Everything You Need to Know About the Brewster Flats

As the largest flats in all of North America, there’s plenty to see and explore at the Brewster Flats. The flats stretch for about 12,000-acres at low tide.

Extending for more than nine-miles from North Eastham to Brewster, this popular recreation area is a great place for learning about nature, and a little history at the same time. That’s because during low tide you can actually venture out quite a distance from shore, which is an appealing option for nature lovers, beachgoers and even artists.

It’s possible to hike seemingly right out to the middle of the Bay. That’s where you’ll find an original wooden packet landing.

It was once used to allow ships into Breakwater Landing to ferry travelers and cargo back and forth between Boston. Low tide is also a good time of day to see all the oyster baskets. Brewster oysters are particularly flavorful, and that’s because of the water where they grow.

It’s said that the clean Bay waters give a bit of a bite to oysters produced in this area. You can sample some yourself at places like the Brewster Fish House or Mahoney’s over in Orleans.

The ripples in the sand are also great for photographs, which commonly draws in people to the area. While some are simply looking for a natural setting, you can do a bit of exploring here, as well.

If you do choose to go, you’ll want to make sure you time your trip accordingly. Many say the tidal flats are a great spot to watch the sun go down over the Bay.

Sadly, erosion is an ongoing problem for Cape Cod, but the flats on the eastern end of Brewster and Orleans aren’t being affected negatively. According to some reports, as other areas lose sand, they actually seem to be gaining it.