Highland Beach & Cape Cod National Seashore Beach via Pilgrim Heights Road
5.3 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 1 hr 49 min
Highland Beach & Cape Cod National Seashore Beach via Pilgrim Heights Road is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Cape Cod National Seashore near Pilgrim Heights, MA. The route passes Cape Cod National Seashore Beach and Highland Beach. It is mostly level, with 112 ft of elevation gain. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Highland Beach & Cape Cod National Seashore Beach via Pilgrim Heights Road
5.3 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 1 hr 49 min
Elevation 13–75 ft
Out & Back · Cape Cod National Seashore
Trailhead: Pilgrim Spring Trail · 42.05548, -70.10568
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 81°F / low 65° · precip 0% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 5:36 AM · sunset 7:58 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Pilgrim Heights Road, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Pilgrim Spring Trail, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Pilgrim Heights Road, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miPass Cape Cod National Seashore Beach.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.4 miPass Highland Beach.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 250 ftBear left, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading S.
- 450 ftReach Highland Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 250 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear right, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Pilgrim Spring Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Pilgrim Heights Road, heading W.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 6:37 PM for the 7:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Pilgrim Spring Trail Trailhead
- Cape Cod National Seashore Beach–Small's Swamp Viewpoint, 3 beaches 2 mi · ▲ 87 ft
- Cape Cod National Seashore Beach & Small's Swamp Trail via Head of the Meadow Bike Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Cape Cod National Seashore Beach via Head of the Meadow Bike Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Cape Cod National Seashore Beach & Head of the Meadow Bike Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 91 ft
- Pilgrim Spring Viewpoint–Highland Beach, 3 beaches 4.1 mi · ▲ 86 ft
- Highland Beach & Cape Cod National Seashore Beach via Pilgrim Heights Road 4.8 mi · ▲ 112 ft
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