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Hiking & Walking on the Cape & Islands

hiking at fort hill, eastham, cape cod
Hiking at Fort Hill in Eastham, Cape Cod

Hiking or walking: it’s healthy, it’s free, and it provides a unique opportunity to witness the quintessential natural beauty of the Cape and Islands rarely seen. With a minimum of effort and the help of the resources provided below, you can find a nature trail near where you’re staying – enabling you to discover exquisite scenery far from the madding crowds. Although most of the terrain is relatively flat, there are some hilly regions on the Cape and the Vineyard as well, offering as much or as little challenge as desired. The Cape alone offers over 100 trails, and most can be easily accessed by car or even public transportation.

Some things to keep in mind:

walk the bike paths
Bike paths in the Fall

Timing: While it’s best during the summer to head out early in the morning or around sunset when it’s cooler and less busy, remember how early it gets dark and cool in the fall. And consider avoiding woodlands and wetlands at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

What to bring along: Dress appropriately to avoid ticks and mosquitoes. Bring sunscreen, a hat, some fresh water and perhaps a book about birding or flora and fauna on the Cape and Islands.

Here are some links to helpful information about hiking trails on the Cape, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket:

Cape Cod

Martha's Vineyard

Nantucket

Keep in mind that the Cape & Islands biking trails also make for excellent walking.

About Shannon Russo

About Shannon Russo: I am proud to be the driving force behind the WeNeedaVacation.com Homeowner Blog, our Homeowner Tutorial Video Series and the design of our WeNeedaVacation.com email communications. Though I wear many hats in the office, I most enjoy assisting Cape and Islands homeowners with the knowledge I have gained from owning a just-off Cape vacation rental home for over ten years. Raised on the Canadian prairies, I fell in love with the ocean at first sight and would gladly spend the rest of my life in a shack on the beach or sailing the seas. I currently reside in Framingham with my husband, my teenage son, and an ageless pitbull mix named Coogan.