Cape Cod Rail Trail, MA

• 4-star hikes
• 28 miles each way
• Easy | Low gradient
• Yarmouth to Wellfleet, MA | Cape Cod
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The image shows an aerial view of a bridge crossing over a body of water, which appears to be a river or estuary. The bridge is constructed with truss elements and connects two land masses with trees and vegetation. There is a road running parallel to the bridge on one side, and rocky embankments can be seen along the shores of the water.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail over the Bass River Bridge.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a popular and fully-paved 28 mile rail trail running through the middle of this coastal peninsula from Mid to Outer-Cape. We describe it as one long green woodland coridoor, well-appointed with parking lots, bike rental shops and occasional eateries and ice cream shops. We wouldn't describe it as a great way to see Cape Cod however, as the sights along the route are occasional at best. We instead recommend the Shining Sea Rail Trail which offers a first-class Cape Cod bicycling experience.

The original mid-nineteenth century Cape Cod Central Railroad reached as far as Provincetown located on the cape's furthest tip and transformed the whaling and fishing communities into immensely popular summer vacation destinations. The railroad held out for a century before succumbing to road traffic and going bankrupt in the 1970, when it was then converted into a rail trail. The popular rail trail is a great car-free way to move around between towns, and the trail continues to see occasional extensions, most recently the 2019 northern extension to Welfleet Hollow campground.

Asphalt,

Live Rail, ⬤ Parking Expand ↓ Map

4★ Cape Cod Rail Trail 28.4 mi each way, easy, gain 720 ft (700 ft E-W)
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

The best scenery on this trail can be found on a central section between Harwich and Orleans as the trail threads between the shores of multiple ponds, including a public beach at Seymour Pond which we've marked on our map. We were also afforded with our only ocean view near Namskaket Marsh, albeit a distant one.

Though the rail trail features several bridges and tunnels, you'll still need to be prepared for around fifty individual road crossings along your journey, each marked with trail-facing stop signs. Thankfully the motorists we encountered on our outing were remarkably considerate of pedestrians and cyclists, but traffic calming infrastructure is mostly non-existent at these potentially dangerous intersections and trail users need to be constantly defensive. Similarly the popularity of the trail requires many interactions between trail users, requiring reduced cyclist speeds and audible warnings when passing.

The image shows a paved path leading through a green landscape towards a tunnel. On the path, there is an individual riding a bicycle, wearing a colorful top and black pants. Attached to the bicycle is a yellow trailer with black mesh, which appears to be carrying a dog. The surrounding area is lush with greenery and trees, and the sky is clear blue.

Taking the dog for a ride.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail also connects with the Old Colony Rail Trail at the bicycle rotary in Harwich. This is a 5.4 mile paved trail that terminates in the town of Chatham and we have a trail review of that route linked in our 'Trailspotting Nearby' section at the foot of this article.

Trail Conditions: Smooth asphalt throughout. Nominally flat with a couple of short gradient spots (see profile). Lots of road crossings.

The image shows a serene beach landscape with clear blue skies. There is a large body of water that stretches to the horizon, bordered by a sandy shore. On the left side, there is a tree with spreading branches that partially obscure the view of the sky and water. The sand appears to have ripples created by wind or water currents, and there are patches of grass and foliage in the middle ground towards the right.

Seymour Pond and Beach, between Harwich and Orleans.

The image is a view of a small park surrounded by dense greenery. The park features a circular roundabout-style pathway with two benches and a central gazebo-like structure. The pathways branch off in four directions, leading out of the park area.

Harwich's rotary, connecting Cape Cod to Old Colony Rail Trail.

The image is a split view with two different scenes related to outdoor activities. On the left side, there is an individual riding a one-wheeled electric skateboard, known as an Onewheel, on a sandy path near a body of water under clear skies. The rider is wearing a helmet, sunglasses, a long-sleeve shirt, shorts, and sneakers. The shadow of the rider is clearly visible on the ground. On the right side of the image, two individuals are cycling on a paved path surrounded by lush green trees. Both cyclists are wearing helmets and are in motion as indicated by their positions on the bicycles.

There are many ways to enjoy the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

Tangents:
• Mass.gov: Cape Cod Rail Trail
• TrailLink: Cape Cod Rail Trail
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Cape Cod Rail Trail
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article

Trailspotting Nearby
4★ Old Colony Rail Trail (8 mi) · 5★ Shining Sea Bikeway (11 mi) · 3★ Old Colony Nature Pathway (2 mi) · Show Map

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