CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE TRAILS:
CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: April 26, 2025
Length: Nauset Trail; 1.8 miles [2.5 miles if starting from the Cape Cod Rail Trail]
Head of the Meadow Trail; 0.9 miles
Province Lands Loop Trail; 5 miles
Race Point Beach Spur; 0.4 miles
Herring Cove Beach Spur; 1.9 miles
Difficulty: Nauset Trail; Easy. Paved hilly & curvy trail. Might be tough for small kids on bikes.
Head of the Meadow Trail; Easy. Flat paved trail.
Province Lands Loop Trail; Moderate. Some long hills, very curvy along this paved trail. Could be tough for kids on bikes.
Directions:
For the Nauset Trail in Eastham [Western End]; From Route 6 in Eastham turn right on Salt Pond/Nauset Rd and into the Salt Pond Visitor Center.
For the Head of the Meadow Trail in Truro [Western End]; From Route 6 in Truro turn right on High Head Rd. Follow this paved road until you come to a private road straight ahead. Turn left on the dirt road to a dirt parking lot. Parking is also available at the Head of the Meadow Beach, but fees apply.
For the Province Lands Trails in Provincetown [Eastern End]; From Route 6 in Provincetown turn right on Race Point Rd. Look for the Beach Forest parking lot on your left. You'll cross the trail as you enter the parking lot. Start from the Map Board to your left, as you entered the parking lot.
Cape Cod National Seashore has three paved bike trails; The Nauset Trail in Eastham travels East, from the SALT POND VISITOR CENTER to Coast Guard & Nauset Beaches. You can also access the Nauset Trail from the Cape Cod Rail Trail at Mile 16.5. The Head of the Meadow Trail in Truro travels East, from East Harbor to Head of the Meadow Beach. The Province Lands Trails in Provincetown consists of the Province Lands Loop Trail, which Loops around a Scrub Oak & Pine, open sandy landscape. The Race Point Beach Spur Trail is a spur off the Province Lands Loop Trail, that takes you North, to Race Point Beach. The Herring Cove Beach Spur Trail is a spur off the Province Lands Loop Trail, that takes you South, to Herring Cove Beach. You can then connect to the Route 6 Bike Trail Connector, which will connect to the future Route 6 Bike Trail. This trail will travel Northeast, to Shank Painter Rd. The planned Shank Painter Road BIKE LANE will then take you South to downtown Provincetown. For more information visit; CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE .
NAUSET TRAIL:
Starting from the Salt Pond Visitor Center [Western End]; Be sure to check out the SALT POND VISITOR CENTER where Maps, water and restrooms are available.
Note; You can access this trail from the Cape Cod Rail Trail [Mile 16.5] via a short on-road connection. From the Cape Cod Rail Trail head East, along Locust Rd, down a slight hill. Turn left on Salt Pond Rd after 0.3 miles. Pass by the LITTLE CAPISTRANO BIKE SHOP before coming to Route 6. Use the cross-light over Route 6 to a paved trail which will take you past the Salt Pond Visitor Center and to the start of the Nauset Trail after 0.7 miles.
From the start of the paved trail near the East Exit of the parking lot, the narrow, paved Nauset Trail veers away from Nauset Rd and into the shaded scrub. This is a hilly, winding trail that takes you East, through Scrub Oak, Cedar & Pine. You'll pass by a Spur Trail to Doane Rock Picnic Area at 1.3 miles. After 1.6 miles you travel along a boardwalk through a salt marsh in Nauset Bay. One last hill brings you up to Ocean View Dr and the end of the trail at Coast Guard Beach after 1.8 miles [2.5 miles from the Cape Cod Rail Trail]. Bike racks & restrooms are located here, as well as, access to the beach. This was the location of the Nauset Coast Guard Station, where the old station, built in 1936, overlooks the ocean. A path from this building leads to an overlook of the beach and contains informational sign boards.
