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Spring Herring Runs on Cape Cod: A Surprisingly Cool Thing to See!

Updated: March 29, 2025

Every spring on Cape Cod, something amazing happens ...

Thousands of herring fight their way upstream to spawn, leaping up the fish ladders and dodging hungry seagulls along the way.

The Herring Run is On!

It’s a tough journey, but a fascinating one to watch—especially when you're right up close to all the action! 

What’s a Herring Run, Anyway?

River herring are born in freshwater, spend most of their lives in the ocean, then return to the exact spot they came from to spawn. That epic round trip? That’s the herring run.

It’s not just a cool thing to see—it’s also a critical part of the ecosystem. These fish help feed all kinds of other fish and wildlife from seagulls to seals.

Waiting for Lunch to Swim By

When Do the Herring Show Up—And How Long Do They Stick Around?

The herring run usually kicks off in early April, when the first fish (nicknamed "scouts") start nosing into our local estuaries.

Some years, they show up as early as mid-March, but that’s more the exception than the rule.

As the water warms in springtime, more schools arrive. Peak season is April through mid-May.

Prime Time!

By late May, most of the adult herring have spawned and started their return trip to the ocean.

Their offspring stay behind in the ponds and streams, growing through the summer and dodging hungry herons and osprey.

Then, in late summer and early fall, the juveniles head out to sea—completing the cycle until it’s their turn to return in a few years.

Let’s Talk About the Fish: Who Are They and Why Are They Here?

Two types of river herring come to Cape Cod each spring: alewife and blueback herring.

They’re both anadromous fish—which basically means they’re born in freshwater, live most of their lives in the ocean, and return to freshwater to spawn.

Getting Upstream Isn’t Easy—Here’s How They Do It

In addition to critters that want to eat them, the herring face lots more obstacles along their migration path.

Dams, large waterfalls and other man-made obstacles can slow or stop their progress up the Cape's streams and rivers.

Enter, the fish ladder: a kind of aquatic detour that helps the herring get around the obstacles.

Close-up of a Fish Ladder

Fish ladders come in different styles. One of the most common types on the Cape is a series of small pools and waterfall "steps". 

The herring power-swim up each step, then rest in the pool above until they're ready to power-swim up the next step.

Every now and then, you'll see a particularly ambitious herring leap from one level to the next.

Either way, it’s wild to watch—and a big reason why herring runs are such a popular attraction in spring.

Best Places to See the Herring Run (Yes, Some Are Better Than Others)

The best places to see the annual migration have two things in common: 

• lots of herring to see; and
  
  
• plenty of space to watch them work their way upstream.
  

These runs tick both boxes: 

Stony Brook Herring Run

830 Stony Brook Road
Brewster, MA

If you only have time to visit one or two herring runs on Cape Cod, this one should be on your must-see list!

Stony Brook has a looooong stream, oodles of fish during the peak of the run, and plenty of space to hang out along the banks and watch the action. 

Early May at Stony Brook

It’s also where you’ll find the Stony Brook Grist Mill & Museum—a local historic landmark with a working water wheel and a long history.

The Mill and Museum building won't open for tours until late June. But you can still walk the grounds and watch the herring doing their thing.

Grist Mill & Herring Run Property

Spring 2025 Note: The parking lot and the area around the Stony Brook mill have been closed for the last few months due to construction work. If you’re planning a visit, just know that things may look a little different than usual. I’ll post an update here once I’ve had a chance to get out there and see how much  progress they've made. 

*Read about: Stony Brook Grist Mill & Museum

Herring Run Recreation Area Fishway

810 Scenic Highway (Rt. 6)
Bourne, MA

This spot is hard to miss—it's right along Route 6, on the "mainland" side of the Canal. (Look for the big sign that says “Herring Run Recreation Area.”)

The fish come in here from the ocean, then start their long, upstream haul toward their home ponds around Plymouth.

You can look straight down on the action from the walkway  alongside the fish ladder.

Or follow the short path down to the water to see the fish coming in from the Canal.

Kids love seeing the fish!

