Cape Cod Rail Trail Reviews

This was once a railroad that was paved and turned into a walking/biking trail. Surrounded by natural trees and vegetation and views of the water along the way. Absolutely loved it.

We biked from Harwich to the beginning of Eastham. I think Harwich was the most scenic, riding along some shore. Brewster was mostly through forest but we lucked out and saw a young deer crossing the path. Brewster had the most places to eat - we stopped at Cobie's which was take-out window convenient, reasonably priced, and very good. Orleans had a couple of decent hills but wasn't too interesting, nor was up to mile 15 in Eastham, where he turned around. The path itself is very smooth and a very nice bike/walking path that makes for an absolutely wonderful day! Great to take a break from the beach and enjoy getting some exercise!

The rail trail is one of Cape Cod's gems. It meanders from either Dennis, Chatham or Eastham through the countryside on a relatively easy wide path. I have used it to hike and to bike. Along the way there are plenty of places to stop and have a bite although the convenience store on Route 124 has closed. Summer weekends can find it a little crowded, but during the week you can get a great ride or walk without the crowds. Late September and October are the best. There are rules posted, but you will find a lot of bikers without helmets and the occasional rude bicyclist, but that is true everywhere. Road crossings ask that you walk your bike so that as a pedestrian you have the right of way, but quite a few riders risk danger by riding across. There is a dangerous tunnel in Eastham for which there has been a public outcry, but the government's reaction has simply been to post more signs which are often ignored. So if you are riding in that area, be careful. Other than that the trail is a gem which is to be appreciated. We do.

I love to cycle and was really looking forward to exploring the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Over the course of my weeklong vacation on the Cape this summer, I rode the entire length of the trail - one day I rode 50 miles. It is well-maintained, cool and flat. It's really a treasure and a model for other rail trails.

This paved path covers the old railroad bed. It is mostly flat with beautiful views of marshes, woods and peeks at the bay. We rented bikes in Orleans and biked almost 30 miles out to one of the most spectacular beaches I have ever seen, a lighthouse, Coast Guard Station and The National Seashore Info Center.
We are NOT big bikers, both in our 50's we are fairly fit, but by no means are we burning up the gym. I was concerned about whether or not we could comfortably bike as far as we did and had only intended to do 10-15 miles. But the path is so comfortable (no cars until you leave the path to visit sights) and mostly flat that we wanted to go further and further.
The trails are very well marked and well maintained. People were biking, walking and roller blading. Being May, however, there was very little traffic on the trail and we rarely saw others. I imagine that this is pretty popular and so more crowded in the summer. There are plenty of jumping on and off places so that you can do the entire thing or just a few miles. Bike rental shops are all over the place (we recommend Idle Times Bike Shop in Orleans). Just be aware that if you go before June 1st, not all of them are open, so call ahead.
We can't recommend this highly enough, it was the highlight of our trip to the Cape.

This is the third time I have cycled the Rail Trail and I have had a different experience every time. The 1st, we rode the whole 22 miles straight there and 22 back, from Dennis to Wellfleet. The 2nd time, we diverted toward Chatham, which becomes the Old Colony Trail and rode to the fishing pier. This is a shorter ride, but there are hills and you do hit the streets at some point.

This time we diverted 3 times for a total of 55 miles. Needless to say, this was a whole day trip! We started out in Dennis and stopped for a break @10 miles in at one of the Nickerson State Park areas. According to the map, the trail encompasses Nickerson and the Cape Cod National Seashore. At the park off the trail, there are picnic tables, rest rooms and through the parking lot, there is a visitor center.

We decided to see what the Nickerson was about and took the Heart trail. They warn you: there are hills and slopes. Riding, you will get a workout. I was looking for their lake or pond but never found it, so, next time.

We for back on the trail and diverted again at the seashore, maybe 17 miles in. You ride another 3 miles (some hills) to the beach, which was probably Marconi. Awesome! If you are a hardy type, bring your bathing suit. New England water is cold, even in summer and August 2014 was very cool. The water temp was about 60-65 F. However, some folks had on wetsuits and there was plenty of small waves for surfers, paddle boarders and body ("boogie") boards. Just sitting there was peaceful.

We mounted up and rode out the trail. We headed off on Lecount Hollow Road to Lecount Beach to see what the other beach was about. It was small and steep. You made your way down a slope to the water but it was not crowded.

Along the trail are bike shops and plenty of places to eat. You can come off in some of the towns and hit a convenience store.

Next time, we plan to continue the 7 miles off the end of the trail, to Provincetown.

Again, the basic trail is mostly flat, with at least 3 inclines since you go over 3 bridges (Route 6 at one point). Only long distance folks should do the whole thing. There is parking at various entry points. Get a map at one of the bike shops along the way or in the hotels. Beware: plenty of families, joggers and in-line skaters. Be kind.

Really nice trail, very scenic. since we stared late in the afternoon we only went for 5 miles and had to come back, but it was still very enjoyable.

Our first time biking on the cape. Made it to Nickerson state park. First park of trail from Dennis was a little boring, would try and start a different location next time. We did rent bikes and that was easy to do. Lots of road crossings, but cars were good about stopping so you could cross.

Whether you’re walking, jogging, biking or (in my case) gliding on a Segway equipped with a seat (so my MS-weary legs don’t have to bear weight), this trail is the best. There are other trails with better views, but if you start from Underpass Rd. it runs totally level and mostly in shade for a couple of miles in each direction. On a beautiful, cool and low-humidity day, it makes for an exhilarating time outdoors.

Every year we take a day trip to the CCRT. We started out with my youngest on training wheels, and my oldest is now a freshman in college. We rent bikes, which is partly what makes it such an enjoyable day, as we just get in the car and go...there is zero prep!

We've previously rented from Rail Trail Bike Shop in Brewster, which was always great, and the bikes were awesome, but this year we started further along the trail in Orleans and Orleans Cycle was just as great.

There's something very intimate cycling through people's backyards. The bike trail is mainly shaded, and hasn't ever felt overcrowded to me. We've veered off course and gone to Coast Guard Beach...we've stopped at Arnold's for lunch...this most recent trip we went to the Beachcomber in Wellfleet. All have been great destinations for us and I look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.

Cape Cod has changed tremendously in the past 25 years. It has become an more excellent go-to place for vacationing and, simultaneously, a more expensive location for native Cape Codders to afford and can become a traffic jam in peak Summer months.

Our exploring the mid-and-lower Cape by bicycle has been an outstanding opportunity for exercise, safer family activity, and experiencing the Cape's beauty at a slower pace. Recent bridging improvements have made the well-maintained Cape Cod Rail Trail even more safe and comfortable. From 20 years ago with our teenagers to 2014 as a senior adult couple, we have enjoyed this valuable Cape asset. With more than 20 miles of a varied and attractive environment, relatively flat cycling, free parking access in numerous locations, and access to off-path eateries, activities, local towns, and photo opportunities, I recommend that you check out and experience the Cape Cod Rail Trail for yourself! In all four seasons, it's a new experience every time.

