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    Great Island Trail

    4.8 (17 reviews)

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    Margaret N.

    My family and I did this trail on Saturday 8/15 a perfect day. As they say in Ireland it was a "soft" day a mix between a mist and a drizzle of rain. It was so beautiful! Met a lovely gent sitting on a wood railing who asked us all what the password was as we walked by on the way to the parking area. My answer was " green waves"

    Brian S.

    A place to get wet One of the best hikes on Cape Cod, it goes down a spit of land that's part of Cape Cod National Seashore. Water, water everywhere, but naught a drop to drink so you better bring your own. Beautiful salt air and magical sea breezes. On a clear day you can see Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown. The hike starts in a conveniently large parking area at the end of Griffin island Road and continues down one of the largest areas of undeveloped beaches on the Cape. Thousands of artifacts and remains of an old tavern were found in this area by archaeologists and signs are placed along the trail explaining the sites. The trail itself is not easy, lots of soft sand and even marshy grass. Nasty biting flies love this place so strong bug spay is not just recommended but absolutely necessary. Going in the off season is a good way of avoiding the horrible flies. The end of the trail gets a bit tricky. You can walk for about 3 miles and then turn back or go all the way down to Jeremy Point which is about another mile and a half. The problem is that during very high tides this last area is underwater so you have to time it right or probably drown. Adds a bit of excitement to an already fantastic hike.

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    Review Highlights - Great Island Trail

    You can walk for about 3 miles and then turn back or go all the way down to Jeremy Point which is about another mile and a half.

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    Long Point Lighthouse

    Long Point Lighthouse

    (7 reviews)

    If you're looking to escape the world and find boundless beauty...this is your place. I typically…read morerent a kayak on the bayside of town and take the journey across the famous Provincetown Harbor. It's the same harbor where the Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact BEFORE landing in Plymouth. Yes, they landed in Provincetown first! Once on long point head toward the tip and you can't miss the lighthouse. Stunning. Be sure to look along the inlets and you can still find some remnants of the 19th century colony (bricks, shards of porcelain etc). Don't forget to find a spot on the beach...you could be the only one on it! Plan around the tide or you'll be dragging your kayak. You can also walk there via the jetty or have the local service (Flyers) drop you off for a fee. I'd avoid the Flyers service. If taking a kayak...DO NOT go directly across the deep part of the harbor! Especially in August or if there are seals in the water. Yes, we have a great white shark population that seems to get bigger every year. Stay along the sand bar (hint, you should almost always see the bay floor). This place is pure heaven.

    A very lonely…read morespot The end of the world. It sure feels like it. The absolutely tip of the tip. The end of Provincetown and Cape Cod. You can't go any further or you'll be in the sea. What a great place. The problem is how the hell to get to the end of the world. No roads here, you either go by small boat or walk. It's a pretty good hike through heavy sand but there is a short cut. Go over the breakwater that starts at the Pilgrim Plaque. Just don't try it in rough weather or you will probably die. Assuming you actually get out there you will find one of the absolutely coolest places anywhere. Nothing but wild wind and sea. The light is never open but you can walk right up to it. No one cares because no one is around. Probably for miles. The light was built in 1875 but an earlier one was built in 1826. It's only 38 feet tall and had a fifth order Fresnel lens. I'm not sure whatt happen to the lens. The real cool part is that this area once had lots of houses, buildings and windmills for power. Several hundred people actually lived way out here.. Even two old forts, sarcastically called Fort Useless and Fort Harmless. Apparently they were not too successful. The remains of the forts can still be seen but just lumps in the sand. Everything else is long gone. The wind is always howling out here and you can almost hear the old voices. On one of the mounds there is a large cross with flowers frequently place around it. I'm not sure what it signifies but gives a surrealistic feel to a wild and spooky place.

    Race Point Lighhouse - Race Point LH early morn circa 2015

    Race Point Lighhouse

    (4 reviews)

    We tried to make our way down to the lighthouse from the beach and a major thunderstorm came out of…read morenowhere, so we never got to make it all the way. Beautiful view.

