CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE WALKING AND HIKING

There are eleven self-guiding trails at the Seashore that open year round:  in Eastham – the Fort Hill, Red Maple Swamp, buttonbush, Nauset Marsh and Doane trails; in Wellfleet – the Atlantic white Cedar Swamp and Great Island trails; in Truro – Pamet Area Bearberry Hill overlook, Small’s Swamp and Pilgrim Spring trails; and in Provincetown – the Beech Forest Trail.  Interpretive trail folders with information on natural and historic features are available at some trailheads.  Trailside plant identification markers are referenced in the Common Trailside Plants guidebook on sale at visitor center bookstores.

Fort Hill Trail, Eastham – 1-½ miles. One hour.

Turn off Route 6 at the brown Fort Hill sign on Governor Prence Road in Eastham.  Continue to parking area on left, across from the Captain Penniman House.  The trail may also be accessed from Hemenway Landing, just north of Fort Hill on Route 6.  This loop trail crosses open fields, connects with the Red Maple Swamp Trail and offers spectacular vistas of Nauset Marsh and Nauset Spit.  It is an easy trail on a solid surface.  Seasonal restrooms near Hemenway Landing.

Red Maple Swamp Trail, Eastham – One-half mile.  Thirty minutes.

Enter this trail from the Fort Hill Trail or Hemenway landing.  The Boardwalk sections of this trail meander through the heart of the Red Maple Swamp.  This setting is most colorful in the fall.   The trail is easy with seasonal restrooms near Hemenway Landing.  A wheelchair-accessible portion of boardwalk can be reached via Hemenway Landing, just north of Fort Hill on Route 6.

Buttonbush Trail, Eastham – One-fourth mile.  Fifteen minutes.

Adjacent to Salt Pond Visitor Center amphitheater, off route 6.  This loop trail, which includes guide rope, text in Braille and large print, involves all the senses as it winds through forest, crosses over the Buttonbush Pond on a boardwalk bridge, and traverse formerly cultivated areas.  It is an easy trail with some log steps on the second half of the trail.  The grade is moderate and restrooms are at the visitor center.

Nauset Marsh Trail, Eastham – One mile. One hour.

This trail is adjacent to the Salt Pond Visitor Center amphitheater, off route 6 and winds along the edge of Salt Pond and Nauset Marsh.  It crosses fields and returns to the Salt Pond Visitor Center through a recovering forest.  There are several spectacular vistas along the way.  It is an easy trail with some log steps and a moderate grade.  Use caution when crossing the bike trail.  Restrooms are at the visitor center.  Sections may be submerged at highest tides.  Always check for current conditions.  This trail leads to Doane Picnic Area and Coast Guard Beach, one mile either way.

Doane Trail, Eastham – One-half mile.  Thirty minutes.

Doane Picnic area is one mile east of Salt Pond Visitor Center on Nauset Road.  Look for brown signs.  This paved, wheelchair-accessible loop trail with interpretive text winds through an emerging pine and oak forest and offers vistas of Nauset Marsh.  It is an easy trail with wheelchair accessible and stroller grade.  It has seasonal restrooms.

Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, Wellfleet – One- ¼ miles.  One hour

At stop light turn east off route 6 into the Marconi Station Area, South Wellfleet.  Follow brown signs to the Marconi Site and White Cedar Swamp.  This trail descends through a stunted oak and pine forest into mature woodlands  It leads to a boardwalk that winds through the picturesque Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, and it returns via the historic Wireless Road to the starting location.  This trail has a moderate difficulty and some steep stairs.  The return route is one-half mile in soft sand.  The swamp portion has a boardwalk. There are seasonal restrooms.

Great Island Trail, Wellfleet – Three miles, one to Jeremy Point overlook (8 mile loop via Tavern Site).  Allow three to five hours to explore Great Island.