You can obtain more precise information at this Energy and Environmental Affairs website:
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-south/cape-cod-rail-trail.html

The CCRT is very well maintained, the mileages and town names are marked in the pavement every tenth of a mile. There are granite mileposts every mile. You encounter numerous bike shops and eateries along its 22+ mile length. There is no need to pack a lunch with all of the seafood shacks, general stores, and nearby towns you pass by and through. Beaches are easily accessed via one crossroad in Eastham and from the LeCount Hollow Road at the north end of the trail in Wellfleet. The trail does pass through woods most of the way, so the views are not nearly as extensive as you might be used to on other, more open rail trails. Expect to pay just under $20 to rent a bicycle for four hours, which usually includes a lock, a helmet, and a basket. It took me about five hours total in two separate trips to ride from Dennis to Wellfleet and back, after a 4 1/2 year layoff from riding a bicycle.

This is one of the best bike trails I have been on. Beautiful scenery, but it's not isolated so there are places to stop, get a drink or bite to eat or walk down to the water. We are partial to the shady stretch between Orleans and Harwich. Beware that it is very crowded in the summer.

We have enjoyed walking on the Rail Trail this Fall. It is a mostly flat walk but like a hike because it is a tree-lined path and usually away from homes or buildings. We have walked 3-5 mile (round trip) sections of the trail starting in Keene, through Westmoreland, and are now in Walpole near Allyson's Orchard. We want to continue north to the Walpole-Westminister bridge. We have recorded start and stop locations that we drive to where we park and do the round trip sections. We then locate our next start point for our future walk. Currently, the snow shoes are helpful but not necessary. There are some surprising sections of rock walls and ice flows to enjoy.
Enjoy this beautiful area of Cheshire County.

After enjoying lobster rolls, fried seafood and frosty Sam Addams, burn off those calories with a scenic bike ride along the Cape Cod Rail Trail. The trail has little elevation and is ideal for all levels of cyclists. There are also numerous shops and eateries along the way. Enjoy!

As others have mentioned:

Pros - well maintained, relatively flat.
Cons - the 'scenery' is 98% forest, minimal water views.

As avid riders in New England, this was one path left on our 'to do' list. We highly anticipated the ride. With each passing mile, we asked each other 'where are the views?' assuming they would be coming up soon. We were sorely disappointed when we reached the end of the marked trail and there were no views other than trees.

On the way back, we diverted to Marconi, which is spectacular as always, but that is not part of the path. You have to know a bit about the area to go off the path and find views. If you are not familiar with the area, you may be out of luck.

Again, a nice path which is well maintained, but in terms of views - completely average, if not a bit disappointing.

We took a part of the cape cod rail trail and liked it very much. It very easy (flat) and beautiful. We did only take the part between Brewster and Orleans because of the kids but appreciated it a lot. Next time, we will take more time!

This is a great trail and in May we cycled for hours from Eastham to Wellfleet and stopped at beautiful beaches along the way.

I am a 45 year old, slightly out-of-shape mom, and I did this trail from the start in Dennis up to Seymour Pond and back (almost exactly 6 miles one way) with three boys ages 11-13. It was a pleasant ride, but I gave the trail only four stars because honestly, it wasn't really any different in scenery than the bike trails we have around us (southwest of Boston); if you want to see spectacular seascapes or something very Cape Cod-ish, you should probably do a different trail or a different part of this trail.

I was very happy to discover that it is indeed very flat. There are definitely places where there is a very slight grade, such that you notice pedaling getting easier or harder, but overall, it was wonderfully flat. There was only one bridge, to go over Route 6 I think, and there I had to get off and walk the bike.

The trail has lots of shade. There are a number of street crossings, but nothing about the crossings was particularly concerning. The trail is very wide and well-maintained, with helpful markings every tenth mile; I made use of the markings by telling the kids they could go as fast as they wanted to, but had to stop at the tenth-mile markings until I caught up. Seymour Pond was a very nice place to take a break and then turn around. It took us about 45 minutes to do the 6 miles to the pond and about 45 minutes to get back. We rented bikes at Barbara's Bike shop and were satisfied with that piece of the experience as well.

This was a super fantastic way to spend half a day on the Cape. My partner and I rented a couple of bikes from rail trail bike shop and took off right from their shop. We opted to head toward Wellfleet. We gently pedaled through Nickerson State Park and stopped a couple of times to simply enjoy the moment and the scenery. We rode through tunnels of trees and greenery and enjoyed the fresh air. Later we stopped at Orleans for refreshments and ice cream at Hot Chocolate Sparrow, completely yummy! From Orleans we continued our ride toward Salt Pond Bay and decided to have a pic-nic at the Eastham Windmill. After lunch we chose to ride back because we had other things we wanted to try. It took us 3 hours round trip and we LOVED IT! A great way to spend a nice day with your partner, family or friends. Highly recommend! and we only saw a portion of this trail.

The trial is easy and scenic. We started in Dennis and finished in Orleans where we turned back. We cycled through Nickerson State Park- very beautiful.

Picked up the trail in Dennis and ran up to thru Harwich. The trail is in excellent condition as is pretty scenic. A few road crossings here and there. Plenty of parking in Dennis. Wish I brought my bike!

great family friendly activity that is on the east coast site seeing with areas to rest. Many locations on the Cape that offer bike rentals for the day. Wonderful site seeing and excursion for anytime.

This is a fabulous biking or hiking trail. You can travel the entire cape if you would like. And along the way the trail meanders past lots of ponds and parts of the bay. There are lots of little spots along the trail to stop and get something to eat or drink, for example if you bike into the town of orleans you can stop at the hot chocolate sparrow for a coffee or an ice cream, or more!

My annual Cape trip always includes a biking on the CC Rail Trail. First of all, it's relatively flat so you can take in all the beautiful sites along the way. West Dennis has a bike shop right near Patriots Square which is very convenient if you need to rent a bike. Late afternoon you can have the trail virtually to yourself. Limited number of runners/walkers who are all very willing to keep to the right while you pass. Serious bikers as well as families enjoy the trail. There are no fountains on the trail from West Dennis to Chatham, so it's best to bring a water bottle. The Cape Cod airport has a cafe open early for breakfast and lunch until 2 PM with an a menu with lots of delicious dishes. It's a great place to stop to watch biplanes takeoff and land before heading into Chatham.

