Biking/Walking Trails

UPPER CAPE

Canal Area

Along the canal: Paved service roads along both sides of the canal. On the Off-Cape side, pedal from Buzzard's Bay to Scusset Beach, about 7 miles. Or, start at the Herring Run on Rte. 6, or at any parking lot near the Sagamore Rotary. On the Cape side, pedal from Sandwich to Bourne, about 6.8 miles. Or, start at the U.S. Engineering Observation Station, Sandwich or from Pleasant Street, Sagamore.

Sandwich

Talbot's Point Salt Marsh Wildlife Reservation: One of the largest salt-marsh areas on Cape. Round trip: 1.5 miles. Access from Old Colony Rd., off Route 6A.

The Boardwalk to Town Beach and Cape Cod Canal: Route 6A to Jarvis Street.

Shawme Crowell State Forest: Rte. 130. Walk, bike and camp across 742 acres of this beautiful state forest.

Falmouth & Woods Hole

Bourne Farm: Historic, restored, working farm with 34 acres of trails, woods & orchards on Crocker's Pond. Access Route 28A.

The Knob: Hiking trails amid 13 acres of protected bird sanctuary off Buzzards Bay. Access at Quissett Harbor, Quissett Rd.

Ashumet Holly and Wildlife Sanctuary: Eight self-guided trails, a spectacular show of holly & over 130 bird species. Run by Mass. Audubon Society. 286 Ashumet Rd., off Rte. 151, East Falmouth.

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve: 2,500 acres of open water, barrier beaches, marshlands and uplands, including Washburn Island and South Cape Beach State Park. Access from Rte. 28, Falmouth.

Shining Sea Trail: Follow the old Penn Central Railroad line between Falmouth and Woods Hole. Start at the trailhead on Locust St. in Falmouth (parking in Woods Hole is limited).

Mashpee

Mashpee River Woodlands: Hiking trails through a forest and along Mashpee River, marshes and cranberry bogs, 8 miles. Access: Quinnaquisett Ave. or at end of River Rd. off Great Neck Rd., South Mashpee.

Lowell Holly Reservation: Explore trails along a peninsula between Mashpee & Wakeby Ponds. S. Sandwich Rd. off Rte. 130.

South Cape Beach State Park: 3.5 miles of ocean and bay beaches, dunes, ponds & salt marshes. Great Neck Rd. South to Greak Oak Rd.

MID TO LOWER CAPE

Cape Cod Rail Trail: Follow the route of the old main Cape Cod Railroad through 5 Cape towns. The west end is on Rt. 134 in Dennis. The trail winds through Harwich and Brewster (with a detour through Nickerson State Park), through Orleans and continues through a salt marsh to the Cape Cod National Seashore Center in Eastham. There are parking areas at different starting points in each town (see the parking symbol on Maps in back) to tailor the length of your tour.

MID CAPE

Barnstable

Sandy Neck Great Salt Marsh Conservation Area: East Coast's largest salt marsh features 50'-100' dunes and a stunning barrier beach, 9 miles. Access trailhead from beach parking lot, Sandy Neck Rd., W. Barnstable.

MA Audubon's Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary: 110 acres of ponds, vernal pools, salt marsh and pastures. Access off Rte 6A, Cummaquid.

West Barnstable Conservation Area: Wooded trails. Access from Popple Bottom Rd. off Rte. 149.

Yarmouth

Old Town Trail: A 3 mile trail past a playground, ballpark & golf course. Access Old Townhouse Rd.

Botanical Trails of the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth: 60 wooded acres along a pond, 1.5 miles. Next to post office, Rte. 6A, Yarmouth Port.

Bray Farm: Working farm with short walking trails and views of a tidal marsh. Access off Rte. 6A near Dennis town line.

Callery-Darling: Wooded trails, boardwalk across salt marsh, 2.4 miles. Rte. 6A to Center St., Yarmouth Port.

Dennis

Indian Lands Conservation Area: Wooded walk following the banks of the upper Bass River, 2 miles. Access from northern end of Town Hall parking lot, Main St.

Fresh Pond Conservation Area: 87-acres with 4 trails and a spectacular pond. Access off Rte. 134.

