Highland Beach & Cape Cod National Seashore Beach via Pilgrim Heights Road
4.8 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 1 hr 39 min
Highland Beach & Cape Cod National Seashore Beach via Pilgrim Heights Road is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Cape Cod National Seashore near Pilgrim Heights, MA. The route passes Cape Cod National Seashore Beach before reaching Highland Beach at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. 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
4.8 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 1 hr 39 min
Elevation 13–73 ft
Out & Back · Cape Cod National Seashore
Trailhead: Pilgrim Spring Trail · 42.05548, -70.10568
Weather Sep 20: Drizzle, high 63°F / low 50° · precip 58% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:26 AM · sunset 6:43 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.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Head of the Meadow Bicycle Trail Connector, heading SE.
- 50 ftReach Highland Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Pilgrim Spring Trail, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Pilgrim Heights Road, heading NW.
- 100 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 2.3 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 5:24 PM for the 6:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:57 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
- Pilgrim Spring Viewpoint–Highland Beach, 3 beaches 4.1 mi · ▲ 86 ft
- Cape Cod National Seashore Beach & Head of the Meadow Bike Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 91 ft
- Cape Cod National Seashore Beach via Head of the Meadow Bike Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Highland Beach & Cape Cod National Seashore Beach via Pilgrim Heights Road 5.3 mi · ▲ 112 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–Small's Swamp Viewpoint, 3 beaches 2 mi · ▲ 87 ft
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