Herring Run Recreation Area is a convenient stop for a break when you're heading onto or off the Cape. It has picnic tables, park benches, visitor information, rest rooms, and plenty of free parking, too.

*Read about: Herring Run Recreation Area

Mashpee River Herring Run

414 Main Street (Rt. 130)
Mashpee, MA

This site usually sees a lot of fish. In 2019 alone, more than 300,000 herring came through here on their trek from Nantucket Sound up the Mashpee River to spawn.

Mashpee River Fishway

When you drive into the parking lot here, you'll see that this is also home to the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Museum.

Mashpee Wampanoag Museum

The Museum is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning in mid-April. (I highly recommend checking it out!)

But even if you don’t go inside, it's worth knowing that the Wampanoag people have been stewards of this land—and this river—for thousands of years.

Bells Neck Conservation Area

Off Depot Street
Harwich, MA

Herring Ladder at Bells Neck Conservation Lands

Looking for a herring run that feels more off-the-grid?

Bells Neck Conservation Area is a strong migration site—and a great place to spot fish without the usual springtime crowds. 

There’s a catch, though: from April 10 to June 15, parking is restricted in the lot nearest the fish ladder to prevent overcrowding.

Instead, you can park at the east trailhead and follow the walking trails along the Reservoir.

More Herring Runs to Check Out (Just Don’t Expect to See a Fish Frenzy)

These spots don't see the same volume of fish as the locations above, but they’re still part of the run—and worth checking out if you’re in the area.

Dexter's Gristmill Fish Ladder

2 Water Street
Sandwich, MA

The run here tends to be smaller, but the location is gorgeous!

You’ll see everything from a colonial hand-pump to a modern sculpture near the fishway in Sandwich.

It's in the heart of historic Sandwich Village—right next to historic Dexter's Grist Mill and across the street from the Sandwich Glass Museum.

Even if the herring aren’t showing off while you’re there, this spot itself is worth a visit for the scenery alone!

Dexter's Grist Mill & Herring Run Site

There’s not much parking right by the site, but in April and early May, you can usually find a spot on a nearby side street.

Marstons Mills Herring Run

Intersection of Cotuit Rd. & Rt. 28
Marstons Mills, MA

This isn’t the biggest run on the Cape, but it’s worth a quick stop if you’re nearby.

The stream here winds through a little wooded area, just a short walk from the road. You’ll spot the run where it flows into Mill Pond.

Not a big run, but a pretty one. This place is easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.

There are only a few spots to park along Cotuit Road, and it’s a busy street—so please be careful crossing!

Behind the Scenes: Counting the Fish

Wondering how anyone knows how many herring actually make it upstream each spring?

At some of the bigger runs—like Stony Brook in Brewster—there’s a mechanical fish counter installed. It tracks the number of herring swimming through the chute, kind of like a fish turnstile.

This electronic fish-counting device tallies the number of herring that swim through.

At some smaller runs, or in places without the tech, it’s done the old-fashioned way: by hand.

If you spot someone standing by the stream with a clicker in hand and eyes trained on the water, they’re probably one of the town’s official fish counters.

They log every fish that swims by during a set time period (usually 10 minutes), then report the numbers to local officials to help track the health of the run.

If you go to Stony Brook, check out the whiteboard by the front door of the Mill.

They update this board weekly to show that week's herring count and the running total (sorry, bad pun!) for the season.

Map of
Cape Cod Herring Run Locations

Live Google Map of herring run viewing spots across Cape Cod

Frequently Asked Questions About the Cape Cod Herring Run

I get lots of questions about herring runs on the Cape. Here are quick answers to the most common ones:

While You're At It ...

Want more fishy (or fish-adjacent) encounters? Here are a few other spots to check out:

• Whale Watching Excursions
  (Spring’s a great time to get out on the water and see the big guys up close.)
  
  
• Seals at Chatham Fish Pier
  (A local favorite—especially when they're begging treats from the fishermen.)
  
  
• Sandwich Fish Hatchery
  (Not your typical Cape Cod tourist attraction!)
  
  

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