AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Depot pond - panoramio.jpg
Dil Rai · CC BY 3.0
Cape Cod National Seashore

Cape Cod National Seashore Beach–Depot Pond, 5 lakes

13.4 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 4 hr 30 min

Cape Cod National Seashore Beach–Depot Pond, 5 lakes is a 13.4-mile out-and-back in Cape Cod National Seashore near Orleans, MA. The route passes Upper Boat Meadow & South Eastham Conservation Area Beach, Little Depot Pond, Depot Pond and Jemima Pond before reaching Cape Cod National Seashore Beach at the turnaround, 6.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi7 – 66 ft13.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Upper Boat Meadow Conservation Area 41.80063, -69.98360
Nearest town Orleans, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cape Cod National Seashore Beach–Depot Pond, 5 lakes

13.4 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 4 hr 30 min

Elevation 5–66 ft

Out & Back · Cape Cod National Seashore

Trailhead: Upper Boat Meadow Conservation Area · 41.80063, -69.98360

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:26 AM · sunset 6:43 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Dogs allowed on leash · Transit-accessible: Orleans - Stop & Shop stop 517 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Upper Boat Meadow & South Eastham Conservation Area Beach.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  5. 500 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 350 ftTurn right onto Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading W.
  7. 1.7 miPass Little Depot Pond.
  8. 50 ftPass Depot Pond.
  9. 50 ftPass Jemima Pond.
  10. 3 miTurn right, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  13. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  14. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  15. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  16. 0.2 miReach Cape Cod National Seashore Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  19. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  20. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  21. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  23. 4.7 miTurn left, heading S.
  24. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  25. 500 ftTurn left, heading S.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  27. 300 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-viewpoint-upper-boat-meadow-south-eastham-conservation-area-beach-out-back-3-beaches-21-km-f736

Trail surface

64% paved23% dirt13% sand

Weather

Sunrise 6:26 AMSunset 6:43 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 6:06 PM for the 6:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Transit-accessible: Orleans - Stop & Shop stop 517 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Orleans, Massachusetts