We were going to Provincetown and I seen the signs for Marconi beach. Since I'm a HAM operator I knew the importance of this site. It was raining and foggy so we didn't see much of the beach. There are observation decks that you can see up and down the beach from. The park office has a model of the Marconi station and some of the equipment. The four towers that held the antenna were over two hundred feet tall. The antenna looks like a skeleton of a satellite dish. It took 20,000 volts to power the transmitter. That was in 1903, today we can accomplish the same task with a random length of wire in the trees with a transciever powered by 12 volts. We have come a long way in communications.
Note: there is a day use fee here just like all the others. You can park right at the beach and no tram schedule hanging over your heads all day like at CG. It is not a long walk from the car to the large steps down the dune and then a good wide beach with waves. There is a longer access road off RT 6 and CCRT to get to the parking lot, a decent bike ride but not too extreme. Bike racks are at beach. Here is the special part….after the national park staff leaves for the day (5:30PM), the area is open, without a fee. Post dinner we drove right down to the lot and with a small flash light got down to the beach EZ via the stairs. Most magnificent star show ! Take a blanket and just enjoy the low light pollution of the National sea shore, the heaven's stars, and the sounds of the waves. Dress warmer as there is a night time chill off the water even in summer.
If you can make the stairs down, and then back up, to the beach you'll be on one of the most beautiful beaches on the east coast. Surfing is great and well as boggy boarding. Lots of room and great waves.
Marconi is part of the National seashore, steep dunes, big waves nice place to visit even if it's not beach weather
I wish we had a blanket to sit on, I would have fallen asleep...it is windy gorgeous with seals swimming by. Beautiful dunes.
Great sand, long open stretches and worth the walk down the stairs. Water is cool this time of year but definitely worth the peace and quiet that you'll experience at low tide. This beach has a wonderful history and well worth the research at the NPS Visitor Center.
good things:large beach - want privacy, walk farthergood waves - surfers at low tide some seals -pull in drop off to unload from carsoutdoor showers - walled changing roomsclean bathroomscoolers, food and beverages alloweddogs allowed - on leash active and watchful life guards on towersbad things:no sales of drinks or foodNot even close to ADA compliant - 3 long flights of stairs from parking lot level to beach level
What CHF1954 said. Must have been there the same day. Glorious weather and just how I imagined the Cape Cod beaches to be! Be sure to pop along to the actual Marconi site too! No parking fees after Labor Day either!
Pleasant trip off route 6 to the parking area. Plenty of parking and adequate restroom facilities, several viewing points and nice beach area. Hiking trails meander through the scrub trees and plants life. Good opportunity to see Cape wildlife along the way
This is the second year we visited this beach in Wellfleet from Canada as it is just spectacular. There is lots of parking, beautiful sand cliffs for miles and mild to medium surf. The water was 60-62 degrees end of August into September long weekend but it was hot and sunny so it was just perfect. There are restroom and change rooms but no ramp just lots of stairs. The sunset was stunning and we even saw a few seals. I've been to 4 beaches on the national seashore and this one can't be beat!