You can see why the boats can enter and exit Rock Harbor in Orleans on Cape Cod only before or after high tide. Otherwise, they could get stuck in Cape Cod Bay or in the harbor for many hours waiting for the tide to change.
You can see the “buoy trees” which mark the channel into the harbor sitting on top of the sand. It is dead low tide. No boats will be going in for quite a while.
And at low tide, you can walk out it seems for mile. Have you ever been to Cape Cod Bay at low tide?
You can gain access to the Rock Harbor Channel from both Orleans and Eastham. This photograph shows the little shack by the launch ramp on the Eastham side.
There were a lot of boats, big and small, going in and out of Rock Harbor the other day. It was a nonstop parade of boats.
At Rock Harbor you have to go in or out with your boat about 2 hours before or 2 hours after high tide or you will get stuck at low tide. The tides on Cape Cod Bay have a huge swing.
Rock Harbor has very unique channel buoys. They look like trees planted in the bay. Very cool.
The slips at Rock Harbor in Orleans on Cape Cod area getting filled up quickly. This was such a pretty day and the clouds were spectacular. Rock Harbor is a popular spot to dock your boat on Cape Cod… or to just come and watch the boats go in and out. You can even sit on the beach and enjoy the beauty of Cape Cod Bay.
Cape Cod daily articles on the wonderful Cape Cod places to hike, experience and photograph. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.