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
Getting there
Directions
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
- Start on Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Old King's Highway, heading SW.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
- 100 ftBear left onto Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading SW.
- 250 ftPass Cape Cod Rail Viewpoint.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 2.1 miTurn right onto Rail Trail Access, heading S.
- 450 ftReach Cape Cod Rail Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading W.
- 2.1 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 400 ftBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Old King's Highway, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, heading NE.
- 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 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.
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
- Lecount Hollow Beach via Cape Cod Rail Trail 4.1 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Cape Cod Rail Trail 4.4 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- Cape Cod Rail Trail 4.4 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- Cape Cod National Seashore Beach via Cape Cod Rail Trail 4.5 mi · ▲ 263 ft
- Marconi Beach via Old King's Highway 4.9 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- Ralph & Dorthy Clover Conservation Land–Duck Pond, 3 beaches 5 mi · ▲ 229 ft
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Hikes near Wellfleet by the Sea, Massachusetts