As some have mentioned, there isn't much scenery, at least the part from Dennis to Orleans; it goes mostly through forested area that is near some residential and a few industrial-type areas.
It's great for just biking/running and fresh air, not great if you're looking for scenery. It's well paved/clean, and other trail users and drivers on the roads that cross the trail are very courteous.

This trail has alittle of everything.ponds, beaches ,nice little towns,stops for icecream and the views are awesome!!

Every year we rent bikes and take a ride along the southern section of the rail trail. The views are spectacular. It is great having places to stop and photograph the landscape and surroundings. Also great to have places to stop for something to eat or drink. Very easy trail.

Start in Falmouth and an easy 10 miles to Woods Hole. Bike rentals easy to find, in the $20-27 range. Call ahead off season. Love doing this mid week. This past summer tried the Brewster, Orleans to Eastham trail, a little more challenging ie. hills, but not too bad. Beginners. Helmets come with rentals. Pack a lunch, many places along the trail to stop.

We use the CCRT mostly in Brewster and often access NIckerson State Park via the bike path. Really pretty scenery. Most of trail goes through wooded areas, but gorgeous views of the marsh, cranberry bogs and ponds are sporadically available. Be careful when the trail crosses a road. Bikers should stop, take those stop signs seriously! You can travel from Dennis to Wellfleet via the CCRT.

The whole family loved the rail trail experience. We always felt safe with the two lanes and well lit street crossings. Bridges and tunnels to cross main roads. Gradual inclines and declines meant it was never strenuous. We went about 6 or 7 miles from Nickerson State Park west towards Brewster and beyond. Passed some lovely lakes if you want to take a break from the ride. Highly recommended as an off-season activity.

Nice that you can start at any of several locations, and pick your distance between Dennis and Wellfleet. All wooded, flat, and distance markings every 0.1 mile. A few ice cream stops along the way. The trail crosses roads in many locations, but the amazing thing is that all the cars stop for cyclists.

Nice ride through paved trails. We ( myself and boys aged 4 and 5) joined in Brewster and rode a couple of miles before returning. Suitable for bikes with training wheels. Easy trail parking. In the words of my 4 year old ‘me like this’. Will be returning soon

We started the trail at the beginning, in Dennis. It was free to park at that location, although there weren't as many parking spots as I would have thought, so get there early.
The trail goes for 40 miles, but we didn't get to do it all in one day, since we stopped for a nice lunch in Catham... slightly off the trail, but nice nonetheless. We decided to travel a little further to find restrooms, which led us to the cutest, beach on a lake - White Pond. I HIGHLY recommend stopping there!!
On our way back to the car, we had ice cream, which was at a cute spot right on the trail, and much needed in August. There are lots of roads to cross, but drivers were mostly nice in letting people pass.

It is a perfect biking trail. Bikes are available for rent if your don't bring your own, time well spent with cousins and siblings.

The Rail Trail is one of many bike trails that criss-cross the Cape. Entirely flat (or nearly so), it runs for miles and offers stretches in sun & shade. The number of people is down considerably due to a Covid, but people are good about slipping on masks when distancing isn’t possible. If what you want is to spend a couple of hours in the outdoors without too much physical strain, the bike trail is perfect. And if you plan so your rude ends by the Hit Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans, you’ll have a little piece of heaven.

Although we did not take the whole trail, but whatever parts we covered was nice and quiet..it was a real pleasure biking there.

Convenient with several parking areas. Pleasant ride with places to stop and rest. Not a lot of traffic. Well-maintained. Fun!!

Outstanding trail with wonderful vistas along the way...not too many road crossings and for the most part, motorists stop for bikers at the crossings. We will come back! BTW September is an awesome time for biking the CCRT!

If you like to bike, don't skip this. We started in Dennis and rode past Nickerson State Park. Along the way we passed numerous lakes, found a great spot for a picnic lunch and even detoured to visit a cape beach.

We rented bikes in Dennis and started the trail there. It is a nice trail through the woods, crosses some lakes and streets. There aren't a ton of places to stop for lunch, but there are a few places along the way with picnic benches. It is so nice that Cape Cod has such a long bike trail for people to enjoy. We had a great time on the Rail Trail.

We've been coming to Provincetown for more than 30 years and, for the past dozen or so, have managed to bike the Cape Cod Rail Trail every year, usually clocking 30 to 50 miles. From Provincetown, closest trail head is Wellfleet (LeConte Hollow Road). From there is an easy 10 miles to the fun town or Orleans. Sometimes we'll start in Orleans (plenty of parking) and head out to Chatham, another great town for lunch and shopping - 40 miles R/T. Trail is completely paved and separated from traffic (though there are road crossings). Mostly flat with some elevations going over the bridges on Rt. 6. If you're into a pleasant day biking, this is a trail not to be missed.

We rode around 15 miles and it’s mostly flat with beautiful scenery. You can easily rent bikes at the Dennis Cycle Center. They charge you at the end of your ride. You pass many gorgeous views and you can stop to take pictures. I would highly recommend to this anyone.

We ride the trail regularly. We typically start at Brooks Park in Harwich because they have public bathrooms and ride to Nickerson state park in Brewster.

We did about 17 miles of the trail on a beautiful day in May. It was very clean, well-marked and too easy to follow.

The rail trail is a true gem, and one of the things that truly sets Cape Cod apart from other destinations. A beautiful ride, taking you through marshlands, ponds, and forests, it’s a “must” for any cape cod visit.

this is a beautiful, easy family biking experience. super easy to rent bikes at many places along the way, lots of places for lunch, drinks, coffee, ice cream to stop, also lakes to swim in, and the trail itself is shaded and pretty, blacktop and relatively flat all the way, making for easy, pleasant riding. you can go as far as you want. we have rented bikes before on family vacations and this was by far the most pleasant experience we have had doing so. also a nice place for a long run BTW - many folks out doing so.

We have been riding the trail annually for 6 years, gradually increasing our distance as the kids have grown older. Last year we rode 50 miles including the Chatham spur, to the National Seashore. Our youngest at the time was 14 and on a kid's bike. That should give you some idea of how wonderfully accessible and family-friendly this trail really is. This year (we finally bought her a new bike ;) ) we rode a total of 65 miles over two days, stopping to swim at Flax Pond at Nickerson State Park, and a side trip to the Monomoy Refuge out on Morris Island. The trail is paved well, with only a few bumpy/rough spots...most notably heading into Brewster where the ridges and potholes are at least marked with yellow paint. The many street crossings are not to be taken lightly--some of these are very busy roads. However, most every driver stops for cyclists to cross. We always follow the rules and walk our bikes across each crossing; we've found most cyclists on this trail break that rule which is a dangerous practice...but then I've always cycled with children so perhaps I'm ultra cautious. Plenty of bathroom stops, eateries, and bike shops along the way --and lots of good pulloffs with picnic tables and places to have a snack, a drink and a stretch. You could bike to just about any terrific Cape activity right along the trail: swimming, mini golf, taverns, bird watching, picnicing...you name it. I love this trail. I wish someone would come up with a comprehensive trail map/brochure that includes detailed information about pull offs and stops along the way--if it exists we haven't found it. The mass.gov map is okay showing major general areas for parking and restrooms and mile markers but no detail, and the trail itself is rich with detail. A legend at least with addresses/intersections for trail access and parking is a basic that is missing.

