Photo J-6 ASR Camp Wellfleet.jpg
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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

0 mi10 – 89 ft4.8 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 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

  1. Start on Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  4. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  5. 150 ftBear right onto Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading W.
  6. 0.4 miBear right, heading NW.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  9. 0.2 miBear right onto Bell Road, heading NE.
  10. 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  11. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  15. 250 ftContinue straight onto Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading SW.
  16. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  17. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  18. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  19. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  20. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, heading E.
  21. 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

49% dirt18% sand13% paved20% 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 5:37 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 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 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.

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