Off-road vehicles
Most of the shoreline between Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro and Race Point Light is open at various times between July 1 and November 15, subject to permitting and equipment requirements. The section between Long Nook Beach and Head of the Meadow Beach is open April 15 to November 15 for night fishing only.
Off-Road Information Line:
For station hours, current driving conditions, closures and other information: +1 508-487-3698, web page
Operators: Registered owners and other operators must have a valid state operator's license; view an educational orientation program each season; and abide by all Seashore and off-road regulations.
Vehicles: 4-Wheel/All Wheel Drive Vehicles or Self-Contained recreational vehicles must have: a valid state registration, inspection sticker, insurance, tires meeting standards outlined in this brochure and all required accessory equipment. Rental vehicles are prohibited.
Self-guided walking trails
Atlantic White Cedar Swamp
Marconi station area. an award-winning 1.25 mile trail descending through a stunted oak and pine forest into a mature woodland where a boardwalk leads through the picturesque swamp. moderate difficulty, return route is 1/2 mile in soft sand.
Great Island Trail
Chequesset neck road. six mile or optionally eight mile trail that runs along great island and great beach hill, skirting salt marshes and giving great views on the way to jeremy point. the park's most difficult trail with soft sand, some log steps and portions submerged at high tide. optional routes can be confusing. caution: do not attempt when tide is rising.
Pamet Cranberry Bog Trail
North pamet road. one mile trail with a steep quarter-mile spur to overlook. old abandoned cranberry bog. moderately strenuous with many log steps.
Small's Swamp Trail
Pilgrim heights area off route 6. easy 3/4 mile loop.
Nauset Marsh Trail
Adjacent to salt pond visitor center, route 6. easy one mile trail along the shore of salt pond and nauset marsh over fields and through a recovering forest. great views.
Doane Trail
Doane road on the way to coast guard beach. easy half-mile paved trail loop through pine and oak forests to large glacial rock with marsh views.
Wellfleet
Fort Hill Trail
Governor prence road off route 6. this 1.5 mile, moderately difficult trail offers great views and connects with red maple swamp trail.
The Seashore has eleven self-guided trails. Individual self-guiding trail folders are available at some trailheads. Many have picnic areas.
Eastham
Truro
Red Maple Swamp Trail
Off fort hill trail above. one-half mile trail of moderate difficulty has boardwalk sections winding through the swamp. some tree roots in trail. great fall walk.
Buttonbush Trail
Adjacent to salt pond visitor center, route 6. this quarter mile trail with a boardwalk bridge over buttonbush pond features a guide rope and braille and large text. blindfolds optional! thirty minutes without.
Pilgrim Spring Trail
Pilgrim heights area off route 6. easy 3/4 mile loop through recovering pine and oak forest. a marker commemorates an area representative of where the pilgrims first drank.
Provincetown
Beach Forest Trail
Race point road at parking lot 1/2 mi from traffic light on route 6. one mile easy walk in sand, past pond and through dunes.
Bicycle trails
Head of the Meadow Trail
Head of the meadow beach to high head rd, truro. 2 miles.
Province Lands Trail
Access points all in provincetown: beech forest parking area; province lands visitor center; race point beach parking area; herring cove beach parking area beach fees may apply at the latter two. 5.5 mile loop with about 2 miles in spurs. caution: old trail, not designed for speeds over 10mph.
Link to Cape Cod National Seashore Bike Trail Pamphlet
Nauset Trail
Salt pond visitor center, eastham. 1.6 miles.
Beaches
Nauset Light Beach
Nauset road off route 6, eastham. parking area always fills during july and august, barring bad weather. arrive before 9:30 am to ensure a space. has filled up before then on very hot days.
Head of the Meadow Beach
Truro. parking area rarely fills. good beach for young children.
Race Point Beach
Race point rd off route 6, provincetown. parking area rarely fills during june and july. when the parking area does fill, it is usually one to two hours after the herring cove lot fills. great beach for watching sunset. popular with fisherman.
Herring Cove Beaches
Off route 6, provincetown. seasonal snack bar. parking area fills between 10am and noon most days throughout the summer. moderate turnover after 1pm. access to herring cove beach is also available on the provincetown-truro shuttle. great for watching sunset.
Coast Guard Beach
Nauset road off route 6, eastham. parking area fills between 11am and 1pm daily with moderate turnover. beach access via little creek shuttle and parking area, a half mile away. drop off and pick up of passengers and belongings at the beach is prohibited. limited handicapped parking state issued plate or placard required at the coast guard station parking area.
Beach Regulations
All have paved parking, showers and rest rooms seasonal if not at open visitor center, changing rooms, drinking water, water quality testing, and lifeguards late June through Labor Day. Coast Guard in Eastham and Herring Cove in Provincetown, are handicapped accessible and have wheelchairs capable of traveling over sand. Parking lots are open from 6AM to midnight, daily, year-round.
Marconi Beach
Off route 6, wellfleet. parking area rarely fills during late june and july. parking area will fill occasionally in august with moderate turnover. perhaps the most beautiful beach.
Do not disturb natural or cultural features
All are protected by federal law.
Glass containers, flotation devices (rafts, rubber-tubes), snorkels, and masks
Are prohibited on any life-guard-protected beach.
Pets
Must be leashed and under control at all times. leashes may not exceed six feet. pets are not permitted in public buildings, picnic areas, on protected beaches, or on self-guiding trails.
licenses for shellfishing are required
Town licenses for shellfishing are required. Regulations and fees vary by town.
Surfing and windsurfing
Are permitted in waters outside lifeguarded beaches.
Permits are required for all beach fires
They may be obtained on a first come, first serve basis at salt pond and province lands visitor centers. do not bury coals.
Climbing slopes or digging deep holes above knee level is hazardous and prohibited
Sand collapses easily. Climbing slopes or digging deep holes above knee level is hazardous and prohibited.