Located some seventy-five miles out into the Atlantic Ocean on the
outer end of Cape Cod, the Town of Wellfleet offers an abundance of
quaint rural seaside character and charm and spectacular natural
resources. Bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and the west by
Cape Cod Bay, 61% of the land area of Wellfleet is in the Cape Cod
National Seashore Park. Wellfleet has a total upland area of
approximately 13,100 acres (20.47 square miles). Of this total, about
8,000 acres (12.5 square miles) are within the Seashore boundaries,
leaving 5,100 acres (8 square miles) outside.
During the summer, the population swells from 3,500 year-round
residents to an estimated 17,000 persons enjoying the Town's miles of
ocean and bay-side beaches; numerous beautiful, clear, spring-fed,
ponds; many fine art galleries, shops and restaurants; and the
magnificent Wellfleet Harbor offering a constantly changing panorama of
sail boats, motor yachts, sport fishing boats and trawlers.
An extremely diverse community with an intriguing history of an
extraordinary nautical atmosphere, the friendly charm of the Central
Village provides the pedestrian with a vast array of browsing, dining,
picture-taking and sightseeing opportunities within a relatively short
walk. The Central Village is also the focus of Wellfleet's year-round
civic life and commercial activity.
The town is home of the Cape Cod National Seashore Headquarters as
well as the 1,000 acre Massachusetts Audubon Society Wildlife
Sanctuary. Some of Cape Cod's finest ocean surfcasting, fresh water
pond and Cape Cod Bay boat fishing possibilities are found in
Wellfleet, and the town is well known for its plentiful supply of
shellfish, including the famous "Wellfleet Oysters".
The fresh water ponds are a particular delight in Wellfleet. Their
tranquil surfaces shimmer in early sunlight, and their small sandy
beaches echo with happiness in late afternoon as the shadows from the
surrounding pines darken the water. The combination of a day on a
stimulating and expansive backshore beach, and a leisurely swim in the
warm water of one of the kettle ponds is a special luxury that
Wellfleet offers.
For additional information, please click on the Town of Wellfleet link on the top right.