Barnstable, Bridge Creek Conservation Area

This is one of my family’s favorite trails, there is so much to see, with a widely varying landscape. After walking behind the museum, you cross a boardwalk through the salt marsh to Wings Island, which is named after John Wing, Brewsters first Colonial Settler. Look to your right and notice the Osprey nests perched above the marsh- depending on the season, you may be lucky enough to spot the birds themselves! 

There is a Solar Calendar in place on Sachemus Field with large pieces of granite set in a circular pattern and a plaque explaining how the Native Americans used this calendar to keep track of the seasons.

After walking through the upland forest, a set of stairs leads you down to the beach where you follow a path along the water. There are tide pools to explore with all kinds of creatures to discover. 

This is a loop trail, and I will include a map in my story/highlight to show where the trail picks back up again. One thing to note is that you may want to check the tides before you trek out here, going at low tide is best, unless you want to walk across the boardwalk through some water.

🅿️This trail is located behind the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. You can access it by  parking at Drummer Boy Park and walking a bit down 6A to the trail head- there is a sign right next to the museum. Or, if you have a membership to the museum or have paid admission, you can park in their parking lot. 

❌Not stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly

These trails run through oak, cedar and pine woodlands, with lots of shade and wide pathways. There are two ponds, and bubbling creek with a footbridge to cross. My boys found some salamanders in the creek, I’m still not sure what kind they are- possibly northern dusky. We also saw some turtles sitting on a log in the pond, frogs and more garter snakes. What a great place for herping! 

One surprise for us was that the train rode past just as we happen to pass an opening in the trail to view it. The boys were super excited! 

There’s also an overlook with views of the never-ending marsh and Sandy Neck, really beautiful views. 

We walked all the available trails and it was only about 1.4 miles in total. 

🅿️The address for this trail is 2444 Main Street, West Barnstable. There is a very small Audubon sign on 6A. There is only parking for a couple cars. 

❌Not stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly 

This is a wooded trail that leads to a beautiful view of Cape Cod Bay. The bluff is actually the highest overlook in Brewster at 50 feet above sea level. On a clear day you can see from Provincetown to Plymouth! 

This is an out and back style trail. 

In the spring keep an eye out for lady slippers, we have seen many of these delicate flowers on this trail. Also we have run into this sweet mother deer and her twin fawns as well! There is always a treasure to be found in the woods! 

🅿️From 6A in Brewster turn on to Lower Road, go about 1/2 mile, and the trail head is on your right. There is parking for about 4/5 cars along the street next to the trail sign. The total length of the trail out and back is about 1.3 miles. 

❌Not 100% stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly 

We call this the dog park walk at our house, as it seems almost everyone who is there has a dog with them. The walk itself goes out through the woods to Kent’s Point with views of Little Pleasant Bay and Frost Fish Cove. It’s absolutely beautiful! You can stay on the trails in the woods or choose to walk along the waters edge as well, there are paths and some stairs that get you back up to the main trail. 

Today we found a really fascinating mushroom that my 7 year old said it “looked like a sunset”. It’s technical name is a Ganodermataceae with shades of orange, pink and purple. 

He also learned about picking and eating sea pickles! Does anyone know the real name for this plant?

🅿️Parking for this trail is at the end of Frost Fish Lane in Orleans off of Monument Road. There are signs marking the trail. We walked almost all of the available sections of the trail and it was about 1.5 miles. 

✅Stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly 

The Dune Shack Trails are part of the Peaked Hill Bars Historic District and contains 19 “shacks” that were constructed starting over 100 years ago originally to house members of the US Life Saving Service, who were stationed there to help survivors of ship-wrecks. As time went on and they were no longer needed for this purpose, they housed artists  and authors who craved the solitude that only these dunes on the outermost Cape can provide. Kerouac, e.e. Cummings, Eugene O’Neill, Jackson Pollock and many more famous names were visitors to these shacks over the years. 

This walk is 100% sand, and is best done barefoot. There are well worn paths to follow, and it’s important to stay off of any vegetation. There is access to the beach, and you can walk right along the shore. It was incredibly foggy when we were there so we didn’t spot any whales this time- but we did see a lot of seals passing by. 

This trail was truly breathtaking, and I would recommend it to anyone. Just be sure to bring water and be up for a little bit of a challenge, as these dunes are BIG. Our elevation topped out at 276 feet above sea level!

The loop we took was 2.5 miles.

🅿️Parking is on the right side of the road at the intersection of Rte 6 and Snail Road. 

❌NOT Stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly

This trail wraps right around Sandy Pond, which is a classic kettle pond like so many others you can find on the Cape. Easy walking trails with a couple little boardwalks & small creeks to explore along the way. There are many little access points to the pond from the trail, but only one major sandy beach. 

