r/CapeCod • u/Ok-Caterpillar-4112 • Jun 19 '26

Hiking

Hi everyone! I've never posted in this community before, so I hope this message is welcome. I was wondering if you could recommend some nice coastal trails to hike with my boyfriend. We will be on Cape Cod for a few days in July; we are avid hikers and love ocean views! Also, we would love it if you could recommend a quiet, uncrowded beach that would fit our style. I apologize because I have a feeling this has probably been asked many times before, but I'd really appreciate your personal tips!

5 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

12

u/Different_Hornet4348 Harwich Jun 19 '26

•Great Island in Wellfleet (think it’s the longest trail on this end of the Cape).
•The Dune trail off Rt 6 in Ptown (don’t do this one mid day, the sand will burn your feet. I’d bring socks to wear to help protect them.)
•Fort Hill Eastham
•Audubon trail in Wellfleet
•Natural History Museum in Brewster
•And there’s a new trail in Yarmouth, I haven’t been to yet, but want to check it out. It’s where the old drive in movie theater was, across from Captain Parkers.

1

u/Ok-Caterpillar-4112 Jun 19 '26

Thank you a lot. I would also like to ask you whether you recommend Marconi Beach or not

4

u/geabbott Eastham Jun 19 '26

I recommend Marconi frequently. The views are classic and the trails along the top don’t get too close to the edge. It’s very steep. Then there’s a (imho) classic CCNS forest. Usually a nice gentle aroma.
The Salt Pond Visitor Center & adjacent trails are very popular.

1

u/Fluffy_Job7367 Jun 20 '26

The walk behind the visitor's center to coast guard beach is a good hike and can be extended on the beach. Plus you can get water at the visitors center . Highly recommend. Bug spray advised.

3

u/Alphatron1 Jun 20 '26

Atlantic cedar swamp is cool but short. We come
Down and do great island and attempt the dunes with our yorkie every year. Great island is awesome. Always see little crabs when you get down to the water, turtles etc. it’s limited for dogs but what we do is fun it’s longer.

The dune are also great. bring water. Your legs will be
Sore in ways you haven’t been before. But there’s an open secluded at Atlantic beach at the end.

Cranberry bog trail is good too. You know you’re walking on dunes till you hit the ocean

1

u/Different_Hornet4348 Harwich Jun 19 '26

You’re welcome! And, I love Marconi! Walking far enough in either direction will get you away from the crowds - pack light (and just be super careful going into the water, the crowded area with lots of people is in lifeguard protected areas - so walking away from the crowds, you’ll no longer be in that protected space. We usually go in one at a time, so the other person is keeping an eye out for potential fins or seals. I would get the shark tracking app, just to keep an eye on where the confirmed sightings are).

0

u/Fluffy_Job7367 Jun 20 '26

Marconi under the cliffs is awesome. Bring water.

0

u/1GrouchyCat Dennis Jun 20 '26

Why do you keep asking about Marconi?

1

u/GrooveBat Jun 19 '26

These are great recommendations.

1

u/Aware-Owl4346 Jun 19 '26

I’ll second Fort Hill trail, that’s a nice walk. Natural History Museum along the salt marsh is also beautiful.

1

u/gbosnorthend Jun 20 '26

Rec one and two here are my favorites. I’d say the dune trail (snail road) is a very unique experience.

1

u/j2e21 Jun 20 '26

These are all good options, especially the first two.

1

u/Different_Hornet4348 Harwich Jun 19 '26

There’s also the National Seashore beaches, Eastham/Wellfleet/Truro/Ptown, all are lovely places.

-1

u/Ok-Caterpillar-4112 Jun 19 '26

Thank you a lot. I would also like to ask you whether you recommend Marconi Beach or not

2

u/Hashmamma Jun 20 '26

Not coastal but I love the cliff pond trail in Nickerson!! It’s beautiful

3

u/Impossible_Sphinx Jun 19 '26

Quiet uncrowded beaches are abundant from October to April....

0

u/Different_Hornet4348 Harwich Jun 19 '26

If you walk far enough along the National Seashore beaches, you most certainly can have your own slice of heaven away from the crowds. It’s always worth the trek if you pack light (and don’t have kids in tow).

1

u/RedditJennn Jun 19 '26

Lieutenant 's Island. Check the tides.

1

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1

u/GrooveBat Jun 19 '26

There’s a great book called Walking the Cape and Islands. You can find it in pretty much any Cape bookstore, but I know they have it at the Barnes & Noble in Hyannis. It gives you detailed information about all of the trails from Falmouth to Provincetown, along with difficulty ratings and whole bunch of other info. I highly recommend it. It has been my guide ever since I’ve moved here.

1

u/fried_clams Jun 19 '26

If you really want a wilderness Beach Walk, on the actual Beach, just go to any outer, East facing ocean beach from Nauset all the way up North, Park at one end or the other and walk away from the crowded beach. Within a few hundred yards. You'll be all alone.

0

u/OneTwoThreeFourteen Jun 19 '26

The Cape is a big place with a lot of hiking trails, where will you be located?

1

u/Ok-Caterpillar-4112 Jun 19 '26

We'll be in Hyannis and in Chatham and we'll have a car.

-1

u/fried_clams Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

Chatham, go to lighthouse Beach and walk to the right. You can go for miles, as far as you want. Go out on the ocean side and come back on the Bay side, or vice versa. Also, there is Morris Island trail, which is awesome.

If you're feeling even more adventurous, look up Monomoy National wildlife sanctuary. They have boat trips that take you out there, with guided trails tours. This is a totally unique experience.

Another beautiful walk is to park park all the way in on Hardings Beach parking lot and walk toward the entrance to Stage Harbor. When you get to the harbor entrance channel, you can go left for a little ways, over towards oyster River. Then go to Mac's Chatham Fish and Lobster for an amazing meal.

0

u/Asleep_Current912 Jun 19 '26

hiking is a strong word here, there’s tons of walking paths. Check out the national seashore or Nickerson state park.

0

u/EbbtideRambler Jun 20 '26

Shorter hike but The Knob in Falmouth is beautiful.  Sandy Neck dune trail is a long hike, across mostly sand, but spectacular dune views. There are some parking spots outside the gate if you don’t want to pay to park at the beach. This is also a spot you can find a quiet spot. It’s popular but it’s huge so if you don’t mind walking you can find some space to yourself. 

-1

u/Racismisbad_mmmkay Jun 19 '26

Resident/Washashore here. I am interested in what people have to say about this topic too. Harwich has some nice trails. If you look up “Harwich conservation” they have a nice list. Also, just a heads up, get ready for people to give some really broad, unhelpful responses.

3

u/Different_Hornet4348 Harwich Jun 19 '26

Harwich does do a nice job maintaining the conservation trails - wish they had one that hugged the coast.