Get in the picture: Top Cape Cod Instagram spots

Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times
·8 min read

Impressing friends and followers with great Instagram photos is wicked easy on Cape Cod. Natural beauty and cool views are around every corner. But to make it a little easier, we've put together some sure-fire spots to raise your 'Gram game to a new level. Grab your phone and get out there — your popularity will soar!

Once you're out there, tag @capecodtimes when you post to let us know you've stopped by and we've helped to add to your Cape experience. And what great places did we miss? We'd like to share your ideas for top Instagrammable spots, too!

Nauset Light, Eastham

Light up your life with a photo next to lovely Nauset Light, next to Nauset Light Beach in Eastham (120 Nauset Light Beach Road). According to the Nauset Light Preservation Society, the 48-foot lighthouse was built in 1877 and is made of cast iron. It was originally located in Chatham and moved to Eastham in 1923. In 1996, it was moved about 300 feet inland from an eroding beach cliff.

Nauset Light in Eastham has been nicely framed by the Cape Cod National Seashore, with handy hashtags.
Nauset Light in Eastham has been nicely framed by the Cape Cod National Seashore, with handy hashtags.

Scargo Tower, Dennis

Perched atop Scargo Hill Road, the 30-foot cobblestone tower opened in 1901, according to the Dennis Historical Society. The view from the top of the tower is one of the best on Cape Cod, with a huge vista of Scargo Lake and Cape Cod Bay. And the tower looks like a hunk of a castle that retired to the Cape — it's great for pics.

The view of Scargo Lake and Cape Cod Bay from the top of Scargo Tower in Dennis.
The view of Scargo Lake and Cape Cod Bay from the top of Scargo Tower in Dennis.

Bass Hole Boardwalk, Yarmouth Port

At the end of Center Street, the Bass Hole Boardwalk stretches into infinity. Or at least it seems like that. You'll also find Grays Beach, a pretty good place to swim at high tide. The boardwalk stretches over a salt marsh and views change with the tides. Sometimes, you see kids jumping off the end into the water at high tide. Photo opportunities abound from any position on the boardwalk and it is a fantastic place to watch the sunset.

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The spectacular boardwalk at Grays Beach in Yarmouth Port.
The spectacular boardwalk at Grays Beach in Yarmouth Port.

Cliff Pond, Brewster

The crown jewel of beautiful Nickerson State Park, 204-acre Cliff Pond offers awesome views and amazingly clear water. A three-mile loop trail runs around the pond, often right along the shore, and photo opportunities abound. And if you get tired of selfies, put the phone down and jump in the water! Located at the end of Flax Pond Road.

Cliff Pond, located at the end of Flax Pond Road in Brewster, is a crown jewel of Nickerson State Park.
Cliff Pond, located at the end of Flax Pond Road in Brewster, is a crown jewel of Nickerson State Park.

Provincetown breakwater

At the end of Commercial Street, in the far West End of town, lies one of the wonders of Cape Cod. A breakwater, more than a mile long, stretches out to Wood End Light, with Long Point beyond. If you're feeling adventurous (and careful), you might want to try crossing the rocks. But big high tides occasionally swamp part of the breakwater, so use caution. No matter what, take lots of pics — everyone likes to rock!

The breakwater in the West End of Provincetown, with Wood End Light visible in the distance.
The breakwater in the West End of Provincetown, with Wood End Light visible in the distance.

The Knob, Woods Hole

If you've never been to the Knob, start making plans to get there this summer. It's a magical mini-peninsula that juts out into Buzzards Bay, with epic views. Sunsets are divine here and swimming is allowed. It's so special that sometimes folks get married out there. This is a place to cherish: Stay on the marked trail and keep an eye out for poison ivy. Your photos will be divine. Keep in mind that there is limited parking in the small lot on Quissett Harbor Road.

The Knob in Woods Hole juts out into Buzzards Bay and offers such magical views that people sometimes get married here.
The Knob in Woods Hole juts out into Buzzards Bay and offers such magical views that people sometimes get married here.

Strong Island, Chatham

You're going to need a kayak and some courage to get here, but it sure is worth it! Strong Island is located in Pleasant Bay and your best bet is to have someone drop you and your boat off at the town landing at the end of Strong Island Road. It's a short paddle to the island, but the currents can be pretty tricky. Use caution and go with someone who knows what they're doing. That said, the trails and views on Strong Island are wonderful and you'll have an Instagram photo of an adventure that few can match.

Looking over the marsh toward North Beach from Strong Island in Chatham. You'll need a kayak to visit.
Looking over the marsh toward North Beach from Strong Island in Chatham. You'll need a kayak to visit.

Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge

For mechanically inclined Instagrammers, the railroad bridge is a must-photo. It is a piece of art that works hard every day, raising and lowering to let trains cross the canal. According to the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section website, the bridge was completed in 1935, and at the time was the "longest vertical lift bridge span in the world." That's pretty cool, but the best thing about the railroad bridge is the pure beauty of the construction.

