Cape Cod Island Opens To Public For First Time In 300 Years

ORLEANS, MA — An island off the coast of Cape Cod opened to the public for the first time in more than 300 years.

Sipson Island has been privately owned since 1711, but as of Saturday, the public can explore it after the Sipson Island Trust purchased most of the island for conservation. Visitors were encouraged to go hiking, birdwatching and fishing.

Trust officials placed signage onshore to alert visitors of conservation guidelines. Guidelines include, staying on mowed pathways and keeping away from steep bluffs and unsound structures. No pets, fires, hunting or camping are allowed.

Trust President Tasia Blough told WBUR the island sits in the middle of an "area of critical environmental concern," meaning there are marine species in the area that need protecting.

"Specifically, there's a huge density of eel grass, which is a habitat for an enormous amount of diversity and has really been dwindling," Blough told WBUR. "That habitat is important for commercially important fish, bluefish, lobster, shellfish, scallops, all sorts of things."

Visitors were also asked to access the island from the beaches on the protected eastern shore than the channel in the Narrows on the west. The dock on the east side is for private use only. The beach south of it may be traversed but not occupied.

A map of the island's trails and access points is available on the trust's website.