Fall is our favorite time of year on Cape Cod and the perfect season to get out and enjoy some of the fabulous hiking trails that crisscross the region. Many of our favorites are within a 10-15 minute drive from the Whalewalk Inn, and a few are a little bit further afield, but still well worth the drive. Often our guests are surprised to learn that Cape Cod has miles and miles of walking trails. Nearly every town on the Cape has set aside abundant land, full of little-known walking trails and protected from future development. For the most part level and easy to navigate due to relatively few hills in the region, these trails are a great way for visitors to “get off the beaten path” and see Cape Cod from a new perspective no matter what the season.
Bell’s Neck, Harwich
Just over the Dennis/Harwich line, and not far from exit 9 off Route 6, is Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands, a nearly 260-acre parcel of woods, salt marsh and ancient cranberry bogs. A 3-mile trail loop leads through the marsh to an active herring run where, for a short time in the spring, thousands of river herring fight their way upstream to spawn.
Monomoy, Chatham
This is one of our favorite places on Cape Cod. It’s a great place for a picnic and dogs are welcome on leashes. At the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge you can walk the nature trail along the top of the cliffs, stopping at the frequent overlooks for spectacular views of the ocean, then mosey down a set of wooden stairs to the beach below. Across the channel is North Monomoy Island where you might spot gray seals basking in the sun. Stroll down the beach to the right where less than a mile out you’ll see Stage Harbor and the old Stage Harbor Light out around the bend.