Looking for a great Cape Cod hike? Try our Top Ten list!
When someone tells you to “take a hike” on Cape Cod, they’re doing you a favor! That’s because the Cape is home to great trails that weave through beautiful conservation lands. From Falmouth to Provincetown, you’ll find wonderful places to explore, reconnect with nature and get some exercise.
To help you along the path, the Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) asked HCT Director of Communications Eric Williams to come up with his Top Ten list of Cape Cod hiking trails. Before coming to the trust, Eric wrote many trail profiles for the Cape Cod Times from all corners of the peninsula.
The trails on the list vary in location and length, but they are generally easy to find and have a reasonable amount of parking spots. And, of course, this list is highly subjective. We may have left out your favorite trails, but the big victory is getting out there!
Lace up your shoes and get ready — here we go with our Top Ten list:
A bridge at the Harwich Conservation Trust’s Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve in Harwich. Photo by Gerry Beetham.
Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve, Harwich Port
Visit the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve and see how a carefully-planned ecological restoration vision can transform and rewild a landscape. The Harwich Conservation Trust and skilled partners worked together on the recently-completed project, which restored the free flow of Cold Brook through the 66-acre property for the first time in over a century. You’ll love the ponds, bridges and the new half mile All Persons Trail. Parking is available at 203 Bank St., Harwich Port.
Province Lands Bike Trail, Provincetown
You might ask, “what is a bike trail doing on a hiking list?” That’s a fair point, but hiking the Province Lands Bike Trail is a great way to see one of the Cape’s most unique landscapes. The 5.5-mile loop is also a challenging bit of exercise, with a fair amount of hilly terrain. You’ll pass through forest, dunes, wild cranberry bogs and enjoy thrilling vistas. Parking is available at the Cape Cod National Seashore’s Beech Forest area lot, 36 Race Point Road, Provincetown
Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, Wellfleet
This incredibly beautiful Cape Cod National Seashore spot has it all! When you park at the end of Marconi Station Road in Wellfleet, you’ll be treated to huge Atlantic Ocean views from an observation deck. Then it’s time to follow the 1.2-mile Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail as it descends into a forest. The highlight is arriving at a cool, boardwalk that winds through the splendid cedar swamp. It’s a must-visit location on Cape Cod.
Three Ponds Conservation Area, Orleans
The Three Ponds Conservation Area, an Orleans Conservation Trust property, offers an off the beaten path location and a tranquil trip through beautiful Cape scenery. Two miles of trails spin by three exquisite ponds in the 125-acre area, including Twinings Pond, a perfect glistening jewel. This quiet corner of Orleans has a timeless quality that slows you down and opens your eyes to the wonders of nature. Parking is available at 135 Quanset Road and 174 Quanset Road, South Orleans.
Cliff Pond Trail, Nickerson State Park, Brewster
If you’re seeking a challenging three mile loop trail with plenty of water views, the Cliff Pond Tail at Nickerson State Park in Brewster will be right up your alley. The trail circumnavigates a pristine 204-acre kettle pond, with passages along sandy beaches and into pine and oak forests. It’s one of the most beautiful trails on the Cape. Pro tip: this is a great offseason hike, when entrance fees are not in effect at Nickerson. Parking is available at the end of Flax Pond Road in Brewster.
Bridge Creek Sanctuary Conservation Area, West Barnstable
You’ll find a wonderful variety of woods, marsh, abandoned cranberry bogs and streams at the Barnstable Land Trust‘s Bridge Creek Sanctuary Conservation Area in West Barnstable. The combination of a deep woods vibe and wetland habitats in the 246-acre property make for an intoxicating and interesting walk along the 2.5 miles of trails. Old stone walls accompany the trails in spots, and in the spring, rhododendrons bloom in several locations. Parking is available behind the West Barnstable Fire Station (2160 Meetinghouse Way) or at a small lot at 359 Church St. in West Barnstable.
Marsh Trail, Sandy Neck Beach Park, West Barnstable
The epic Marsh Trail at Sandy Neck Beach Park in West Barnstable runs behind the beach, with several cut-throughs to the beach that allow hikers to create a loop walk. These cut-throughs also allow hikers to shorten the hike, which can be helpful, because the Marsh Trail runs more than five miles in one direction out to the area near Sandy Neck Light. You’ll find splendid marsh views and a landscape similar to the Province Lands in Provincetown. This is a great offseason walk, because beach parking fees are in effect in the summer. Parking is available in the beachfront lot at the end of Sandy Neck Rd.
Lowell Holly Reservation, Mashpee/Sandwich
According to the Trustees of Reservations, the Lowell Holly Reservation in Mashpee and Sandwich “is a rare example of a Cape Cod old-growth forest.” You’ll also find lots of holly trees in the mix in the 135-acre area, which sits on a peninsula that projects into Mashpee and Wakeby ponds (swimming is allowed). Old carriage roads run along the ponds and through the woods, and several spots offer great views. This can also be a good spot for fall foliage. Parking is available in a lot off South Sandwich Rd., about .6 of a mile south of the intersection of South Sandwich Rd. and Cotuit Road.
Quashnet River Area, Mashpee
This trail system runs along both sides of the Quashnet River in Mashpee, offering an approximately 2.5 mile loop. Plus, you get to cross the river on a neat old bridge. The area has seen many changes over the years, including eras of grist mills and cranberry farming. These days, the forest is regenerating and work has been done to improve the habitat for trout. There’s something magical about walking along a river and there aren’t a ton of trails on the Cape that provide this burbling kind of escape. Parking is available in a lot off Martin Rd., about a tenth of a mile from the intersection of Martin Rd. and Route 28 in East Falmouth.
Beebe Woods, Falmouth
Along with the adjacent Peterson Farm, the Beebe Woods area in Falmouth offers nearly 400 acres to explore, with miles of forested trails, the legendary Punch Bowl pond and scattered glacial boulders. It all adds up to splendid hiking terrain and plenty of room to stretch your legs. Owned by the town of Falmouth and stewarded by The 300 Committee Land Trust, this is the kind of place where it makes sense to download a map before heading out. Parking is available at a lot near the Cape Cod Conservatory in the vicinity of 56 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.
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