If you can’t get to any of those centrally-located herring runs, you can also visit:
- Bell’s Neck Conservation Area in Harwich
- The Santuit Pond Reserve in Mashpee
- Herring River in Wellfleet
- Bound Brook in Dennis
- Stillwater Pond in Chatham
- Red Lily Pond in Barnstable
- The Eastham Herring Run near Great Pond
To name a few.
Learn a bit more about the timing and the importance of herring runs on Cape Cod here.
No matter where you book a vacation rental on Cape Cod this spring, there’s sure to be a herring run nearby that allows you to get up close to this breathtaking natural phenomenon.
These herring runs are yet another event that makes the Cape a special place to spend your time in any season.
