Cape Cod Rail Trail is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Cape Cod National Seashore near Wellfleet by the Sea, MA. It is mostly level, with 107 ft of elevation gain. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Cape Cod Rail Trail
4.4 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 1 hr 31 min
Elevation 9–88 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 5:37 AM · sunset 7:56 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 right, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
- 150 ftBear right onto Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Bell Road, heading NE.
- 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, heading E.
- 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 0.9 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 7:13 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:36 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 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
- White Crest Beach via Cape Cod Rail Trail 5.3 mi · ▲ 325 ft
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Hikes near Wellfleet by the Sea, Massachusetts