With the later growth of automobile traffic, passenger train service declined and eventually ended, though the tracks continued to be used for freight until the mid-1960s.Ĭonstruction of the rail-trail began in the late 1970s, and its first 19 miles opened in 1981.
The trail corridor itself dates back to the mid-1800s, when the Old Colony Railroad Company began laying tracks between Boston and the popular summer resort communities on Cape Cod. Pilgrim Monument, a 252-foot-tall granite tower, commemorates the occasion. Located a few miles farther up the cape, where the land curls into a beckoning finger, history buffs may recognize the spot as the landing site of the Mayflower in 1620. Photo by TrailLink user dj123_45Īlthough not yet accessible from the rail-trail, an excursion to nearby Provincetown is worthwhile. Driscoll estimates that the design work for the project will get underway this fall. Plans are in motion to extend the trail north another mile and half to Wellfleet Center, a historical district and retail area known for its artisan shops and galleries. The maritime town is famed for its oysters, and celebrates them with a two-day OysterFest each October. The pathway continues through the national park to its end in Wellfleet, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Cod Bay. Kennedy, Driscoll calls it “a timeless place.” With thousands of acres of land preserved since the park’s creation in 1961 by President John F. It provides a way to relax and enjoy being outdoors.”Īt the northern tip of the rail-trail is the expansive Cape Cod National Seashore, known for its pristine beaches and picturesque lighthouses. The Cape Cod Rail Trail is another reason to come. “We believe that there’s a thriving green economy here. “When people come to Cape Cod, they want to be outside,” says Cannon. Here, the trail winds by freshwater ponds and marshlands, and through Nickerson State Park with, opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing and other activities. Dan Driscoll, director of recreation facilities planning for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages the trail, enjoys its middle section between the communities of Brewster and Orleans. While its sandy beaches justifiably garner much of the attention, the more tranquil and wooded areas of the trail are no less worthy of exploration. With plentiful bike shops, restaurants and other amenities dotting the route, it’s easy for families to customize their experience into smaller trips. They can go from their homes right to the trail.”
“It’s amazing when you’re on the Cape Cod Rail Trail and you see that every house has a path to the trail because so many people are using it. “The trail is part of the culture here,” says Glenn Cannon, director of technical services at the Cape Cod Commission, a regional planning agency.
#Cape cod national seashore bike trail full#
The paved rail-trail rolls 22 miles through Massachusetts’ southeastern peninsula and into the Cape Cod National Seashore, connecting half a dozen New England towns full of 17th-century charm. Nestled in an iconic vacation destination about 75 miles down the coast from Boston, the flavor of the Cape Cod Rail Trail is pure summertime: sun-warmed beaches, sparkling waves, refreshing swimming holes and state park campsites nestled among the pines and oaks. Please be aware that most have parking fees and some have pet restrictions during the season.Photo courtesy The Shared Experience | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Trail of the Month: July 2017 Click here to see all of our local beaches. First Encounter Beach, just a few miles from The Seagrove, is where the Pilgrims first encountered the Native Americans on the Cape. Of course don't forget the beaches on the Cape Cod Bay! Here you'll find the water is calmer and warmer and the perfect place to spend the day with the family or enjoy a glass of wine at sunset. Coast Guard Beach is a perennial winner of the Top 10 Beaches in America. The park’s 43,000 acres make up most of the curving peninsula between Chatham and Provincetown, featuring barrier islands, pine and oak forests, wild cranberry bogs, kettle ponds, tidal flats, and historic structures from the area's long maritime history.
Famous for its windswept beaches and spectacular views, Cape Cod National Seashore offers a quintessentially New England experience, from Nauset Lighthouse to the seaside cottages that nestle among the dunes.
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