The surrounding park is nice with a dog park & small playground open to the public. One thing that was really unfortunate was the amount of trash we saw throughout the whole walk. In the water, in the woods, even just in the parking area. We didn’t have a plastic bag or gloves with us, which I usually pack, or I would have been cleaning as we walked. We plan on going back this weekend to pick up as much as we can. 

🅿️The trail was a loop and was about 1.2 miles in total. It’s located right off of Buck Island Road in West Yarmouth, there is a big sign for Sandy Pond Conservation Area. 

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly 

This trail is on Flax pond and conservation area. You first have to walk under some power lines and along a sandy path through the woods to get to the pond. 

There was an old rope swing down by the pond that the boys tested out. A regular wooden swing can be found by walking further up the trail. There were many types mushrooms to be found, we tested our new knowledge and did quite well! Our favorite was the large orange layered one called Bracket Polypores. We found a paper wasps nest too, but no more wasps! Look at all of the intricate detail!  Our favorite find was a spotted salamander, he was about 6” long and black with bright yellow spots. We were very gentle with him and made sure to place him right back where we found him, we felt so blessed to find him! They spend most of their lives underground so while they are not rare, it’s uncommon to see them. 

We walked 2.1 miles and the trail was a loop. There were many side trails so you could walk a farther or shorter distance depending on your preference. 

🅿️We parked in the Flax Pond Conservation Land parking lot off of Setucket Road in Dennis. 

❌Not Stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly 

A wooded trail lined with with tall white pine trees and wide pine needle covered paths. Easy walking for little legs and shady on sunny days. There is a cute little wooden box about 1/2 mile down the trail where we always bring a little toy to trade. This time we dropped off a matchbox truck. Inside the box we have found dog treats, hand painted cards and other special treats by other trail walkers in the community. It’s such a cool addition to the walk. 

Another amazing thing about this trail and the conservation land surrounding it is that it is the only location in the state of Massachusetts where American Chestnut trees are actively producing. See the second photo for what the leaves look like- we happen to spot one of these rare trees on our walk over the summer. 

Yesterday when we were walking we spent some time looking under logs for one of our favorite creatures, the Eastern Red Backed Salamander. They like the damp & dark habitat the fallen trees provide. 

🅿️You can park on Namquoit Road, which is off of Rte 28 in Orleans, or you can also access the trail by parking on John Kenrick Rd which is right off of Rte 28 next to the So. Orleans Post office. I’ll include a map in my highlights. 

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly 

This trail goes mostly downhill through the woods with lots of wooden “stairs” to help with the descent until you reach the boardwalk. This section winds through the cedar swamp and is like an enchanted forest for imaginative little minds! Then you walk slowly back uphill on a sandy path through the woods. One of my favorite parts of this trail was that we could hear the ocean waves while walking.

After doing the the loop through the swamp, you can head over to the Marconi overlook site across the parking lot to view the ocean and have a little history lesson or just run up and down the ramps like my kids did.

🅿️This trail is located off of Marconi Beach road on Rte 6 in So. Wellfleet, follow the signs to the Marconi Station Site. Total trail length is about 1.2 miles and it’s a loop. 

 ❌Not stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly 

This was a trail that I was very happy to have my @AllTrails app handy. There were no signs of any kind to mark the trails, so you’d either just have to know where you’re going, or have a map! The trails were well worn, but there were quite a few off-shoots so having the map made it easy to know which route to take. 

A heavily wooded trail, with some narrow paths, its a beautiful spot if you want to spend some time in the quiet of the woods. We found a huge black oak tree in a clearing that the boys loved climbing, it felt like it was put there just for little kids to enjoy. 

Part of the trail was on a sandy back road, but we saw no homes, cars, or people for that matter. This was a truly special spot! I will include a photo of the route we took, we ended up walking 2.4 miles. 

🅿️We parked in the Marconi Beach parking lot. It was tricky to find the trailhead, but if you drive slowly once you get into the parking area, look to your right and you will see a worn path leading up a hill. Again, there are no signs! Please let me know if you have any questions and I’ll try to help. 

❌Not stroller friendly
✅I’m assuming it would be fine to bring your dog in the off season, but this is on Cape Cod National Seashore Land, so summer months might be a different story

We started out this trail by parking at the lower parking lot near the Penniman House and heading out on the Red Maple Swamp Trail. This is mostly made up of a boardwalk that winds through the woods. We found a garter snake sunning himself along the edge of the path, try and see if you can spot him in the photo above! 

