Cape Cod has plenty of beautiful oceanfront areas that offer excellent places to relax during your vacation. One spot that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, though, is the Tidal Flats Recreation Area in Bourne.
This park is at the Cape Cod Canal’s west end, overlooking its mouth. It’s also near the iconic Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge, which is a sight to behold if you have the opportunity to see it in action.
The Tidal Flats Recreation Area isn’t a swimming spot or a beach, but it remains a great area to get outdoors and see more of what the Cape has to offer. Here’s everything you should know about this park in Bourne, MA.
Things to Do
Fishing is one of the most common activities at the Tidal Flats Recreation Area. If you bring your fishing gear on your Cape Cod vacation, you can head to the rocks on the park’s point and put your line in the water from the shore. This part of the Cape is known to attract stripers, bluefish, and sea bass, and locals report having a significant amount of luck fishing in the park.
Another popular activity is having a picnic. This backdrop couldn’t be better for an outdoor meal as you grab a bench or picnic table overlooking the water and watch the ships passing through the Cape Cod Canal. Since the park is relatively quiet, you won’t have to deal with loud groups. Pro tip: There’s a picnic table right by the Railroad Bridge that gives you the best chance of seeing it descend when a train passes over the water.
Cape Cod Canal Bikeway
The Tidal Flats Recreation Area also acts as an excellent starting point for exploring the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway. There’s plenty of parking at this venue, so if you’ve brought your bikes or rented from one of the Cape’s many bike shops, you can head down the over six miles of paved pathways and check out the sights.
The Bourne Recreation Area is about two miles from the Tidal Flats Recreation Area, making it a good place to stop along the way. You can continue all the way to First Beach in Sandwich, too, if you’re into a longer ride.
Perhaps the best thing about the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway is that it’s paved and flat, so it’s an easy ride for the entire family and a beautiful spot to check out while exploring the region.
Wildlife in the Area
Of course, since you’re near the water, you’re likely to encounter some wildlife during your travels. The Tidal Flats Recreation Area is home to a significant duck population, particularly in the winter. In the summer, you could see ospreys and cormorants, if you’re lucky, and peregrine falcons have also been spotted in the area in recent years.
Beyond birds, seals often make their way through the Canal, starting in this area. You could also see jellyfish, squid, and even manatees. There was even a hammerhead shark spotted in the Canal at one point, and mink are commonplace on the shores, too.
In short, you could see many rare and common animals in the waters off the Tidal Flats Recreation Area, which is reason enough to stop by during your Cape Cod vacation.
Visiting the Tidal Flats Recreation Area
Getting to the Tidal Flats Recreation Area is easy, as it’s off Bell Road, which connects to Shore Road in Bourne. You’ll pass a railroad track as you approach the venue and then reach a parking lot. Don’t worry if the parking lot is full because there’s another parking area on the point.
While this recreation area might not be tops on your list as you plan your Cape Cod vacation, it’s a great starting point if you intend to spend a day around the Canal. It also has some incredible fishing and sightseeing, making it a spot worth checking out at least once if you book a vacation rental on the Upper Cape.
