SamCape Cod is the perfect destination for appreciating the beauty of nature. While there may not be a mountainous terrain for intense hikes, there are still plenty of easy hikes and nature walks across the Cape.
As a local I have tried so many trails throughout Cape Cod. However, they are not all worth your time if you want the best and most picturesque trails. I have compiled a list of my favorite Cape Cod nature walks for you to enjoy during you time visiting this beautiful area of New England!
Nickerson State Park, Brewster
Nickerson State Park is an absolute gem. There are miles of hiking trails, biking trails, alongside freshwater lakes and beaches to enjoy. The park even connects to the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
While there are so many nature walks to choose from, one of my favorites is the Cliff Pond Loop. This pond is beautiful, and this trail gives you the perfect mix of forested woods and pristine sandy beaches. Being so wooded, you have a better chance of seeing more rare wildlife here in the park than elsewhere on the cape. I have come across foxes, families of geese, beautiful osprey, and so many freshwater friends.
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Wing Island Trail at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster
Along 6A in Brewster you will find the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. I hate to admit that I’ve never actually gone inside the museum, but there is still tons to enjoy outside!
The Wing Island Trail is a loop trail that will take you through the marshes, pine forests, and beaches of the Cape Cod coast. A little bit of everything for all interests.
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Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
A hidden spot in Wellfleet is home to a beautiful array of scenic trails. Winding through gardens, past ponds, and forested trails, you will ultimately end at the marshy shores of Wellfleet Bay.
This trail is perfect for all ages, and excellent for those fascinated by the coastal ecology of Cape Cod.
I love doing this trail when I want to look for creatures! I often find horseshoe crabs, fiddler crabs, herons, frogs, turtles, and so, so much more!
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Sandwich Boardwalk
An easy scenic walk for everyone in the family! This boardwalk is picturesque ‘Cape Cod’. Cape Cod Bay has drastic tides. You can experience this boardwalk at high tide and feel like you are in one place. At low tide, it feels like an entirely different place. This walk gives you an up close look at the coastal marshland and finish at a beautiful sandy beach.
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Nauset Marsh Trail at Cape Cod National Seashore
One of my favorite trails on the entirety of Cape Cod! The national seashore has so many trails to explore, but the Nauset Marsh Trail is one of the best. You will get to see nearly every ecosystem that Cape Cod has to offer on the 4 mile out-and-back trail.
Beginning in serene marshes, weaving through cedar forests and wildflower meadows, before finishing at the famous Coast Guard Beach, this trail is a must for a sunny day on the cape! I often see quite a bit of wildlife on this trail, including birds and lots of marine life!
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Uncle Tim’s Bridge, Wellfleet
This trail is fairly short, but is beautiful nonetheless. When you cross the picturesque ‘Uncle Tim’s Bridge’ you will find yourself on a small island surrounded by coastal marshlands. This is a very serene place to go, surrounded by the water and often very few visitors. There is a trail that loops around the island, as well as some benches scattered around for you to sit and soak in the views and the calmness.
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Indian Lands Conservation Trail, Dennis
Hidden along the edge of the Cape Cod Rail trail are beautiful trails winding through the forest and along the marshes. Set along Bass River, this nature walk is incredibly picturesque and around every corner is another beautiful view.
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Cape Cod Rail Trail
While not a conventional nature walk, the Rail Trail winds through beautiful hidden landscapes. While it is traditionally used for biking, you are welcome to walk on the trail as well. The great thing about the Rail Trail is that it is entirely paved, making it highly accessible. The entirety of the trail is over 20 miles long. With so many beautiful places along the way, you can pick where to start and stop your journey. Some of my favorite areas of the rail trail are near the Bass River in Yarmouth, Long Pond and Seymour Pond in Brewster, and the marshes in Orleans.
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Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, Wellfleet
Located within the Cape Cod National Seashore, this trail features a picturesque boardwalk through a vulnerable ecosystem. Atlantic White Cedars are an endangered species due to decades of overharvesting. There are very few swamp areas left in the region where these trees are able to thrive. With a beautiful red bark in a swamp surrounded by lush green moss, this boardwalk gives you a close look at a rare ecosystem on Cape Cod.
Click here for the AllTrails link!