After exploring the Maple Swamp, we walked up to check out the great views across the marsh, you can even see the Coast Guard Station. The Indian Rock is a truly amazing piece of history that you can see and touch with your own hands. My boys even pretended to sharpen some sticks they found like the Nauset Indians had done with their own tools on that same rock. 

We then walked the sandy paths through the field around Fort Hill and back up to the top parking lot. There is a great view of the water from there too. In total the loop that we did was 1.8 miles. 

🅿️This trail can be found off of Rte 6 in Eastham, turn onto Governor Prence road and follow the brown Fort Hill Signs onto Fort Hill Road. 

❌Not entirely stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly 

Visit the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham to view the historic area of Doane Rock and the Doane Homestead site. 

There is plenty of parking, picnic areas, and public bathrooms (currently closed due to covid). We park in the back parking lot and start the loop walk from the far end of the parking area. It’s a fully paved trail, and only .6 miles. There are plaques throughout that give you a bit of history about the area, although they are a bit hard to read because they are very weathered! The trail brings you by the Doane Homestead site, which is where the English settler John Doane’s house once stood. He settled in 1644 with his family and was one of the very few to live alongside the  Wampanoag Native Americans. 

If you keep walking you will end up at the enormous Doane Rock, which is actually a glacial Boulder. It’s the largest exposed Boulder on Cape Cod and it’s pretty impressive to see in person. I purposely ended our loop with the rock, because I knew once my boys saw it, we would be climbing on it for a while.

🅿️The address is 520 Doane Road in Eastham. 

✅Stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly

Wow! What a view! These are two short loop trails offering beautiful views of the ocean and dunes. Bring your binoculars to look for wildlife on the dunes! Walk through the woods and up and down small hills with wooden steps and a small boardwalk. The signs indicate that one trail is much shorter than the other, but we found they were both about .7 miles long. Very easy for kids to walk! Lots of markers to let you know what kind of plants are in the woods, like blueberries, bear berry, Virginia creeper, sarsaparilla and more. Just keep an eye out for lots of poison ivy. 

🅿️These trails are located off of Pilgrim Heights Rd on Rte 6 in Truro, it’s part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. 

There was also a covered pavilion there with a picnic table if you wanted to pack a lunch. 

❌Not stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly

Fifty-seven acres of conservation land with intersecting trails, Thompson’s Field is a beautiful spot to explore. It’s very popular spot with dog owners, but dogs must be leashed or under voice control. We have been there many times and have always had good experiences with the sweet four legged friends we meet. There are open fields as well as wooded path lined with pine and cedar trees. The last time we walked there the boys had fun playing with some milkweed pods we found. One thing of note is that the Cape Cod Rail Trail runs right through this conservation land as well. 

There are about 2.75 miles of trail available to walk. You can make your walk as long or as short as you’d like.

🅿️There are two access points to this area.
From route 39 take Chatham Road southeast about three quarters of a mile to a parking area on your left. 

On Route 39, almost directly across from John Joseph Road, there is a large parking area.

✅Stroller friendly

✅Dog friendly (of course)

While at Highfield Hall yesterday we decided to spend some more time exploring the Beebe Woods trails. There are almost 7 miles of trails to explore, with many points of interest, including several large glacial boulders and a kettle pond called the “Punch Bowl”. There is also Peterson’s Farm, which I’ve read has sheep on the property, we didn’t walk that way on this trip, but plan to go back! 

The trails are clearly marked, and there are maps available to download on the Highfield Hall site, which is linked in my bio. We walked a loop of about 2.2 miles which allowed us to check out the Punch Bowl and explore some of the old carriage roads that are located in these woods as well. I’ll include a screenshot of the route we took, it was an easy walk for my boys who are 7 & 3 years old. 

🅿️Parking is free, and right at Highfield Hall. The address is 56 Highfield Drive, Falmouth. 

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly, but they must be leashed

There is a short but sweet trail tucked behind the Barnstable Land Trust Conservation Center right on 6A in West Barnstable. In total the trail is about 1/2 mile, but there is plenty to explore. A gorgeous view of Popolo Pond from a newly built observation deck is a great place to bird watch. In the spring and summer months it would give you a birds eye view to spot frogs or turtles below in the pond. 

Keep walking and you’ll find newly installed walkways to lead you down the trail through the woods. We took our time and tried to identify different plants we found. Bright red bristly rose hips, staghorn sumac, bitterdock and coral spot mushrooms, just to name a few. We also spotted a few birds nests that had become exposed after the leaves had fallen from the trees where they sat. There is always something to find if you keep your eyes open!