The rail trail is one of the prime attractions on Cape Cod. Miles of trail, and no cars. You can stop for breakfast of lunch at places right off the trail. The only problem is that it can get crowded and many people don't understand the rules or the road. My recommendation would be to enjoy the trail, but go either early in the morning or later in the afternoon, before and after the crowds.

Fun ride, pretty flat land, beautiful scenery. Can start from several locations, and ride 10 miles or 50 miles.

We asked at our hotel for a nice bike ride along the water and recommended this ride. There was no water. The ride is flat but you have to stop every 10-15 minutes to cross a major highway.

There are no signs on the trail to tell you to turn off for downtown areas. Even when you turn off, it is not very bike friendly.

We rode 10 miles in one direction and found very little that was picturesque leaving from the town of Dennis. In fact, the first two miles was riding in the back of industrial area. Not so nice.

I would suggest starting further east or try a different trail. If you are looking for a scenic ride that depicts the Cape, this is not it.

NIce bicycle trail. Allows one to cycle dozens of miles on paved roads. Mostly flat, with very gentle manageable slopes. Very little traffic on the bike paths. However, there are just too many road crossings and stop signs. Most of the path is shaded between tall trees. Great scenery along the way. Quite enjoyable, if it were not for the stop signs/road crossings. Chatham to Wellfleet would be an easy 50 miles round trip. Fun exercise.

Travelled in September off-season, hired bikes & had a wonderful scenic ride to Chatham. Because the path is paved, it was great to cycle along. There are beautiful lake views all along the trail & Chatham itself is delightful to visit. Electric bikes are easy & fun. I hired mine from Pedego Cape Cod which is easy to find on Google. Can recommend lunch at the Captain's Table in Chatham. Knowing it gets busy, we took a early table in the garden. There's lots of choice in Chatham if its full. A great day out & highly recommended.

I recently spent a week in Wellfleet with some friends. The 20+ mile CCRT provided a fantastic biking experience for a novice. Hardly any extreme grades, it was an easily navigable trail. The trail is very clean and well kept. The scenery is very pretty and most other trail users are very friendly. While there are several points that cross a roadway, the majority of drivers will actually stop for you to cross even when they have the right of way.

The rail trail we started at the Dennis Route 134. near the Barb's Bike Shop. This bike shop operator was very gracious, let us use their parking lot, parked our SUV.
The trail has new parking lot, it is so new that the rest of the landscaping is still being worked on,the paved trail part is smooth! We choose to ride the trail towards Brewster! Beautiful ride through forests and bogs, fields of grass, and lots of red cranberry fields, winding roads and various up hills and down hills too! We passed a few ponds, passed by Pleasant lake, etc Our pick-nick lunch was on one of the pick-nick tables along the ways. We will have to comeback to ride the other trails-west! Excellent bicycle riding!

Rented bikes at the beginning of the trail in Dennis. The guys were quick, helpful and very professional. Rode the trail to Brewster, about 8 1/2 miles with only a couple of very easy grades. Plenty of places to stop for nourishment or even a swim.

one of the best ways to get on the trail is at Nickerson state park. Family friendly, not too hilly, and great views in this area. People are friendly and there is parking available. Been going for 20 years.

Always wanted to try the trail after so many friends and family have enjoyed it while visiting us. Spouse and I had just older touring bikes...nothing fancy, that we use for jotting down to our local market, etc. We parked at the very busy lot in South Dennis...and hopped on the bikes. Made it down to center of Harwich, where we had a nice soda from Red's, which is right down the block from the trail. Passed lots of lovely ponds, forested areas,historic cemeteries,some charming homes, and of course, some industrial areas. But that's where a train line would run right? I sort of liked seeing all of that mix, as we all don't get to see those places that are part of our community. We found it to be mostly flat, but there definitely are a couple of long, inclines that you'll need to push yourself on. Particularly coming up from the lovely bike rotary in Harwich, (which was a lovely clean and well organized spot for bikers with maps etc). Total mileage was around 7-8 which was just enough for us newbies. Only tips - stay to the right, you'll have some folks try to squeeze between you and say, a family with little ones on the opposite side from time to time, so be aware of other riders. And you should walk your bikes sometimes across busier stops, because not everyone will know enough to stop or yield. Highly recommend it.

Nice paved trail wide enough to ride side by side or single file when opposing traffic or someone needs to pass. Some inclines. We road the section starting in Eastham both directions for roughly 5 -7 miles. Not overly scenic the area we rode trees on both sides. Several stops for refreshment along the way with ample bike parking. There is a bike rental shop in Eastham.

Rented bikes at “Mikes” in Orleans.
Hopped on the trail in Orleans, rode to the Coast Guard Beach, then back on the main path to mile 22 and back to Orleans.

People we passed were friendly, path was well shaded. Well marked for road crossings. Drivers who crossed the path were very good about stopping for bikers.

The food stops are a bit off the main path and you have to look for them.
No water available along (that part of) the trail. You have to get off and hit a restaurant, beach or shop of some sort.

The Rail Trail is a excellent bike trail that extends for miles, our hotel had direct access to the path and we rode in both directions from Eastham to Wellfleet and then to Naucet Beach. A great getaway on Memorial Day weekend, biking, beach, good food at Arnold’s and family time.

We took 6 kids and three adults on a beautiful afternoon on the old Cape Cod Railroad. You can start on Route 134 in Dennis and winds through Harwich, Brewster (with a detour through Nickerson State Park), Orleans (through the beautiful Rock Harbor area) and continues through to the Cape Cod National Seashore Center in Eastham. We started in Harwich there are little parking lots along the whole stretch. We went to Orleans and had ice cream and smoothies at the Chocolate Sparrow. You can make your ride as long or as short as you would like. The whole trail is relatively flat and very scenic in places. There are bike shops and restaurants along the way. It is an enjoyable way to spend a summer afternoon !