Caution:  Trail options can be confusing.  Check tide table.  Do not attempt to walk to Jeremy Point if the tide is rising.  From route 6, follow green signs to Wellfleet Center; turn left onto East Commercial Street (follow signs to Wellfleet Harbor).  Continue along the shoreline from town pier via Chequessett Neck Road to the Great Island parking area.  (Keep the water view on your left.  This 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’s leads to a colonial-era tavern site (no remains visible).  Other sections skirt salt marsh embayments.  A picnic area is adjacent to parking lot.  The park’s most difficult trail is mostly soft sand.  There are some log steps and portions are submerged at high tide.  Hats and sturdy footgear and drinking water advised.  There are portable toilets.

Pamet Area Bearberry Hill Overlook, Truro – One-Quarter mile from parking area.  Adjacent fire roads offer additional miles of walking opportunities.

Take Truro Center/Pamet Roads exit off route 6 in Truro.  Proceed one and one-half miles on North Pamet Road to the end.  Trail begins at the parking area adjacent to the Environmental Education Center.  The Bearberry Hill overlook offers a spectacular view of the Pamet landscape, with sweeping views of the Atlantic and the undulating glacial terrain of the Pamet valley.  The cultural landscape here includes a former commercial cranberry bog.  Few cranberries remain, but the historic building from that era is visible in the distance.  It is moderate in difficulty; some log steps, and a steep grade to the overlook.  No restrooms.

Small’s Swamp Trail, Truro – Three-fourths mile.  Thirty minutes

In North Truro, turn off route 6 at the Pilgrim Heights area sign off route 6.  Walk begins at the covered shelter.  Upon exiting the trail near the restrooms, proceed ahead across the parking area to your vehicle.  This trail features sites for thousands of years for water, protection, and food sources, early-European settlers sought to make a living on this fragile 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.  It is and easy walk with some log steps and a moderate grade.  There is a short boardwalk surface, picnic area and seasonal restrooms.

Pilgrim’s Spring Trail, Truro – Three-fourths mile loop.  Thirty minutes.

On arriving in North Truro, turn right off route 6 at the Pilgrim Heights area sign.  The walk begins at the covered picnic shelter and ends at the restrooms at the adjacent parking area.  The path 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.  It is an easy walk with some log steps and a moderate grade.  There is also a picnic area.

Beech Forest Trail, Provincetown – One-mile total loop.  One hour.

Turn right (north) at traffic light on route 6 onto Race Point Road.  Proceed approximately one-half mile to the Beech Forest parking area on left.  This trail provides a journey into the heart of a picturesque beech forest and offers great bird watching opportunities, especially in spring.  It skirts the shallow Beech Forest Pond.  It is an easy route and has steep log steps, some soft sand and a picnic area and seasonal restrooms at trailhead.  Province Lands bicycle trail are accessed from parking area.

Chatham

Trail #1:  Frost Fish Creek Trail – Orleans Road (Route 28), North Chatham.  Heading north toward Orleans take a left onto a dirt road past the old laundry area, just before the creek runs under the road.  Trail proceeds west along the creek and marsh.  At the end of the trail take a left and proceed approximately 45 feet and then take the path up the ridge to return to the parking area via a ridge path.  The ridge is somewhat difficult walking, so you may want to retrace the entry route.  Woods, marsh, field plants, and birds: 45 minutes to 1 hour 16 acres.

Trail #2:  Barclay Ponds Trail – Old Queen Anne Road and Training Field Road.  The entrance to the trail is at the Yield sign, 20 feet south of telephone pole #38 in the intersection.  Park in the field (Crowell’s Pit) north of the entrance.  A quiet, woodsy walk, up and down hill.  Approximately ½ hour; 12 acres.

Trail #3:  Honeysuckle Land, off Stage Harbor Road – At the bottom of the hill, on the left side of the road are two short trails leading to the Old Ice Pond.  Many water birds are generally seen in this area.  The right side of the road near a telephone pole and alongside a narrow stream is a short walk featuring white cedar trees, leading to other trails in and around Cedar Swamp, which is mostly owned by the Town of Chatham.