🅿️Parking for this trail is at the Barnstable Land Trust Conservation Center. There is a large parking area behind the building. The address is 1540 Main Street, West Barnstable.

✅Stroller friendly
❌No dogs

Want to visit one of National Geographic’s Top Ten Boardwalks in the Country? Travel no further than the historic Sandwich Boardwalk. This 1350 foot boardwalk traverses the marsh and Mill Creek and leads to Town Beach, which is part of Cape Cod Bay. Initially built in 1875, this walkway has been reconstructed many times due to weather damage, most notably in 1991 after Hurricane Bob. This storm almost completely destroyed the boardwalk, but it was rebuilt after individuals and businesses purchased planks with their own personalized carvings. 

This is a stunning spot to take in a view of the marsh, the beach, or for bird watching. Right now there is tiny Christmas tree perched up at the top of the stairs leading down to Town Beach. Perfect photo op! 

🅿️Parking is at the end of Boardwalk Road in Sandwich. There is no charge in the off season but I believe there is a charge for non-residents during the summer months. 

This loop trail is the shape of a triangle sits on almost 40 acres of conservation land in Chatham. These trails are heavily wooded and somewhat narrow at times, so beware of the abundant poison ivy and the deer ticks that are ever present in our area. There is a protected vernal pool site within these conservation lands. A sign marks a path leading off the main trail that takes you to a bench that overlooks the pool. Vernal pools are so important for the survival of many creatures. 

Another fascinating but somewhat creepy place to explore within this trail is the smallpox cemetery from the 1700s. Smallpox was a devastating disease and it claimed the lives of 37 out of the 678 Chatham residents of the time. Business and schools were forced to close. Sound familiar?  Another eerie similarity, today in 1979 marks the day that the World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated. 

This trail was about 1.2 miles in total, and very easy to walk. 

🅿️There are a couple different places to park along the side of Old Comers Road in Chatham. I’ll include a map so you can see where the triangle is located- the roads that make up the triangle are Old Comers , Old Queen Anne and Training Field Rd. 

✅Dog Friendly
❌Not stroller friendly 

In Yarmouth port, north of 6A near Grays Beach, there is a large conservation area and within it a few great trails. This one is our favorite as it has a tire swing(!!) at the end. What kid doesn’t love a good tire swing?  This is a nice wooded walk with a bridge crossing over a creek with grand views of the marsh. It’s an out and back style trail and only a little over a mile in total. On a clear day you can see Sandy Neck light from the parking area! 

🅿️Parking for this specific trail is at the end of Alms House Road in Yarmouth Port off Center Street. It’s a dirt road, take it all the way to the end, there is room for about 4 cars. Please drive slow & be respectful of the private homes on the road too.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly 

This trail is right off of Quanset Road in South Orleans on 11 acres of land between two ponds- Sarah’s, and Meadow Bog. There are a few decent sized hills to climb, which you don’t always find on the Cape. You will walk nicely maintained pathways lined with large oak and pine trees and get great views of the freshwater ponds. Keep your eyes peeled for  birds! We saw a red tailed hawk, many woodpeckers and blue jays among others. There are yellow and red arrows posted on the trees to follow different paths. If you follow the yellow  arrows, it takes you on a very short loop. If you follow the red arrows, it brings you all the way to Davis Road, which is the trail that we took. We ended up walking about 1.5 miles, in an out-and-back hike.

🅿️To get to the trailhead, drive down Quanset
Road, about 1.2 miles on the left. You’ll see a small brown parking sign and area for 1-2 cars. 

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly

This is a great loop trail that runs through the woods and by two ponds, Upper & Lower Shawme, on over 40 acres of conservation land. Keep an eye out for an old rusted tractor and rock foundation, both remnants of Old Quail Hollow Farm. You can also view the restored dam that was originally built in 1812 by Samuel Wing and his brothers. It was constructed for use of a cotton spinning mill, which was the first factory on Cape Cod! 

This is a loop style trail and about 1.5 miles in total. Very easy walking for all ages. 

🅿️Parking for this trail is across the street from the Henry T. Wing School (33 Water Street Sandwich), there is a small parking area and sign for the trail. 

✅Dog friendly 

✅ Jogging stroller friendly (if you’re up for some roots & small hills!)

This scenic walk sits on 42 acres of conservation land right off of Bay Road in Harwich. You first walk through the woods on a nicely maintained path that leads you to a section of trail along the power lines. There are clear trail markers to keep you on the right path. After getting back into the woods you get a view of the Monomoy River through the trees, and if you walk to the “Overlook” there are benches and a better view of the river and Pleasant Bay. There are some slight hills on this walk, but it is still suitable for all ages. We walked the whole trail, which is a loop style it was almost exactly 2 miles. 