While vacationing in the cape, we wanted to rent two mountain bikes and take the Cape Code Rail Trail (CCRT). We chose a few places to rent from and decided on Barbs since they have direct access from their parking lot to the trail. We arrived around 1:30pm and asked if they had two mountain bikes available. The guy at the counter led us outside and showed us some bikes that were ready and fit us for them. Within minutes we were ready. I filled out a quick form and handed them my drivers license. They advised we were all set and would charge us when we came back as we opted to go for the charge by the hour of use option. We went out and covered about 20+ miles in a couple hours. We returned the bikes, they told us our total, we paid and we were done. They handed me my license and we were on our way to our next adventure. All said and done the staff was friendly and the process was super simple and fast. I can now understand why so many people rent from them. Highly recommended.

The Cape Cod rail trail is not just for cyclists. We walked for several miles along the trail, it was easy walking, and the cyclists were good about letting us know they were coming up from behind.

My wife and I really enjoyed this trail. It was paved nicely and was not overly difficult. When we come back next year, we will definitely riding this rail trail again.

Love the rail trail in Cape Cod. This time we traveled Dennis to Chatham and back. Beautiful. There are some lakes along the way. So, if you have time you can stop by there and soak in the beauty. Once you get to Chatham you have to cross a couple of streets. We parked our bikes by the firehouse and walked into town from there. The trail itself is very relaxing to ride. Of course, some take it slowly and some much faster!

Perfect for couples, families, individuals old and young for biking, walking, running, roller blading. My only complaint is that the serious bikers do NOT announce when passing, so us leisurely pedestrians need to be cautious.
We started in Dennis and took the route to Brewster. Amazing forest views, inlet and ponds, there were porta potties on the way AND we enjoyed our lunch at the General Store/Local Flavor.
We rented bikes at Barb's Bikes and paid $15 each for a 2 hour ride and they don't bill you until you get back, so you can keep the bike for an hour or a day

Flat 22 mile trail, clean asphalt. No cars. Some road crossings and most drivers were very courteous to the bikers. Did only 2 hours, rented the bikes from bike rental place which is right on the trail. All levels were bikers were on the trail from little kids to some advanced bikers with professional bikes. Highly recommended

Went from Orleans to Dennis and back one day. Enjoyed the ride. took a dip in Pleasant pond in Brewster.Great!.Next day went from Orleans to Wellfleet and back. It was a very hot day didn't realize how close I was to Marconi beach(would have taken a dip). Still enjoyed the ride. Watch out for children on the trail they tend to wonder a little off course.Great way to break a sweat!

We rented bikes for 2 hours for $14 each and had a great time biking the trail. Bike baskets and helmets were option and included in the price. Many people walk as well. There are many areas where you need to cross the road and you do so cautiously, we never had any trouble. It was a great way to get some exercise as well as enjoy a scenic ride. I would definitely recommend spending a day on the rail trail!

It is a hidden enclave snaking through the cape revealing its hidden beauty. Very flat and well maintained. It takes you away from the hustle bustle going past idlic bays. You can venture off the path with short cut offs to towns for rest stops, food or adventures. I like to ride so I go early so it is quite. Please be careful and stop at the stop signs for road crossings. There are multiple bike shops at various points so renting is easy. It is very flat so great for the whole family. It is also very long for those who are more serious and want to get in a serious ride.

What a great way to explore the cape! We picked up bikes in Brewster and cycled to the end of the trail in wellfleet. We stopped for ice cream in Arnold's on the way and hung out on coast guard beach on the way back for several hours. The cycle is relatively easy, mostly flat with a few gentle inclines. I'd advise people to rent their bikes early in the day so that they're not under pressure to get the bike back before the shop closes. I would highly recommend this activity.

My husband and I have been riding this trail for 20 years. We mainly travel from Dennis to Skaket Beach in Orleans. The trail is nice and smooth and there are places to stop and eat just off of the trail. It does continue to run north of Orleans and near Harwich has a cut off towards Chatham. Have never travelled these routes. Highly recommend it to people who like to bike.

I only walked a couple miles of the trail, but it really felt like a getaway within the great getaway that is Cape Cod. I was out around 8 AM and there were a number of people running or riding bikes, but it wasn't too crowded. It was quiet and seemed like a nice alternative for getting around the Cape without having to travel on major roads, like 6A. In a future trip, I would bring my bike to take better advantage of this significant amenity.

This is a beautiful bike trail with lots to see, but unfortunately there are some people who believe they are riding in the Tour de France. There are families with small children on this bike trail that don't need to hear these speed racers cursing at bikers because they feel they are in their way of speeding at a rate that shouldn't be even allowed. These people should be riding on the road not on a bike trail.
I would like to see bicycle police on the trail to slow these arrogant bikers down.
Usmc Recon
Semper Fi

This might be my new favorite ride (runs head to head with Bristol RI, but might win just because of its expansive length). It's well maintained, and fairly level, and lots of places turn off and explore. Surprisingly not that crowded - sure as the summer progresses it gets packed. Nice way to see some of the different cape villages. Overall a great way to spend a day (or two, or three!)

This is a must do for walkers, runners, and cyclists. Paved trail that connects towns, with east on and east off for restaurants, ice cream, and even Nickerson State Park. Beautiful in the morning when less crowded and can really enjoy nature. Fantastic views too!

We took a long bike ride on the Cape Code Rail Trail, and it was amazing! First of all, it's one of the best-kept bike trails I've ever experienced. The ride was smooth and inclines were minimal. Plus, the views are absolutely gorgeous. I recommend riding all the way through to the National Seashore. Beautiful! And an experience I won't soon forget!

Definitely ride the trail. It's flat and easy. Great for all levels. Smoothly paved path and active. Views aren't great and it doesn't hit the beach as we expected but we traveled mile 6-14. Maybe the other parts find the beach. There are towns to stop at and get off the bike and walk around. A backpack helps to carry things for the ride. Bring water with you though. There are no fountains.

For a family of 5 it is a great mostly straight long mostly very flat bike trail through a forest. It is an easy ride and great for young riders as my nine year old was able to go 17 miles with relative ease.

I could see some complaints as there are some riders who act like it's the tour de france racing through the trail with little regard to others while others could think it is mostly a boring forest scenery. We started in Brewster at the Ocean Edge and the scenery was much nicer west towards Dennis

A scenic bike ride...see back yards, gardens and local farms, natural waterways and Cape marshes and wildlife along the Rail Trail. A wonderful activity for those who want to see and do more.........

Starting in Dennis, we parked right at the trailhead and started riding this amazingly, well-maintained trail. There's a few sneak peeks of the cape as you ride. You can stop and relax on the beach which has a seating area at each stop. An overall really nice biking trail!

We enjoyed cycling, it was fairly flat but we could have been anywhere. You didn't really see a lot of scenery as it was all tree lined.

Great bike route with beautiful scenery--love the over abundance of hydrangeas blooming everywhere you ride. There are areas to park your car or you can bike off main roads to pick up trail. Do be careful as the 2-lane roads are very narrow and no bike lanes or sidewalks. The trail does offer ice cream shop for bike riders.

