Cahoon Hollow

Cahoon Hollow Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Wellfleet. Two long, steep paths lead down a slightly eroded 75-foot dune from the sand parking lot to a beautiful stretch of pristine white sand beach. As you look down the beach the views are breathtaking, as the beach is bordered on one side by 90-foot sand dunes and the other by the blue Atlantic Ocean. It is easy to find a secluded piece of beach if you walk a bit further past the people who settle near the path. The water is typically refreshing, in the high 50’s to low 60’s in the summer.

On a typical day the crowd consists of a large number of people in their late teens, twenties and thirties, with a smaller number of families and older adults in the mix as well. The steep dune path tends to discourage families with younger children and senior citizens. Cahoon Hollow is a popular beach for young adults due to The Wellfleet Beachcomber, a popular seaside bar and restaurant located in the beach parking lot. The ‘Comber, as it is affectionately called by many locals, offers lunch, dinner, a phenomenal raw bar, and refreshing frozen cocktails. Built as a lifesaving station in the 19th century, this hotspot is now known throughout New England as a venue for national and regional rock, reggae, and ska bands. During summer nights it is not unusual to find beach parties gathered around small fires under the stars.

The beach offers amenities such as lifeguards and public restrooms (in the form of porta-potties in the parking lot or the bathrooms in the Beachcomber). Parking costs $15 per day. You can park in either the small town lot, at the top of the dune, or in the larger adjacent lot operated by the Beachcomber. Neither lot is paved so be extra careful if you drive a sports car so you don’t get stuck in the soft sand. It is highly recommended that you arrive early to this beach, especially on weekends, as the lots usually fill by late morning.

How to get there: Take Cahoon Hollow Road off Route 6 in Wellfleet