Our favorite part of the walk was when we noticed a small fir tree that someone had decorated for Christmas. It was so magical, and finding it today was such a treat for the boys. Whoever set up this little tree- I hope you know that you totally made our day!

🅿️ If you’re coming from Rte 39, take Bay Road and the parking area will be about a mile down the road on your right. It’s across the street from Blue Heron Landing. Look for the brown hiking signs. 

❌Not stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly, due to the sensitive wildlife & water resources in the area 

If you’re looking for a short & sweet walk through the woods with a great view at the end, this trail is for you! Located on 11 acres of conservation land just above Nauset Inlet, this trail winds through oak and pine forest that used to be old farm land, apparent by the remnants of a stone wall marking boundary lines. Another interesting feature are the vernal  pools located on the property. These pools are so important for the survival of many creatures such as red-backed salamanders and wood frogs. Once you get to the end of the trail you get a picture perfect view over the cordgrass and marsh. 

This is an out and back style trail, and in total less than .5 miles. 

🅿️Parking is at 366 Tonset Road in Orleans. There is room for a couple cars on the side of the road. 

✅Dog friendly
✅Stroller friendly (if you use a jogger & some muscle getting over some roots) 

A great walking trail through thick beautiful forests surrounding Eagle Pond. There are a couple benches to take a break and get a nice view of the pond as well. 182 acres in total, this land is now cared for by the Barnstable Land Trust, although it wasn’t always just conservation land! This was the site of a turkey farm run by by Frieda Landers in the 1950s & 1960s, and it was known that the Kennedy’s would always buy their Thanksgiving turkey from her and have it sent directly to their home in Hyannisport. There are also remains of two cranberry bogs on the property that you can still see. 

Another really fascinating feature of this property are the maple & cedar swamps. If you look at the trail map its very easy to find them, and they are worth checking out. Some of these trees are over 100 years old! 

This is a loop style trail, which runs around the pond. There are options to explore other parts of the land, so I would recommend looking at the map too! In total we walked about 2.6 miles. The paths are wide and nicely maintained.

🅿️Parking is located 1/2 mile down Putnam Ave from the Intersection of RTE 28 and Putnam Ave in Cotuit. There is a dirt pull-off on the side of the road that can fit quite a few cars.

❌Not Dog friendly
❌Not Stroller friendly (parts of this trail had lots of exposed roots)

Over 300 acres of conservation land houses a spiderweb  of trails. Today we did just a 1 mile loop through the hilly terrain in the woods, but there are over 3.5 miles in total to explore. The trails are marked, but some are narrow and not very well maintained.

One notable thing about this trail is that it has the highest point in Yarmouth- sitting at 118 feet above sea level. At that spot on a clear day you can see all the way to Plymouth! Another point of interest is the massive granite boulders that seem to be sprinkled through the woods, the evidence of a past granite mining in the area.

We also spotted quite a few kindness rocks today, all with messages of peace , love and kindness, which seemed very appropriate for an Election Day.  

🅿️Parking for this trail was on N. Dennis Road on Reservoir Pond, just south of Weir Road. There was parking for 2-3 cars.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly 

This trail begins at the Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond Visitors Center, just to the right of the amphitheater. It’s a loop  style trail, and starts out along the eastern 🧭 edge of Salt Pond, one of the Capes only Kettle Ponds that has been breached by the ocean. You walk over a footbridge and then up a hill through the woods to get a great view of the marsh. The views are absolutely gorgeous! Then the trail winds back down the hill and through the woods, leading you back towards the Visitors Center. There are black cherry trees, red cedar and pine trees among many others.

This is an easy trail to walk, at about 1.5 miles in total. The paths are well marked and maintained. 

🅿️Parking is at the visitor center, the address is 50 Nauset Road, Eastham.

❌Not stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly

This is a loop trail located next to Cornelius Pond, (also called Eldridge Pond). It’s very short, only about 1/2 mile, but its on 15 acres of conservation  land that includes a pond view, a meadow, and a winding walk through the woodlands!

We explored the trail on a rainy  fall day  and searched for different mushrooms while we walked. Check out the huge boletes and the beautiful turkey tails growing on a log that we noticed. The colors were so beautiful.

🅿️ It’s off of Queen Anne Road. If you’re coming from Rte 124, take Queen Anne going east about 1/2 a mile and it will be on your left. There is a nice sized  parking lot and big oval green sign on the road, I included a photo of that in my highlights as well.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly

Located on the Texeira Conservation Land, 16 acres of woodlands and wildflower meadows house the Francis Worrell Loop.