This bike trail has a lot going for it. From the Dennis trailhead it's 22 miles to the end in Wellfleet, with about 350 of elevation gain over the course of those 22miles according to my Garmin GPS. The only serious "hills" are the man made ones in which you have to climb up a bit so you can cross over route 6.

I've been riding this trail for years and it's still in good shape! Only one stretch between Dennis and harwich have good amount of roots, but they are marked and it's only for about .25 miles.

The trail has several spots at which you can park your car and get on the trail. A spot exists in Dennis at the depot street crossing for example. Other spots exist in Harwich, Brewster, Orleans and in Wellfleet. So if you want to tackle the trail bit by bit you can park at the different spots and give it a go. The scenery varies widely between the various towns.

Another good aspect of the trail is that you have decent shade/cover for I would say 80% of it.

When leaving from Dennis you will hit the harwich bike rotary at about 3.5 miles or so. At that point you can get on another trail which will take you down to chatham, You can cycle over to the chatham airport and have breakfast.

My favorite spot on the trail to stop is the Hot Chocolate Sparrow which is at the 13 mile mark in Orleans, see my review of it for more info.

During the summer months you will find several restroom facilities along the route.

Nickerson state park is about half way down the trail so if you wanted to do half the trail in one day and the other half another day that would be good place to start from.

Another bit if news is that the trail is being extended in Dennis heading in the other direction to up as far a falmouth from what I've heard. Work has started so I'll be excited to give it a try once it's ready.

The trail is heavily utilized in the summer time as you would imagine but 90% of the folks on it are bike savvy and as long as you signal "on your left" folks will allow you to pass. If you like to bike and you are down the cape, find time to bike it you will not be sorry that you did.

The Cape Cod Trail Trail is a 22-mile paved rail trail located on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Established in the 1970s, it is used for hiking, biking, horseback riding, roller blading and cross-country skiing. The trail route passes through the towns of Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. It connects to the six-mile Old Colony Rail Trail leading to Chatham and eight miles of trails within Nickerson State Park. It also passes near the end of the Nauset Bike Trail leading to Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod National Seashore. If that isn't enough, plans call for a 3.7-mile extension of the rail trail westward from the current South Dennis trailhead to Peter Homer Park on Old Town House Road in South Yarmouth. And efforts to extend the bike path from the Wellfleet trailhead north to Provincetown have been under discussion for many years. Today, the trail begins in South Dennis at an intersection with Massachusetts Route 134. There are several parking areas along the way. Also bike shops, delis, restaurants, beaches, even motels and ice cream shops. Some travelers even choose to camp in Nickerson State Park. One historic feature: In Eastham, there is a large salt marsh, Boat Meadow Creek, on the west side of the trail. It was at this location that a rudimentary canal, Jeremiah's Gutter, had existed in the 1700s, allowing passage from Cape Cod Bay to the Cove area of Orleans. Talk about taking a refreshing ride in the country, the Cape Cod Rail Trail covers it all.

This trail is a must-see if you are visiting Cape Cod. It's a fantastic trail for those that are looking to give bicycling a try. I
The terrain is flat with the slightly hillier section at the northern end. Road crossings are always a tension between bikers and cars, although cars are generally very alert and willing to stop. There are a couple of road crossings that should be marked better for motorists, so just be careful. This is especially true since a lot of tourists are not used to driving these roads and are not aware of where the crossings are. The pavement is in overall good shape. The crowds is the only complaint about this trail, even in the off-season, the trail can be very busy on the weekends. This trail is that much of a gem. Parking is ok

You can walk run cycle skate on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Its flat easy riding and you can use a road bike or trail bike or hybrid. Its safe and completely enclosed from traffic with a few breaks along the way mostly well marked and you can get down to the wonderful beaches on the sea shore where you dont need to worry about parking if you have your bike. There are some lovely ponds to view and biking is a lovely way to see any place. The trees provide some shelter on parts of the route if its very sunny. There are great places to stop and eat-a must is the chocolate sparrow -ice cream coffee amazing cakes. Its great for kids too because everyone can just go at their own pace. You can hire bikes from a number of places on the route if you want to drive there. there is a hire place near Nickerston state park if you want to bike the park just off the trail. Even those who dont cycle at home will love the trail.

Had a great day Riding in the rail trail. Early morning restart the app in the southern part of the state in Dennis, and rode 8 1/2 miles out and back. Then we decided to go north, and ride to the national Seashore. Both sides were equally beautiful. Bring your bike when you go to the Cape and try this beautiful trail.

Loved, loved, loved this bike trail!!! Beautiful trail, beautiful scenery...really a must do while on cape cod!

My husband and I are fairly fit mid 50s and we did about 24 miles. We rented bikes in Wellfleet from Little Capistrano Bike Shop. Their shop is right in front of the northern start of the trail - very convenient. As a side note, there is a general store to purchase water and a great bakery next store. We started on the trail around 10am and rode for about 1-2 miles and then followed the signs to Marconi beach (detour off the rail trail). It's about 1.5 miles to the beach. Marconi beach is very pretty. We were way up on the dunes and you could see seals right off the beach in the water. (Bring Binoculars). We backtracked to the trail and continued south. We rode all the way to the Salt Pond Visitors Center - easy, flat ride. We stopped at the visitors center and looked around. We didn't walk the 1 mile hike around the salt pond, but we easily could have. We took the bike trail out the back of the visitors center to Coast Guard beach. This was fun because you rode on side roads with beautiful houses and then a trail through the woods all the way to the beach. If you are at the beach at low tide, you can see 50 or more seals sunning on a sandbar. We then took Ocean View Drive up to Nauset Light Beach. This was a bit of a hill, but we both made it without walking. There we saw the Nauset lighthouse and another beach! We then took Cable road, left on Nauset and right on Brackett crossing over the rail trail to get to highway 6 for lunch. We ate at the Friendly Fisherman a cute little place with some of the best whole belly clams and a good lobster roll. Another side note, there is a spirit store next door because you've earned a beer by now. We could have returned to the trail and headed north to head home and saved a few miles, but we decided to head south past some of the ponds. We veered off the trail at Samoset road (left) and then turned right at Herring Brook Road and then left at Kingsberry back to the trail. These were all side roads with little traffic. Just a little loop before heading north. I think we finished up around 3-315. It was a leisurely day with stops for pictures.

Riding the Cape Cod bike trails, whether you bring your own bike or rent one from the numerous bike shops that have located near the trail, is one of the best things to do on the Cape. The trail is mostly flat and a great ride for the novice as well as the experienced bike rider.
When you ride, remember to stay to the right and if you are passing someone, please tell them by announcing "passing on your left" so that they know you are there. Remember, a bike is a very silent item moving at 8 to 15 miles per hour.