    The end of…read more the world Race Point Lighthouse is a wild, wild place. It's located on the very end of Cape Cod and is exposed to howling winds, blowing sand and unpredictable, sinister and malefic currents. The name race means a very strong and dangerous flow of water in old nautical terminology and whoever named it Race Point certainly knew what he was talking about. Before the Cape Cod Canal was built all ships had to pass around the tip of Cape Cod and ship wrecks here were very common. The first lighthouse was established way back in 1816 but since it was only 20 feet tall and took a pounding from the hostile environment, it soon became apparently that something a bit stronger was needed. So in 1876 the present 40 foot tall cast iron tower was built. It had a fourth order Fresnel lens and is credited with saving hundreds of ships and lives. The whole area around the lighthouse is now just sand dunes but at one time it was a busy fishing village called Helltown. Of course the name came from the harsh and unforgiving environment. The village started to disappear about a hundred years ago as people got tired of the hammering winds and waves and moved to more protected places in the area. Winds over 50 knots are common at the point and very little of Helltown is now visible. It's not particularly easy to get to Race Point Lighthouse. it's about a two mile hike over some soft sand and wind is frequently blowing in your face. It's an invigorating place to visit in the winter but you better be prepared for some serious wind chills. I've been out here in a Nor Eastern and the visibility is literally zero. The wind was blowing horizontally and one side of my body was covered in ice but the other side clean. Extremely cool weather. I have heard that humpback whales are occasionally visible and just looking a the wild and uncivilized ocean is aways thrilling. Certainly not the easiest lighthouse to visit but always one of the wildest.

    Indian Lands Conservation Area - Map of trails

    Indian Lands Conservation Area

    (11 reviews)

    This hidden gem has 2-3 miles of wooded trails for trailing running, dog walking, and light hiking…read more While the paved rail trail and the small beaches along the way are fun to explore, it's the wooded trails that are a win for me when I want a shaded run that's easy on the knees. Trails are well maintained and easy to navigate. Parking is available from the Main St Rail Trail Lot. For the wooded trail, you can either access it from the smaller secondary lot or take the main Rail Trail about a quarter mile down towards the river until you start seeing small paths on your left. There is a dirt service road with power lines running parallel to the rail trail that you will cross over. These power lines will also help navigate you back if you get turned around. I had to knock of a star because the trails are not marked so you can get turned around. Luckily the loops are short so you can't get too lost but don't be surprised if you end up in someone's driveway or come across a dirt road you weren't expecting. There are a few spots along the loops that have benches if you want to take a break and enjoy the views.

    Great place to walk the dog. Beautiful views of the river and marshes along the way. However,…read moretrails are not well-marked so you're never sure exactly where you are (as a newbie). Clear trail markers would be very helpful. Though there were several dogs off-leash, most were controlled by their owners. Definitely worth a visit!

    Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary - Cool fungi on the trail!

    Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

    (26 reviews)

    Situated along the edge of Wellfleet Harbor, sits 97 acres and 5 miles of extensively groomed…read moretrails of breathtaking and raw beauty. Cape Cod is one of the most visited areas in the country and once you visit you will understand why. You can expect tranquility and phenomenal views of a pristine barrier beach and vibrant salt marshes. The sounds of the reeds blowing in the wind is nothing less than paradise and the pine woodlands are a birders delight. They also have an award-winning, economically friendly nature center with wildlife views, aquariums and educational exhibits. The sanctuary offers many programs for all ages based on research and conservation projects focusing on ecologically threatened birds, horseshoe crabs, and sea turtles. When you visit Memorial Day through Labor Day, the trails are open from 8am-dusk. Early October to late May- they're closed on Mondays, but Tues-Saturday you can visit 8:30am-5:00pm. For non-Audubon members it is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for the little ones (ages 2-12). EBT participants are free for up to 4 people when you show your card. This is such a wonderful experience and an educational goldmine for any age! Go. Just go... and that folks is all she wrote.

    Wellfleet Bay is a place I come every few years while on Cape. Free admission with a Mass Audubon…read moremembership. They have quite a few trails along Cape Cod Bay, as well as some freshwater streams and ponds. Time your visit to low tide. Take the boardwalk trail down to the Bay. You can walk for miles on the sandbars. You can walk forever in the shallow water. On a rainy day you can sit in the huge window seats at the visitor center and watch the bird feeders.

    Great Island Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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