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20 walking and hiking trails to exercise your body and soul.
Rachel Clayton
For the Cape Cod walker, there are an infinite variety of experiences. More than 75 walking trails of varying terrain, length, and difficulty are found on this idyllic peninsula. From seashore to salt marsh, to woodlands, ponds, and bogs, you can experience a great diversity of environments on foot. So lace up your sneakers and go take a hike.
| Outer Cape | Lower Cape | Mid-Cape | Upper Cape |
| Provincetown | Orleans | Dennis | Falmouth |
| Truro | Chatham | Yarmouth | Mashpee |
| Wellfleet | Harwich | Barnstable | Sandwich |
| Eastham | Brewster | Bourne |
Barnstable
Sandy Neck Recreation Area
The Sandy Neck Recreation Area has nearly five miles of sandy trails in between Cape Cod Bay and the Great Marsh. The area is surrounded by 50 to 100 foot dunes and various types of vegetation such as bayberry, beach heath, cranberry, and blueberry plants. Entrances can be found at the end of Sandy Neck Road, north off Route 6A in West Barnstable. For more information, call (508) 790-6272.
West Barnstable Conservation Area
This forest trail is Barnstable’s largest conservation area with over 15 miles of windy trails. The woodlands contain a variety of tree species including pine, oak and fir trees. Limited parking can be found at the intersection of Popple Bottom Road and Route149. Another parking lot can be found at Farmersville Road off Race Lane. For more information, call (508) 790-6272.
Bourne
Bournedale Hills Trail
Just over a mile long, this trail along north side of Cape Cod Canal between Herring Run Visitor's Center and Bourne Scenic Park includes 0.8 mi. loop near the Visitor's Center which interprets the historic and natural features of the Canal. For more information, (508) 759-4431.
DeNormandie Woods Conservation Area
The DeNormandie Woods Conservation Area spans nine acres of uphill woodlands and connects to the Broyer and Robinson Conservation Area. Entrances can be found at Shore Road between Red Brook Harbor Road and County Road. For more information, call (508) 563-2884.
Brewster
Punkhorn Parklands
This 850-acre park is compromised of a network of 45 trails through pine forests, kettle ponds, meadows, wetlands, and abandoned cranberry bogs. Trail entrances are at the parking lot on Run Hill Road. Trail guides are available at the entrance. For more information, call (508) 896-3701.
Nickerson State Park
This 1,900-acre park in the woods includes eight miles of hiking trails that connect to the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Some of the trails pass by Flax Pond and Cliff Pond. A hike to Higgins Pond will lead you to an excellent location to view endangered birds such as peregrine falcons and ospreys. If you enter the park from the north side of Mass. Rt. 6A, rangers offer guided walks through the trails informing hikers about the abundant wildlife and various habitats in the area. Maps can be found at the park entrance on Route 6A. For more information, call (508) 896-3491.
Chatham
Frost Fish Creek Trail
This trail covers 16 acres of terrain along a bluff overlooking a cranberry bog.
A quarter mile of the trail is along Frost Fish Creek to Route. 28. Parking is located at Chatham High School on Crowell Road. For more information, call (508) 945-5199.
Dennis
Indian Lands Conservation Area
This two-mile nature trail traverses woodlands and salt marsh along the banks of the Bass River. In the winter bird watchers can view blue herons and kingfishers, while in the spring lady’s slipper orchids bloom around the area. The trail entrance can be found one-half mile west of the parking lot at Dennis Town Hall on Main Street in South Dennis. For more information, call (508) 760-6123.
Eastham
Cottontail Acres Conservation Area
This one-half mile trail crosses meadows full of pine, red cedar, and oak trees. Hikers can also view Herring and Jemina Ponds. Parking is located at the corner of Samoset Road and Lawton Road. For more information, call (508) 240-5900.
Falmouth
Beebe Woods
Four kettle ponds, glacier boulders, and wetlands cover this extensive 380-acre territory. The trails are well marked for bird watching and walking. Access is located at Ter Heun Drive and Highfield Road. Visitors can park at the Cape Cod Conservatory. For more information, contact (508) 457-2536.
Washburn Island
This 334-acre island is located in Waquoit Bay and is accessible by boat from Town Landing Road off of Cotuit Road. The island, part of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve offers swimming, fishing, and camping in addition to hiking. For more information, call (508) 457-0495.
Harwich
Bells Neck Road Conservation Area
A favorite site of the Cape Cod Bird Club, this two-mile dirt road trail winds through herring runs, tidal creeks, and a pond. Trail entrances are on Bells Neck Road and at the end of North Road in West Harwich. For more information, call (508) 432-1600.
Mashpee
South Cape Beach State Park
South Cape Beach State Park is part of the 2,500-acre Waquoit National Estuarine Bay Research Reserve. A barrier beach that is located in between Waquoit Bay and Vineyard Sound, the park has a variety of habitats including beach and dunes, salt marsh, woodlands, and kettle ponds. Hikers can access three miles of sand roads and the one-and-a-half mile Great Flat Pond trail. The entrance can be found on Great Oak Road. For more information, call (508) 457-0495.
Orleans
Paw Wah Point Conservation Area
This short less than one-mile trail through the woods leads to a beach. There are magnificent views of Little Pleasant Bay, Nauset Beach and Paw Wah Pond. The entrance is located on Namequoit Road off of Route 28. For more information, call (508) 240-3700 x425.
Provincetown
Corn Hill to Pamet Harbor Railroad Right of Way
This one-and-a-half mile trail is located next to the new Foss Woods Conservation area between Routes 6 and 6A. The trail winds along a former railroad through woodlands and dunes. Entrances are located on Howland Lane and in town on Route 6A. For more information, call (508) 487-3424.
Sandwich
Ryder Conservation Lands
This 243-acre area features century-old native holly trees and five mile trails that pass through abandoned cranberry bogs and beech tree groves. Parking entrances can be found off the west side of Cotuit Road between Harlow Road and Boardly Road. For more information, contact (508) 888-4200.
Scusset Beach State Reservation
This less than one-mile trail is located near a former Native American meeting ground and leads to Sagamore Hill. Hikers can enjoy fabulous views of the Cape Cod Canal and Cape Cod Bay. The trail entrance can be found off of Sagamore Beach Road across from a fishing pier. For more information, call (508) 888-0859.
Truro
Pilgrim Heights Area
The Pilgrim Spring Trail of the Cape Cod National Seashore leads to the place where the Pilgrims tasted their first New England water. Scattered along the trail are oak and pitch pine trees, bayberry, azaleas, and a blueberry farm. There are also views of the Atlantic Ocean. The entrance can be found off Route 6 in North Truro. For more information, call (508) 487-1288.
Wellfleet
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Hikers can explore five miles of trails through a diverse setting of habitats ranging from freshwater wetlands, ponds, fields, salt marsh, pine woodlands, and sandy beach. Hummingbird and butterfly gardens complement the picturesque trails. The sanctuary is located on Route 6 in South Wellfleet right before the Wellfleet Drive-in Theater. For more information, call (508) 349-2615.
Yarmouth
Callery-Darling Conservation Area
This two-and-a-half mile network of trails guides the hiker through vegetated wetlands, woodlands, and a boardwalk over a salt marsh. The entrance can be found on Center Street near Grays Beach. For more information, call (508) 398-2231, x283.
