Top 5 Waterfront Hikes

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The old saying that water washes away the sorrows of everyday life is proved over and over again along the Cape’s bay and ocean beaches, along Nantucket Sound and the Cape Cod Canal. After all, these areas offer some of the best hiking trails in the region.

Experience Cape Cod’s Natural Beauty

Avid hikers from around New England and the country flock to Cape Cod year-round just to experience the trails and the region’s serene beauty.

“The three great elemental sounds in Nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in the primeval wood and the sound of ocean on an outer beach,” Henry Beston observed in his classic “The Outermost House.”  And, the same can be said for Cape Cod’s ethereal waterfront splendor.

Fortunately, you can find great hikes to water almost anywhere along the Cape. Literally, you are never far from a shoreline.

And, the best part?

Whether you want the raw force of the ocean or the gentler mood of a kettle hole, there are plenty of choices that offer different types of terrain.

Take A Hike!

Here is a list, compiled in part by OnCape.com, of the Top 5 Waterfront Cape Cod Hiking Trails for you and the whole family to enjoy.

1. Cape Cod Canal: You can walk any seven-plus-mile stretch of the Cape Cod Canal from Sandwich to Buzzards Bay (14 miles round trip, if you cover the whole distance) and enjoy the sights of sailboats and large marine vessels moving through the canal, as well as a variety of shorebirds and seabirds.
2. Murkwood Conservation Area and Scorton Creek: The Murkwood Conservation area covers 79 acres in East Sandwich, and a short trail meanders through a lovely woodland just off Route 6A near Scorton Creek. All around is sprawling salt marsh and the forest path is interrupted now and again with side paths, so walkers can glimpse the marsh. The path can be affected by the tidal flow, so be prepared to get your feet wet. There are numerous American hollies to view, but while walking, you should look out for poison ivy. The walk is especially lovely at sunset, and it is possible to catch sight of osprey, eagles and white-tailed deer. In the same area, it’s worth visiting Talbot’s Point on Old Country Road. This land stretches over 112 acres and extends along Scorton Marsh. Trails wind through oak, white and red pine, pitch pine, beech and spruce. Birding here can yield sightings of osprey, marsh hawks and terns.
3. Mashpee-Wakeby ponds: Two connected natural kettle-hole ponds under the administration of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife are treated as one large body of water covering 729 acres. It is fed by groundwater and drains to the Mashpee River. Access may be obtained through Lowell Holly Reservation in Mashpee. The 135-acre reservation boasts woodland rich with mature American beech, tupelo, red maple, black birch and several species of pine and oak. One of its two peninsular knolls juts out into Mashpee Pond and the other into Wakeby Pond, and both offer spectacular views over these large ponds. The ponds are renowned for their exceptional trout, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel and bluegill.
4. John Wing and South trails of the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster: located on more than 300 acres in Stony Brook Valley and adjacent to Brewster conservation land: The Wing Trail goes through upland woodland, salt marsh, dune and tidal flats on a mile-long round-trip walk. Tides can limit access, so check for times of low tide, unless you’re willing to wade through ankle-deep water for a while. For two quick strolls, the “Loop” and South trails at the museum provide a pleasant, if brief, diversion from the pressures of the day with a quarter-mile and three-quarter-mile trail, respectively.
5. Stony Brook Herring Run and Punkhorn Parklands in Brewster: At the end of Run Hill Road, you can gain access to the sprawling Punkhorn Parklands, nearly 800 acres of woodlands and pond habitat preserved by the town in a series of land acquisitions in the mid-1980s. The Punkhorn also offers opportunities for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, birding and picnicking. It’s wise to take a map of the parklands with you before you set out to hike, because the network of trails can be confusing. Nearby is the herring run, located at the intersection of Satucket and Stony Brook roads, just down from Run Hill Road.

Visit Cape Cod!

Whether you want to come to Cape Cod for a night or an extended stay… there is always a Cape Cod Family Resort here to offer you the best deals and the best accommodations.

Come walk the Cape Cod hiking trails as a family – or a couple. Either way, it’ll be an outdoor experience you won’t soon forget.

And that’s a guarantee!

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