Waquoit Bay

National Estuarine Research Reserve

First Day Hike, January 1, 2026- CANCELLED 
Severe winter weather advisory.

The reserve is located on the south shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and contains open waters, salt and fresh marshes, barrier beaches, sand dunes, rivers, mixed pine and oak forests, and sandplain grasslands. Waquoit Bay, approximately 825 acres, is the dominant water feature and once supported one of the most diverse estuarine fish communities in the state. Waquoit Bay is still important to commercial and recreational shellfish and finfish fisheries.

The Reserve’s Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday from 10:00AM – 4:00PM.