AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Cape Cod National Seashore

Cape Cod National Seashore Beach–Highland Beach, 3 beaches

6.8 mi · ▲ 245 ft · 2 hr 23 min

Cape Cod National Seashore Beach–Highland Beach, 3 beaches is a 6.8-mile out-and-back in Cape Cod National Seashore near North Truro, MA. The route passes Highland Beach and Cape Cod National Seashore Beach before reaching Cape Cod National Seashore Beach at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 245 ft of elevation gain. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi3 – 72 ft7.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.04589, -70.07323
Nearest town North Truro, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cape Cod National Seashore Beach–Highland Beach, 3 beaches

6.8 mi · ▲ 245 ft · 2 hr 23 min

Elevation 3–73 ft

Out & Back · Cape Cod National Seashore

Trailhead: 42.04589, -70.07323

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 80°F / low 65° · precip 0% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 5:37 AM · sunset 7:57 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Highland Beach.
  3. 150 ftTurn right onto Head of the Meadow Bicycle Trail Connector, heading W.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  7. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 0.7 miPass Cape Cod National Seashore Beach.
  9. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 0.5 miTurn left onto Pilgrim Spring Trail, heading N.
  11. 350 ftSharp left onto Pilgrim Heights Road, heading NW.
  12. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  13. 50 ftTurn left onto Small's Swamp Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miBear left onto Head of the Meadow Bike Trail, heading W.
  15. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  16. 0.4 miReach Cape Cod National Seashore Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.7 miBear right, heading E.
  18. 350 ftContinue straight onto Small's Swamp Trail, heading E.
  19. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  21. 0.2 miSharp right onto Pilgrim Spring Trail, heading S.
  22. 350 ftTurn right onto Pilgrim Heights Road, heading SE.
  23. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  24. 1 miTurn right, heading E.
  25. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  26. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  27. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
  28. 450 ftContinue straight onto Head of the Meadow Bicycle Trail Connector, heading SE.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  30. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/cape-cod-national-seashore-beach-highland-beach-out-back-5-beaches-11-km-6916

Trail surface

30% dirt8% paved1% sand61% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 80°F65°
Precip0%Wind12 mphUV8Humidity76%
Rained 0.1″ yesterday (0.4″ over the last week)
Hourly temperature
80°65°
Sunrise 5:37 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:57 PM
Wed 80°65° 15%
Thu 76°71°
Fri 78°71°
Sat 74°69° 17%
Sun 78°70° 17%
Mon 78°72°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.0 mi in (~78 min). Leave by 6:20 PM for the 7:57 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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