Are you visiting Cape Cod? One enjoyable solution to discover this lovely a part of Massachusetts is by bike. The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a 25-mile mountain climbing, operating, and bike path. The path stretches via six Cape Cod cities. Guests can select to journey half or the entire rail path, as there are parking heaps and entrances all through the path. Before you determine to go, take a look at our information to the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
As you journey via the frustratingly slender roads into Cape Cod in the summertime, you might be certain to see many automobiles and SUVs with bike racks. Biking is a well-liked summer season exercise on the Cape – with good purpose. The salty, breezy air is ideal for out of doors actions, and the surroundings is gorgeous all through Cape Cod.
Biking on Cape Cod isn’t, nevertheless, restricted to those that go to with their very own gear. There are numerous completely different bike outlets positioned throughout the Cape the place company can hire bikes at some stage in their Cape Cod trip.
While the Cape Cod Rail Trail isn’t the one bike path on the Cape, it’s positively the most well-liked. If you take pleasure in out of doors actions, I’d positively advocate planning to spend a while on the path. You could need to have a look at the forecast in your trip and select a day that may be a bit cooler in your journey.
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Guide To Cape Cod Rail Trail: See the Beauty of Cape Cod
The Cape Cod Rail Trail was developed on the previous location of the Cape Cod Central Railroad and Old Colony Railroad tracks. In current years, it was expanded into South Yarmouth, MA. In the other way from the path, there’s a connection that goes over Station Avenue to Peter Homer Park in South Yarmouth. There are additionally plans for an jap growth into Barnstable.
This is a comparatively flat path with a paved path, so it’s nice for bikers, hikers, and runners of all ages. Of course, as you journey alongside the Cape Cod Rail Trail, you’ll be capable of see some lovely surroundings together with cranberry bogs, ponds, quaint cities, greenery, and extra. You can take issues at your individual tempo. While you’ll see some severe bikers on the path, there are additionally many vacation bikers who aren’t as skilled.
Location of the Cape Cod Rail Trail
The Cape Cod Rail Trail goes from the Yarmouth Trailhead in South Yarmouth all the way in which previous the Cape Cod National Seashore to the Wellfleet Trailhead. There are quite a few entrances and parking areas, and you may at all times flip round once you’ve traveled sufficient. There’s no have to journey all the distance if you happen to don’t need to.
The Cape Cod Rail Trail goes via six completely different Cape Cod cities:
- Yarmouth
- Dennis
- Harwich
- Brewster
- Orleans
- Wellfleet
The space round Nickerson State Park in Brewster is very lovely, however there are many nice issues to see within the space. There are extra bike trails on Cape Cod, a few of that are related and/or accessible to the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
You can even take a separate bike path from Harwich to Chatham. Trail maps of the Cape Cod Rail Trail and close by trails can be found on-line and at a number of the parking areas. It’s at all times a good suggestion to make a plan earlier than you go, particularly when touring with children.
Parking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail
Parking is accessible throughout the 25 miles of the path, no matter the place you need to begin/end. Free parking areas embrace the next:
- South Wellfleet Trailhead (LeCount Hollow Road)
- National Seashore at Marconi Historic Site
- Salt Pond Visitors Center in Eastham (which is 1/2 mile from the Locust Road intersection with the path)
- Rock Harbor Road, Orleans
- Orleans Center
- Rt 137 Brewster
- Headwaters Drive Harwich
- Rt 134 South Dennis
- Station Ave South Yarmouth (the path’s finish on the jap facet)
Guests can even park at Nickerson State Park, however admission/parking is charged from Memorial Day via Halloween (a decrease charge for Massachusetts residents). Unless you propose to make use of the State Park for different issues, it’s straightforward to seek out one other place to park without cost alongside the path.
Tips For Biking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail
If you might be biking the rail path, you should definitely put on acceptable clothes, placed on sunscreen, and examine the climate earlier than leaving. Travelers utilizing their very own bikes ought to examine them earlier than heading out to ensure every little thing is working accurately and that the tires are appropriately inflated.
The Cape Cod solar can get extremely popular, particularly in the summertime, so that you’ll need to deliver alongside loads of water to remain hydrated. Snacks are additionally a fantastic thought. Don’t neglect to cease if you happen to get drained.
Trail Etiquette and Rules on the Cape Cod Rail Trail
- Alcohol and littering will not be permitted on the rail path. All trash is carry in, perform
- The path has a 15 MPH velocity restrict
- Hours are from daybreak to nightfall
- Riders/walkers/runners should keep to the fitting except they’re passing. When passing, give an audible sign.
- For bikers, helmets are advisable and required for these beneath the age of 16
Bike Rentals on Cape Cod
If you might be staying at a resort on Cape Cod, inquire with the concierge to see if bikes can be found from the resort for borrowing or renting. Otherwise, there are many choices to hire bikes.
If you’d wish to attempt an digital bike, Pegodo has a location adjoining to the parking zone in South Yarmouth. You can reserve a motorbike on-line to make sure availability.
The Bike Zone of Cape Cod has a wide range of completely different leases obtainable. These embrace children’ bikes, tandem bikes, e-bikes, and trailer bikes. There are a number of places on Cape Cod, together with Yarmouth, Sandwich, Hyannis, and North Falmouth. The Yarmouth location is essentially the most handy to the rail path.
Dennis Cycle Center has two places – one in Dennis and one in Brewster. Reservations could be made for multi-day leases. They provide many choices, together with hybrid and luxury bikes, children’ bikes, and e-bikes.
Idle Times Bike Shop has three completely different places – Eastham, Orleans, and Wellfleet. This store provides free drop off and choose up for reservations over 24 hours. The three places are close to the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
Where To Stay
If you need to do some biking on your loved ones trip, you’ll have numerous lodging choices, together with trip residence leases, luxurious Cape Cod resorts, motels, and accommodations. For a household trip, the city of Yarmouth is a pleasant location as a result of it’s close to some enjoyable household actions like mini golf, the Cape Cod Inflatable Park, and the Whydah Pirate Museum.
You can discover lodging choices on this map (which is centered across the Yarmouth Station Street Parking Lot):
Frequently Asked Questions
I’d advocate beginning in South Yarmouth. There are some fairly websites you’ll move as you head west on the trail. You don’t should do a spherical journey on the entire path – select how a lot you need to do and switch round midway.
There are quite a few bike rental firms on Cape Cod. If the corporate you might be renting from provides reservations, it’s a good suggestion to make them prematurely to make sure availability.
Nickerson State Park does cost, however there are many different free parking heaps obtainable.
No, this paved path isn’t too difficult, with minor grades.