Rented bikes at Brewster Bike and road to Coast Guard Beach. Stopped and had lunch at Hole in One. Fantastic ride and well worth the sweat. Bring plenty of fluids and a towel. The beach is great.

It's 22 miles one-way, the path is generally wide and paved with flaws in the pavement highlighted with yellow paint and the mileage marked mid-pavement, generally in 0.1 mile increments so you always know how far you've gone or have to go. There are a few spots where the trail is on the road, so if you're riding with children, you'll want to be be sure they will follow directions, wait at intersections, and stay in line. Overall, the trail is family friendly with gentle inclines and ice cream stops along the way. To see the coast or enjoy the beach, however, you'll want to get off the main trail on some of the spurs, such as Nauset Trail. The shade is a respite on a sunny day, but doesn't lead to wide open vistas. Print out a map ahead of time or stop at a visitor's center and pick up some of the different versions available that also show some possible rest stops along the way. I parked at Nickerson State Park ($5 parking) and found that gave me a good place to travel in either direction and do as much or as little as I wanted. The CCRTA Riders Guide provides details on the Outer Cape Bike Shuttle between Provincetown and Wellfleet as well.

Nice charming trail, you can keep going as much as you want. Safe and picturesque. Certainly a must do when in the area

Fun for all ages. Lots of sights and places to go off to eat and take a break. Parking available at trailhead in Dennis . Other parking available further up the trail also .well worth the ride!!!

I have not ridden for many years but went from Brewster to Dennis one day and Brewster to Wellfleet the next. The trail is safe, very well maintained and goes through some super scenery. In October it is relatively quiet but could be manic during the middle of summer. The Dennis end is a but boring but the Wellfleet end has access to interesting beaches. A must if you are going to Cape Cod

On a good day, you can ride forever- many insertion points, free parking, bike shops and ice cream spots dotted along the way with gentle hills(if any where you ride), make for a fun day with the kids, older folks, and novice riders.

Tip, bring a map.

Lots to places to picnic, the trails have miles in the pavement and direction signs to keep you on track.

This is a lovely, mostly flat ride through forested areas of the Cape (although it also crosses multiple roadways in multiple towns - but cars are very good about stopping for bikers on the path, so I wouldn’t worry if you have kids). We started at mile 0 in Dennis (at Barb’s Bike Shop, very nice) and went up to Nickerson State Park, stopping at JT’s Seafood in Brewster for clam chowder about halfway through. There’s a nice place to stop near Long Pond with benches and sand.

The two rail trail bike and foot bridges over major thoroughfares in Yarmouth and Dennis are set to open soon. Can't be soon enough in my opinion. Barrier is still up in Dennis but apparently scofflaws have been sliding around it to take selfies up at the peak of the bridge. Support area in Dennis at foot of bridge is great. One of the picnic tables is optimized for a wheel chair, a very nice touch. Come early. There's LOTS of parking but likely there will be more parker-wannabes than spaces at peak times.

Was lucky enough to have rented in Brewster near the park and spent multiple days exploring the trails, biking and swimming in the wonderful crystal clear ponds. You can rent boats, paddle boards, kayaks at the main office. There are trail maps and park rangers to help you with directions. We found a spot all to ourselves and spent the afternoon swimming after hiking & playing on the playground. One of my favorite cape cod days ever.

I'm a beginner on a bike and I was so happy to find that this is a nice flat trail with no cars. It's paved and there are a few spots along the way to rest and eat. It's scenic. Nice way to spend the afternoon.

i hadn't been on a bike in over 10 years! i was petrified and didn't think i could do it, much actually less enjoy myself. but it was an easy and beautiful ride! we hopped on the trail near Ferretti's Market in Brewster (there's a big empty parking lot just behind the market where we parked) and biked all the way to Orleans center. it was gorgeous! almost 10 miles round trip. the path is level with few or no hills. there are lots of stops you can stop along the way as well as restaurants etc if you want to get of the trail and eat. If you pick up the trail in the Brewster area don't miss the gorgeous view at Namskaket Creek.

Beautiful trail that my family used for a run. The 6-7 mile section we ran on was mostly tree covered and well maintained. Plenty of use from bikers, runners, and walkers, but not so busy you cant navigate easily. We started at the national park visitor center and ran it to the end parking lot trailhead.

Did a nice leisurely 10 miles from S Dennis parking lot near Barbara's Bike & Sports. No problem finding parking for 2 cars in lot of about 50 spaces and I think there were other lots nearby that we could've used. Sign for the CCRT and lot was a bit hard to see. Trail was great condition. Fair amount of bikes traffic, but not too crowded. Were several crossings of streets but always plenty of signage and clearly painted crosswalk. Felt very safe w young kids and inexperienced bikers. Shady stretches were welcome. At a junction with Old Colony RT we headed to left staying on CCRT to avoid busier commercial area (Harwich Ctr.?). Did ~5miles one way, slowly, just over an hour or so..

Passed a general store, picturesque cranberry bogs, a pond w/ a seaplane toward the point where we turned around -- lots of scenic views.

Wish we'd gone a bit further to Brewster where we would've reached northern coast of Cape.

No problem if you don't have your bikes.... There wew rental shops along the trail also. Will definitely do it again and go longer, pack lunch and/or stop to eat or explore.

We walked between Mile Markers 8.3 and 10.2 of the Rail Trail in Brewster with a stroller and Golden Retriever. While there's lots of intermittent shade in this area, there's also some really sunny patches - so we were happy we had plenty of water and sunblock. We had already eaten, but there's several places to stop for refreshments along this stretch of the trail and they're all well marked. Overall, our walk was very good, though there isn't necessarily a lot to look at over this stretch aside from greenery.

We weren't the only ones walking, but most of the traffic was people on bikes (not surprising). We started out walking toward the oncoming bike traffic as we would on the road, but we were "advised" by a very rude gentleman to walk on the right side of the path so it was easier for the bikers to pass us. We did that for the rest of the walk, but it's a bit unnerving having the bikes come up behind you - some of them you can't even hear until the last second. However, the vast majority of bikers were very nice and polite - most called out to tell you they were passing or rang bike bells.

It was definitely a nice outing, but next time, I don't think we'll go on the trail unless we have our bikes with us. That way we don't have to worry about which side we're traveling on and potentially getting run over.

Easy biking in a wonderful nature, plenty of stops possible for a snack or a meal. One can do the whole trail or only part of it, there are rental shops at different places.

We brought our bikes with us on our vacation to Dennis. The parking was very easy to get to. We decided to head into the Yarmouth direction on the trail. It was overall a nice ride with some minor hills that my young children weren’t too crazy about but they got through it. The trail was clean from litter. On our way back we saw turkeys with their babies along the trail.