This is a short trail, just over half a mile- it’s easy and a relatively flat walk. 🥾

Right now it’s beautiful with the changing leaves and all kinds of berries- pokeweed, porcelain berries bittersweet too.

🅿️From Rt. 124 take Queen Anne Rd. approx 0.3 mile east to the parking area on your right (just past Oak St.)

✅Stroller friendly (with some effort)
✅Dog friendly 

This is a new trail in the town of Harwich, right off of Church Street. A wildflower meadow and views of Muddy Creek which flows into Pleasant Bay gives this short half mile trail lots of interest.

There were a couple benches installed and the trails 🥾were wide and nicely cleared. This is a great trail for little walkers, and you could probably push a stroller through. We are planning to go back in the spring to check out the activity in the birdhouses and the wildflower blooms

🅿️Parking is right off of Church Street in East Harwich, there is a nice sized lot at the trail head. This is a loop trail, and about .5 miles.

✅Stroller friendly (with some effort)
✅Dog friendly, must be leashed

We explored this 11 acre woodland area this afternoon, and we will definitely be back. The trails loop around an old cranberry bog and then along Mill Pond. There are newly installed benches in couple spots with great views  of the water. The paths were wide and pine needle covered, and felt like cushions under our feet! 🥾

A short and very easy walk for little legs, it was just under 1 mile.

🅿️Parking for this trail is on Old Queen Anne Road in Chatham between Herndon Way & Cemetery Road - on the opposite side of the street. There is enough parking for maybe 2 cars.

✅Dog friendly
❌Not stroller friendly 

These trails are part of Mass Audubon so they are well marked and taken care of. They are interconnected so you can take a quick  walk, or a longer one depending on your preference. We ended up walking just over miles.

There were views of West Pond, a small footbridge to peer over and look for fish  frogs, and a creek running underneath. We walked down to the Swamp trail too which was really shady and mossy, it felt like you were in a different world.

We ended up looping back through the Holly Trail and saw garter snakes  and found a couple different types of Salamanders too!  

This was a beautiful hike, it was quiet and well kept. We saw no trash at all- which was great!

🅿️The address for this trail is 418 Bumps River Road, Barnstable. There is a small parking area next to the trailhead.

❌Not stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly

This is an out and back trail from Route 6A in Brewster that ends at beautiful  Cape Cod Bay. A wide sandy trail down to the water lined with spruce, oak and pine trees. You also pass by a swamp and over a little boardwalk. Once you get down to the beach it feels like you’re on your own little private oasis!

On the way back, take the left before the bench and it will bring you through a narrower path through the woods  that loops you back to the sandy trail.

🅿️Parking is on 6A, just east of the Cape Cod Sea Camps. It’s up a narrow driveway next to a White House. There is plenty of parking, it’s free during the “off-season” but you need a Brewster beach sticker in the summer.  In total it’s less than 1 mile.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dogs are allowed in the off season

This was a really beautiful walk, with a decent amount of hills for the Cape. Some areas were quite rocky/rooty so be cautious ⚠ with little walkers. Not only is there the kettle pond, but a vernal pond as well. We saw swans 🦢 swimming around and heard what we think were king fishers! There were many paths that led right down to the water, so there’s lots of exploring to be had!

If you travel  clockwise around the loop you will see sequential numbers  on wooden stakes posted throughout the trail. Make sure to take the brochure that the Barnstable Conservation Trust so kindly created to learn more about this 60 acre area of land and kettle pond. I’ve included a link in my bio to the brochure.

The total length of the trail was about 1.2 miles.

🅿️ There is a public parking lot at 1431 Phinney’s Lane in Hyannis.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly

Hike out to a bluff with a great view  of Seymour Pond. This trail 🥾 is part of the Punkhorn Parklands in Brewster, a 835 acre area of land made up of walking trails, ponds and diverse habitats. If you follow the yellow arrows on this wooded path you can easily stay on course. It’s clearly marked and the trails are easy to navigate. Just be aware that horses commonly travel these paths.

🅿️For this specific trail we parked in the parking lot off of Run Hill Road in Brewster. From Stony Brook Road, take Run Hill Road until it turns into gravel, and there is a public parking lot on your left. This walk was about 3 miles long in total.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly 

This is a short trail that includes the South Eastham Conservation Area as well as Upper Boat Meadow. Take a right on Smith Lane off of the Orleans/Eastham rotary and you can 🅿️ park on the side of the road.

We enjoyed this easy  wooded walk, the boys collected some humongous acorns and found a fabulous climbing tree. It was a loop style trail, and only about .9 miles in total. There are off-shoots of the trail that can lead you to the bike  path if you wanted to extend your adventure.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly

This is a scenic 1 mile loop around Blackwater Pond and through the  woods. The beech  trees and large swaths of moss make these woods look like an enchanted  forest. This is also a premier destination for  bird watching on Cape, so bring your  binoculars!

On our creature hunting adventure today we spotted two garter  snakes, both were soaking up the  sun on the trail. We also found plenty of  frogs and tadpoles while peering over the dock. Seeing the  frogs in different stages of its life cycle in the same spot was really cool for the kids!

🅿️This  trail is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, and located at 36 Race Point Road in Provincetown. There is plenty of free  parking available. Afterwards we drove about a mile down the road and played on Race Point Beach to burn off some more energy (like they ever run out)

❌Not stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly 

Want the most amazing  views of the Atlantic Ocean  while standing atop the dunes in Truro? Head to the Great Dunes 🥾 hike and you will not be disappointed! The hike to get to this view is through the  woods, it’s very quiet  and beautiful, but the path is generally very narrow and a little overgrown at times. It’s only wide enough for one person to pass through.

Once we got to the top of the dunes my boys were awestruc watching the huge waves that were crashing on the beach, and the seals playing in the surf. We ended up heading down to Ballston beach afterwards to play in the water which was another adventure in itself!

🅿️We used the app All Trails to stay on course for this walk, since there was no sign or map posted at the trail head. To get to this trail, we were heading north on Rte 6, and took a right onto Rose Rd as soon as we got into Truro, then took a right onto Collins Road. We parked at one of the sandy pull-offs on the side of the road on the right hand side. There are multiple  trails that all lead out to the dunes. The trail we walked was a loop and was about 3.3 miles.

❌ NOT stroller friendly 😅
✅ Dog friendly

This is a wooded trail around one of the steepest & cleanest kettle ponds in Brewster! It’s a short  walk, only about 3/4 of a mile and the path is a loop and clearly marked with  arrows on the trees. A lot of clearing has recently been done so this path is even easier to navigate than it has been in the past! Just keep an eye out for poison ivy.

This pond has pumpkinseed fish and small mouth bass, bullfrogs and more. We’ve also spotted some really interesting fungus  lately, like the bright yellow spaghetti mushrooms I posted above. Another awesome plant related to the Ghost Pipes we frequently find these pinesap but these are bright red- you can’t miss them, they’re beautiful!

🅿️Parking is right on Rte 137 in Brewster. There is a unpaved parking area for a a few cars on the side of the road. If you’re driving south on 137 and pass Ocean Edge on your left, the parking area is shortly thereafter on your left.

✅ Dog Friendly
❌ Not Stroller Friendly

Walk through woodlands with views of the marshes and Bass River, this trail has so much to see! My boys of course love to find the fiddler crabs  scurrying into their burrows in the mudflats. We’ve also always had great luck  birdwatching here- today we saw a great blue heron, a family of ducks, and there were hawks calling out in the trees above us.

🅿️Parking is at 485 Main Street in South Dennis. You follow the sandy path for about 1/3 mile along the bike path until you reach the wooden Indian Lands sign. We only did the first section today which ended up being about 2 miles, there is a second loop if you did that as well it would be closer to 2.5/3 miles.

❌Not stroller friendly in my opinion
✅ Dog friendly 

This trail winds through the woods  with views of three  ponds. Widow Harding, Bridge & Great Pond. There’s a small bridge  to cross over a creek between two of the ponds that leads over to Wiley Park. This park has a playground , restrooms and a larger beach area for swimming . It was a little too cold 🥶 today for swimming but we explored the ponds edge and found fresh water clams and frogs.

On the walk through the woods we noticed a lady slipper  plant along the edge of the path, not flowering at this point in the season but we recognized the distinct  leaves. The boys also thought the coyote  warning sign was cool, and then were convinced we were going to find one on our walk. (Spoiler alert, we didn’t)

🅿️We parked right along Samoset road and walked about 2 miles. You could also park at Wiley Park to explore this same area.

✅ Dog Friendly
✅ Wiley Park section was pretty much stroller friendly, the section after the bridge towards Samoset Rd is a little more unpredictable.

This trail is part of Nickerson State Park in Brewster. It encircles Little Cliff Pond with a trail that runs right along the edge of the water. There are a couple beach access points, but generally you’re walking along a “little cliff” edge on one side and forest on the other. The path has lots of roots and varying elevation. We ended up taking a detour and walking by Higgins Pond, which was great for frog huntig! There was a big sandy beach with not a soul in sight. Good thing the boys brought their buckets and nets!

🅿️The trail we walked was about 2 miles long and we parked right at the Cliff Pond parking area.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly

This is a  wildlife haven, and one of our favorite spots to visit! Every time we wind up here, there is something new to discover. We’ve spotted a green heron hunting in the marsh, loads of fiddler  crabs, painted turtles in the pond, great blue herons taking flight- it’s just remarkable. My boys always love checking out the massive whale bones they have on display outside as well.

There are 5 miles of trails that wind through the woods, marsh, and beaches. We usually do the Goose Pond Trail, which is about 2 miles for us. The trails are clearly marked and the paths are wide enough for a stroller.

The visitors center is a great place to go for more sights to see, with indoor  aquariums and exhibits.

🅿️There is a nominal charge for visiting these trails & the center, please check the Mass Audubon website or call ahead to get up to date info.

✅Stroller friendly
❌ Not dog friendly

This looping trail runs through the woods off of Tonset & Brick Hill Roads in Orleans. You can pick the trail up off of either road. Ice House Pond was so fun for the boys to explore. They found frogs- sooo many frogs! But my favorite treasure were the animal tracks  in the mud along the shore. We identified many deer prints, and then there were others that looked like possibly otters or raccoons.There were discarded mussel shells surrounding the pond that they could have been prying open & eating with their adorable little paws too!

Check out my highlights to see what other cool mushrooms & plants we found!

Part of the trail also loops around the smaller Reubens Pond, but there isn’t direct access to really explore the water.

I’ll post a photo of the map in my highlights, you could easily make this a short trip or a longer one depending on your preference. We walked all available trails and it was about 2 miles. There isn’t a parking area for this trail, we just parked on the side of the road near the trail head- at 245 Tonset Road, Orleans.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog friendly

This is a little bit of  Salamander Serendipity! Yesterday after finding the spotted salamander, my older son opened his birthday presents  from my parents. One of them was the book, “Salamander Sky” by Katy Farber which is about spotted salamanders! My mom had purchased the book a few days before so it was just pure chance. Another happy coincidence was that this is the same book used at the Vernal Pool Trail at the Eddy School on 6A in Brewster! We walked this trail a couple weeks back and the boys loved the story and searching for the next page along the trail.

Short & sweet, it’s a great walk for little legs. Set around a vernal pool, there’s a lot to explore in a small area. Keep eyes open for all kinds of creatures!

🅿️Parking is at the Eddy school. The trail head is at the back right of the soccer fields. There is a map sign you can look for. The trail is a loop and about 1/2 mile.

❌Not stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly 

Walk across the marsh on a boardwalk into a beech forest, get a birds eye  view from a man made “observation deck” and watch the creek run under the bridges! In the spring, keep an eye out for the migrating herring  in the water. We were finding salamanders underneath fallen trees, and saw ospreys flying overhead. Also there were tons of bolete mushrooms  in beautiful shades of orange.

This walk is about a mile long, a loop style. You have to pay attention to the tide- walking at high tide is not recommended. 

🅿️Parking is right across the street from the Museum of Natural History on 6A in Brewster.

❌Not stroller friendly
❌Not dog friendly

This is a great little walk along the beach in Chatham with a surprise at the end for your pirate loving kiddos. I didn’t tell my boys where we were going the first time we checked it out and they felt like they were discovering an abandoned pirate shack!

Keep your eye out for seals, and other crabs and sea life along the walk as well. We found a huge moon snail the last time we went.

🅿️Park at Lighthouse beach parking lot, which is free. Walk down the steps and walk south along the beach for about a 1/2 a mile until you see the shack.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dogs allowed in the off season 

There is a temporary Poetry Walk set up by the Eldredge Public Library & Chatham Conservation with multiple poems posted along the trail on stakes- I’ll post them in my stories. Some are really cute- we loved the one about sleeping outside, inspired us to set up our tent in the backyard!

The first stretch of this trail was pretty level walking along a pine needle path, following frost fish creek. The second part was quite hilly and you could look down over old cranberry bogs that have turned into marshes and also some large kettle depressions.

We spotted a slithering garter snake , and saw a swan 🦢 in the creek swimming next to a great white egret. Lots of catbirds calling to each other and jumping around in the reeds along the water too!

Some of the plants we identified were cardinal flowers, spotted touch-me-nots and winged sumac.

🅿️The easiest way to access this trail is by way of Rte 28 in No. Chatham. From the traffic light in No. Chatham, go .7 miles north, and there is a small shell road on your left where there is a small parking area. (The trail sign on the road actually reads Robert Verity Clem Trail, but look for the brown Hiking sign)

We walked the entire trail which is about 2 miles in total, out and back.

❌Not stroller friendly
✅Dog Friendly