HEAD of the MEADOW TRAIL:
Starting from the High Head Road parking lot [Western End]; Map Board. Follow the wide, paved Head of the Meadow Trail East, along a salt meadow with the sand dunes in the distance. High shrubs block most views along this trail creating a corridor effect. The trail ends after 0.9 miles at Head of the Meadow Rd. Map Board. Left is the entrance for Head of the Meadow Beach, where rest rooms and picnic tables are available.
PROVINCE LANDS TRAILS:
Starting from the Beach Forest parking lot [Eastern End]; As you enter the parking lot the trail crosses the road. On the left will be a Map Board which is where we started from. From the Map Board you can follow the trail Southwest or Northwest.
Note; A paved Spur Trail travels South, through the woods, along Race Point Rd, before ending after 0.3 miles at Transfer Station Rd. Future plans will add a BIKE LANE South, to Route 6. Aross Route 6 you can connect to the Conwell Street BIKE LANE, which travels South, to Cemetery Rd. See; Map Below.
We headed Northwest, along the paved Province Lands Loop Trail, crossing Race Point Rd. You travel through Scrub Oak and Pine as the trail winds up & down hills before bringing you to a scenic vista of the sand dunes. Another scenic vista of the dunes and ocean at 1.2 miles. Just shy of 1.5 miles, on you left, pass a Spur Trail.
Note; This Spur Trail will take you to the Province Lands Visitor Center parking lot, where you'll find rest rooms and a great lookout on top. See; CAPE COD NS VISITOR CENTER .
Continuing along the trail, you'll cross back over Race Point Rd at 1.9 miles and come to an *Intersection.
Note; Right, Northwest, the paved Race Point Beach Spur Trail travels alongside Race Point Rd, passing by the Provincetown Airport, before ending after 0.4 miles at the Race Point Beach parking lot. Up the hill is the Old Harbor Life-Saving Station Museum and Race Point Ranger Station.
Heading left, South, the trail soon passes through a tunnel underneath Province Lands Rd and the parallels it. After 3.5 miles you'll come to another **Intersection.
Note; Right, South, is the Herring Cove Beach Spur Trail, which also makes a great detour to reach Provincetown. See Below.
Continuing straight, East, along the Province Lands Loop Trail, you'll travel past Pasture Pond on your left, before coming to another ***Intersection.
Note; Right, East, is a 0.25 mile Spur Trail out to Bennett Pond.
Head left, North, to return to the Beach Forest parking lot for a 5.5 mile Loop.
Herring Cove Beach Spur Trail:
From the **Intersection with the Province Lands Trail; [Re-zeroing Mileage] Travel right, through the tunnel underneath Province Lands Rd where the trail winds South, down to the Northern End of the Herring Cove Beach parking lot at 1 mile. Just before you reach the Southern End of the parking lot and exit at 1.4 miles, pass by the Route 6 Bike Trail Connector on your left.
Note; The Route 6 Bike Trail Connector crosses Province Lands Rd, where the wide paved trail travels East, alongside Route 6. Just before Route 6 splits, the trail ends after 0.4 miles. The future Route 6 Bike Trail will pick up here. This trail will convert one lane of Route 6 to a Bike Path, which will travel Northeast, 1 mile to Shank Painter Rd. The planned Shank Painter Road BIKE LANE will then take you South, 0.6 miles to downtown Provincetown. Under Design in 2024. See; Map Below.
Continue straight, Southeast, past the Southern End of the parking lot and quickly travel through another large parking lot. Porto-Potty's. Continue straight along the trail out to Province Lands Rd after 1.9 miles and the end of the trail.
Note; To continue on-road to Provincetown head right, Southeast. Follow Province Lands Rd (wide shoulder) to the traffic circle around Pilgrims First Landing Park at 2.8 miles. Informational boards. On your right is Provincetown Harbor. Continue around to Commercial St. Follow Commercial St North and it will bring you into downtown Provincetown with all its shops and restaurants.
Planned Route 6 Bike Trail:
[The Route 6 Bike Trail will relocate motor vehicles to the North Side of the median (1 lane in each direction) and create a new, 1mile, 16-foot wide multi-use trail on the South Side of the median]
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT