One of the loveliest ways to explore our area is on a hike. Cape Cod National Seashore offers eleven self-guided nature trails that are open year-round. Most treks are easy, ranging from one-quarter mile to three miles, and provide great opportunities for birding, wildlife sightings, and stellar vistas. Here are two to get you started.
Nauset Marsh Trail, which you can pick up here in Eastham, is not only a local treasure, but also takes you through one of the prettiest spots on the entire peninsula. Start your hike at the Salt Pond Visitors Center where you can view a short movie on the National Seashore area and pick up a map that will point out landmarks along the hike.
The Nauset Marsh Trail follows a leisurely 1.6-mile path to the ocean at Coast Guard Beach. Along the way, you’ll walk through groves of cedar, pine, and oak; pass over the marsh on a modern wooden bridge, and hike up a short hill to the Coast Guard Station, where you will be rewarded with expansive views of the beach and Atlantic Ocean. It’s a peaceful trek with tons of photo ops.