Photo J-6 ASR Camp Wellfleet.jpg
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Cape Cod Rail Viewpoint & Rail Trail Access via Cape Cod Rail Trail is an 8.3-mile out-and-back in Cape Cod National Seashore near Wellfleet by the Sea, MA. The route reaches Cape Cod Rail Viewpoint. It is mostly level, with 160 ft of elevation gain. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi13 – 82 ft8.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail 41.91279, -69.97362
Nearest town Wellfleet by the Sea, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cape Cod Rail Viewpoint & Rail Trail Access via Cape Cod Rail Trail

8.3 mi · ▲ 160 ft · 2 hr 51 min

Elevation 12–83 ft

Out & Back · Cape Cod National Seashore

Trailhead: Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail · 41.91279, -69.97362

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 81°F / low 65° · precip 0% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 5:36 AM · sunset 7:57 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miTurn left onto Old King's Highway, heading SW.
  5. 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
  6. 100 ftBear left onto Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading SW.
  7. 250 ftPass Cape Cod Rail Viewpoint.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  13. 2.1 miTurn right onto Rail Trail Access, heading S.
  14. 450 ftReach Cape Cod Rail Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 450 ftTurn left onto Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading W.
  16. 2.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  19. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  20. 400 ftBear right, heading N.
  21. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  22. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Old King's Highway, heading N.
  23. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  24. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  25. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  26. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, heading NE.
  27. 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

41% sand17% paved12% dirt30% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 81°F65°
Precip0%Wind10 mphUV8Humidity78%
Rained 1″ yesterday (1.2″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
85°65°
Sunrise 5:36 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:57 PM
Wed 79°65°
Thu 86°72°
Fri 89°73°
Sat 87°71° 16%
Sun 87°72° 16%
Mon 92°74°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.1 mi in (~77 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 7:57 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail Trailhead