LOWER CAPE

Brewster

Nickerson State Park: Paved and dirt trails wind through woods & along 8 freshwater kettle ponds. Swim, fish, picnic. Access from Rte. 6A.

Cape Cod Museum Of Natural History: 3 trails through uplands, salt marshes, beech tree groves, bay beach & Wing's Island. Access from museum lot, Rte. 6A.

Punkhorn Parklands: 800-acres of conservation land with 45 miles of trails along marshes, kettle ponds and woods. Access from Run Hill Rd. off Stoneybrook Rd. (Great mountain biking)

Chatham

New Ext. of Harwich Spur of the Cape Cod Rail Trail: Now extends to Crowell Rd, Chatham.

The Chatham Loop: Follow signs in a 5-mile "loop" from the Fish Pier or any Town Parking Lot to view a lighthouse, boatyards & harbors.

Seaside Beach Trail: View a harbor, salt marsh, dunes & salt-water inlets, 2 miles. Access off Route 28 & Harding's Beach Rd.

Frost Fish Creek Trail: Features a creek, woods, marshland. Access from Orleans Rd. (off Rte. 28), N. Chatham.

Honeysuckle Lane: Pass Old Ice Pond, a narrow stream, white cedar and cedar swamp. Via Stage Harbor Rd.

Harwich

Bell's Neck Conservation Area: 245-acres of marshland, tidal creeks, trails, herring run, pond. Intersects with Cape Cod Bike Trail. Access Bell's Neck Rd. or North Rd. from Rte. 28 in W. Harwich.

Thompsons Field: 93-acre preserve, spring wildflowers. Access from Rte. 39 or Chatham Rd.

Orleans

Paw Wah Point Conservation Area: A short trail to small beach & picnic area. Access from Namequoit Rd. off Rte. 28.

Eastham

Fort Hill Trail: Several trails lead to the Capt. Penniman House, red maple swamp boardwalk and scenic Fort Hill Overlook, 1.5 miles. Access off Rte. 6.

Buttonbush Trail: Wooded trail with guide ropes and braille markers, .25 miles. Intersects with CC Rail Trail. Access from Salt Pond Visitors Center, Rte. 6.

The Nauset Trail: Begins at the Salt Pond Visitor Center on Rte. 6 and runs to Coast Guard Beach, 1.6 miles. Intersects with CC Rail Trail. PB

Wellfleet

Great Island Trail: A sandy trail leads to Jeremy Point, once an island, but is now connected by sandbars to the mainland. Covered at high tide (see Nature Calendar). 8 miles. Access off Chequessett Neck Rd.

Duck Creek Conservation: Walk across Uncle Tim's Bridge to an island in the middle of Duck Creek. Access from Commercial St.

Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail: white cedar, high bush blueberry and other flora via a boardwalk, 1.25 miles. Intersects with CC Rail Trail. Marconi Area, off Rte. 6.

Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary: 1,000 acres of ponds, tidal creeks, salt marsh, bay beach. Run by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Rte. 6, Wellfleet.

Truro

Pilgrim Heights Area: 2 short walks, salt meadows, a blueberry farm, dunes & ocean views. Pilgrim Spring Trail leads to the spot where the Pilgrims tasted their first fresh water, .75 miles per trail. Access off Rte. 6, N. Truro.

Cranberry Bog Trail: .5 mile trail, partly over a boardwalk, around an old cranberry bog. Access N. Pamet Rd.

Head Of The Meadow Trail: Runs between High Head Rd. and Head of the Meadow Beach parking area, 2 miles. Access off Pilgrim Springs and Pilgrim Lake.

Provincetown

Beech Forest Trail: Features a forest of beech trees, freshwater pond, sand dunes, 1 mile. Access from Race Point Rd. off Rte. 6.

Breakwater: A jetty doubles as a wide footpath to secluded Long Point Beach. Wood End Lighthouse is at the end of the jetty and Long Point Light at the end of the beach. Access from western end of Commercial St. and Bradford St. Ext.

Province Lands Trail: Challenging 5.25 mile paved loop through the dunes to Herring Cove Beach and Race Point Beaches.

Downtown Commercial Street: is bike-friendly, and bikes are the simplest way to get around. It's fun--but be careful!