Trails in Cape Cod National Seashore

Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, a 1.2-mile loop trail in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. The trail descends through a stunted oak and pine forest into a mature woodland, leads to a boardwalk that winds through the picturesque Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, and returns via the historic “Wireless Road” (a sand road) to the starting location.

The trail is rated as moderate. It has solid surface for the duration of the trail with some slopes and hills. There is a boardwalk through the swamp for about 0.6 miles. Pets are not allowed on any of the hiking trails in the park.

Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Beech Forest Trail, a 1-mile loop trail in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Journey into the heart of a picturesque beech forest, and enjoy great bird watching opportunities, especially in spring and fall. It skirts the shallow Beech Forest Pond.

This trail is rated as easy. The extension loop has steep log steps. There is some soft sand, some sections of boardwalk, and seasonal restrooms at trailhead. The Province Lands bicycle trail can be accessed from parking area. Pets are not allowed on any of the hiking trails in the park.

Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Buttonbrush trail, a 0.3-mile loop trail that begins at the Salt Pond Visitor Center. This accesible loop trail includes interactive features great for kids, and involves all the senses as it winds through forest, crosses over the Buttonbush Pond on a boardwalk bridge, and traverses formerly cultivated areas.

The trail is rated as easy. It has solid surface, some sections of boardwalk, and a rope along the length of the trail to guide blind visitors. Pets are not allowed on any of the hiking trails in the park.

Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Fort Hill loop, a one-mile loop trail that winds around the historic Fort Hill site. This loop trail crosses open fields, connects with the Red Maple Swamp Trail, and offers spectacular vistas of the Nauset Marsh area. This is also a great location for bird enthusiasts.

The trail is rated as easy. It has solid surface, some log steps on slopes, and seasonal restrooms near Hemenway Landing. Pets are not allowed on any of the hiking trails in the park.

Are you looking for a day of adventure? Look no further than Cape Cod National Seashore's longest hiking trail, Great Island! Make your own adventure to enjoy the shorter 3.9-mile loop or go for gold with the full 8.8 mile loop to Jeremy Point! The trail follows sandy stretches between the elevated heights of Great Island and Great Beach Hill. Its higher elevations punctuate spectacular vistas which emerge from an even-aged, pitch-pine forest. Part of this trail leads to a colonial-era tavern site (no remains are visible). Other sections skirt salt marsh embayments.

The Great Island Trail is the park’s most difficult trail; mainly soft sand; some log steps; portions are submerged at high tide; hats, sturdy footgear and drinking water advised. Leashed pets are allowed between the upper/lower parking areas along the trail to the first cut and out onto the beach.

USE CAUTION AND CHECK THE TIDES BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS TRAIL! Many sections of the trail, including Jeremy Point, are submerged at high tide.

Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Doane Trail, a 0.6-mile loop trail that begins at Doane Rock in Eastham. This paved, wheelchair-accessible loop trail with interpretive text winds through an emerging pine and oak forest. A picnic area is adjacent to the parking area.

The trail is rated as easy. It has solid, paved surface for the duration of the trail. Leashed pets are permitted on this trail.

Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Nauset Marsh Trail, a 1.5-mile loop trail that circles around Nauset Marsh. The trail winds along the edge of Salt Pond and Nauset Marsh, crosses fields, and returns to the Salt Pond Visitor Center through a recovering forest. There are several spectacular vistas along the way. A minimally-maintained one-mile trail extension leads to Doane Picnic Area and Coast Guard Beach. The extension is one mile each way.

The trail is rated as easy. It has solid surface, some log steps on slopes, and restrooms at the visitor center. Pets are not allowed on any of the hiking trails in the park.

Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Pamet Area Trails, a 0.6-mile out and back trail with several spurs in Truro, Massachusetts. Bearberry Hill overlooks offer spectacular views of the Pamet landscape, with views of the Atlantic and the glacial terrain of the Pamet River valley, and a former boghouse from the era of commercial cranberry harvesting. Outdoor exhibits and a folder keyed to trail markers describe the area.

The trail is rated as moderate. The trail is a solid surface. There are log steps and steep grade to the Bearberry Hill overlook. No restrooms.

Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Pilgrim Spring Trail, a 1-mile loop trail in Truro, Massachusetts. The trail leads to a site representative of where the Pilgrims drank their first fresh water in New England. This short loop trail winds through the recovering pine and oak forest, and passes a marker which commemorates the Pilgrim’s initial exploration of this area.

The trail is rated as easy. It has solid surface for the duration of the trail with some slopes. There are some log steps. There are seasonal restrooms at the end of the trail in the parking lot. Leashed pets are permitted on this trail.

Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Red Maple Swamp, 0.8-mile round trip boardwalk trail. Boardwalk sections of the trail meander through the heart of the Red Maple Swamp, with an option to connect back to the Fort Hill trail on either end. This setting is the most colorful in the fall.

The trail is rated as easy. It follows a boardwalk the entire way. Seasonal restrooms are located at the trail entrance near Hemenway Landing. Pets are not allowed on any of the hiking trails in the park.

Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Small's Swamp Trail, a 0.6-mile loop trail located in Truro, Massachusetts. Chosen by Native People for living sites for thousands of years for water, protection, and food sources, early-European settlers also sought to make a living on this landscape. Gradually, the soil gave out, farms were abandoned, and the landscape began its slow recovery. The forest here now hides most, but not all, of the former land uses in this area.

The trail is rated as easy. It has solid surface for the duration of the trail with some slopes and a short boardwalk surface. There are some log steps. Pets are not allowed on any of the hiking trails in the park. There are seasonal restrooms at the end of the trail in the parking lot.