A train heads over the Cape Cod Canal via the lowered Railroad Bridge in Buzzards Bay. Standing on the walkway beside the canal, it is exciting to watch trains coming over the bridge.
A train heads over the Cape Cod Canal via the lowered Railroad Bridge in Buzzards Bay. Standing on the walkway beside the canal, it is exciting to watch trains coming over the bridge.

Nobska Light, Woods Hole

If you love a lighthouse with a view, then Nobska Light might be the one for you. It's hard to go wrong with an Instagram pic out here, because the lighthouse is striking and the sweeping vistas over the sea toward Martha's Vineyard are spectacular. Located at 233 Nobska Road, the 40-foot cast iron lighthouse tower and Keeper's House date to 1876 according to the Friends of Nobska Light website. The lighthouse was deaccessioned by the Coast Guard in 2014, and responsibility for the beaming icon is now shared by the town of Falmouth and the Friends of Nobska Light.

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Nobska Light sits on a hill in Woods Hole overlooking Vineyard Sound.
Nobska Light sits on a hill in Woods Hole overlooking Vineyard Sound.

Wellfleet Harbor

This locale is on the short list of great Cape Cod sunset spots. You've got the shimmering waters of Wellfleet Harbor, the mysterious silhouette of Great Island and maybe even a horseshoe crab or 10 swimming around the pier. There is a good amount of free parking and in the summer you can grab an ice cream or clam roll to fortify your Instagram adventure. The parade of boats coming in and going out adds romance and intrigue to the fabulous setting, and if the tide is high you can take a quick swim at nearby Mayo Beach.

Sunset from the town pier in Wellfleet is stunning.
Sunset from the town pier in Wellfleet is stunning.

Marilyn Monroe garage, Provincetown

You'll probably have to do a bit of walking out of the center of Provincetown to get to this location at 838 Bradford St., but it will make a heck of an Instagram photo. It seems a tribute to the famous Andy Warhol versions of Marilyn Monroe. Warhol created lots of versions of this image using different colors, and according to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) website, he said this about repetitions: “The more you look at the same exact thing, the more the meaning goes away, and the better and emptier you feel." Not sure if that's the best Instagram vibe, but it sure is something interesting to think about.

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The Marilyn Monroe garage on Bradford Street in Provincetown's East End.
The Marilyn Monroe garage on Bradford Street in Provincetown's East End.

Doane Rock, Eastham

Doane Rock is perhaps the greatest "here I am, there it is" photo opportunity on Cape Cod. According to the National Park Service, it's the largest exposed boulder on the Cape, estimated to be 30 feet tall, with 12 feet of that size below the ground. And there's a nice parking lot right near the big pebble, about a mile east of the Salt Pond Visitor Center on Pinecrest Drive. Take a moment and appreciate the awesome power of the glaciers that pushed this behemoth around way back when, but don't forget to grab a good pic for Instagram to prove you really know how to rock.

In Eastham, Doane Rock and an impressed human.
In Eastham, Doane Rock and an impressed human.

Bell's Neck Conservation Lands, Harwich

A journey off the beaten track to the lovely Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands (located on Bell's Neck Road) might just wow your friends and followers with splendid marsh and water landscapes. As you search for the perfect photo opportunity, you'll be impressed by the 259 acres of open space and nearly 3 miles of trails. The best photo opportunities might be on one of the bridges that pass over waterways and there's a chance that you could find a blue heron or other bird to co-star in your post. Get out there and good luck!

Put yourself in the picture at the Bell's Neck Conservation Lands in Harwich. You may find a water bird in the distance to co-star in your photo.
Put yourself in the picture at the Bell's Neck Conservation Lands in Harwich. You may find a water bird in the distance to co-star in your photo.

Pamet Harbor, Truro

This might be one of the least-known harbors on Cape Cod, but it's one of the prettiest. Located at the end of Depot Road, Pamet Harbor is home to several charter fishing boats and some sweet little pleasure craft. It's a great spot to watch the sun set over Cape Cod Bay and gaze down the twisting Pamet River. An Instagram pic from here will show your followers that you really know the Cape well. And you'll be transported back in time a bit, to a spot that really sings "Old Cape Cod."

Teeny and beautiful Pamet Harbor is a lesser known treasure in Truro.
Teeny and beautiful Pamet Harbor is a lesser known treasure in Truro.

Rock Harbor, Orleans

Ending a summer day with a Rock Harbor sunset is a Cape Cod tradition that deserves a place in your Instagram feed. Located at the end of Bay View Drive, this is a busy little port with a robust charter fishing fleet and a tremendous view of Cape Cod Bay. If the tide is in, go for a swim. If the tide is out, wander the flats in search of sea treasure. Marvel at the trees that mark the channel and wonder how they got there. And keep that camera clicking, because this place is a winner.

Sunset at Rock Harbor in Orleans.
Sunset at Rock Harbor in Orleans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Top Instagram locations around Cape Cod