This rail trail is the heart of a series of bike paths throughout Cape Cod. It runs some 22 miles from Harwich to Wellfleet passing ponds, marshes, and wooded areas. It is very well maintained, well marked, with gentle grades, and safe street crossings. It seems the drivers on Cape Cod are especially courteous, stopping as they approach a crossing to wait for bikes to pass. This is probably one of the nicest and most enjoyable rail trails you will find.

Is this the best bicycle trail on the East Coast? It is certainly one of the most elegant. On the 15 miles between South Chatham and Orleans, I experienced a superbly-maintained, continuous trail through woods, ponds, and leafy vacation suburbs, with the occasional rest stop for food, perfect for families with children or teens. If you have no bicycle, there are many bike shops but the most convenient is the Rail Trail Bike and Kayak Shop in Brewster. Great family-friendly food pit stops include Guapo's for fish tacos (Brewster) and The Hot Chocolate Sparrow (Orleans) for every baked good, chocolate, and ice cream you could hope to see in one place (with coffee for adults). Shade provided by the Cape's ubiquitous gnarly oaks and pines, takes the bite out of hot days. For the complete woodland-pond experience, a detour through Nickerson State Park is recommended, especially for those who seek a little hilly terrain. Pack a towel and hit the trail-friendly beach at Seymour Pond. Drawbacks include occasional trail roots (trees are not large enough to make these formidable obstacles) and the constant (and unavoidable) street crossings. Slow down at these and prepare to stop, even if most cars come to a stop for you (and your kids) to pass. Biking or hiking, the CCRT is an essential component of every Cape Cod vacation.

We have used the trail for a number of years and it only gets better!
There very few trails with easy access of the ocean and bay and are flat!
Thus is for all the family...only a short ride to some of the best beaches!
Lots of places to eat and have ice cream too...tell that to the kids!

I can't believe I have been going to cape cod my whole life and just tried these trails. Old FLAT railroad tracks removed to make this scenic paved trail that extends from dennis( rt 134) down toward Provincetown with side branch to Chatham. Rode with my teenage son. Loved it. Food places along the way. I rented hybrid bikes 15 for 2 hrs at barbs bike shop in Nickerson state park in Brewster right on trail and then returned them in Dennis at start of trail, the other barbs bike shop. We had people pick us up. Went by cranberry bogs and long pond, shaded and flat

this is a wonderful trail, and you can go as far as you want. the first time we biked too far -- over 30 miles out and back-- but we were having such a great time we forgot that we had to bike BACK that same 15 miles. Today we only went 15 miles, from Eastham to Marconi Sight (which has a stunning view of the ocean). It's flat and well marked, and easy even for amateurs like me

What a fabulous afternoon! We rented bikes in Orleans and started our 25.4 mile bike north, ending up at LeCount Hollow Beach before turning around and returning our bikes at Idle Times Bike Shop. The course was easy and if we would have told the kids, "hey, want do ride 25 miles" I would have ridden alone...but their endurance was testimony of the ease of the trail!

As casual bikers, we loved the level, paved surface of the rail trail which is predominantly shaded from Dennis to Wellfleet. We rode from The trailhead at Dennis to the end of the trail at Wellfleet and then on to the Beachcomber restaurant on the beach. The road to the Beachcomber was hilly and not very scenic as the vegetation hid the view of the water, but it was worth getting too. Enough restaurants and bathrooms were located along the route. So enjoyable!

We rode from the Dennis bike rental to the town of Chatham. The ride is roughly 9.5 miles and fairly flat with a few inclines. Many places to rest if needed. The bike trail map given is not to scale, so assistance from a native provides us with directions after passing the airport.

The CapeCod Rail Trail can't be beat. A great place for walking and for biking. It's a pretty straight shot though - for some diversity I recommend veering off a bit and get onto the trails in Nickerson State Park - there are hills and the trails wind through the park - worth checking out

We rented bikes from Dennisport and cycled a 15 mile round trip. The trail was well paved and gave us a good way to experience the character of the Cape close up. The trail was very flat so perfect for all of us - two keen cyclists and two less experienced. Because it was shaded, we were able to ride on a hot afternoon without getting too hot and bothered. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to explore the Cape.

We rode the trail in August and the weather couldn't have been better. The ride is smooth with not a lot of grades, just a few very slight ones. We rode south from Eastham past Orleans and through Brewster. After we rode back we figured we did about 8 miles. They put convenient mile markers every .10 of a mile so you can keep track pretty easy. I'd steer clear on the weekends, as crowds can make the trail pretty crowded!

Very well maintained bike path but don't ride on it expecting expansive views. Flat, with all levels of bikers and walkers using it, everyone is very courteous.

Have done this rail trail many times over the years. This week we did 31 miles from Nickerson SP down to the end at Welleet. Then we made a stop at Marconi station, hiked about a mile through Cedar Swamp Trail (not overly impressed) and then at lunch at Marconi Beach and walked the beach for a while.

We ended up seeing an Eastern Box Turtle while biking, so stopped and played with him for a few minutes!

Stopped at a cool store in Orleans named "Snows" which was right on the trail. Cute store with all kinds of Cape Cod home stuff. Nice place for a break.

Trail wasn't overly busy, just make sure you stay to the right so that the fast road bikers can pass you easily on the left.

This is one of our favorite bike rides on the cape. Not too crowded and essentially flat. We have been coming here for years to the trailhead at rt. 134 and noticed a new bike overpass, apparently we will soon have more options to ride this trail.

New sections of CCRT are now open in Yarmouth and we found the gates open to sections that are paved but not technically open. Only 2 streets to cross from the new trailhead in Yarmouth to the old trailhead in Dennis. Plenty of free parking. You can now go from the golf course in Yarmouth to Wellfleet, about 27 miles. CCRT is one the great treats of Cape Cod.

The rail trail is well maintained, shady, flat awesome bike ride. Advanced cyclists, families, solo bikers and groups will love it. A well loved attraction on the cape for good reAson. I'm not speedy at all, but it's great for any level. Everyone is smiling abs friendly and respects the rules.

I took a ride on this trail during my labor day vacation. I started my roundtrip from Orleans. It was a Sunday morning and the parking lot is almost full around 8:30am. The riders I met on the trail were very friendly. I even joined one group for part of my ride. Condition wise, this trail is mostly flat and well marked. The distance might require some fitness level especially if you are going to finish the full length. Comparing to other trails, I think the view on this trail is slightly below average, there was not much to see besides the trees and a few ponds along the way. The riding itself is quite comfortable though. There are plenty of shades thanks to the vegetation along the trail. I felt most people I met on this trail are more into bike riding than picturesque sight seeing. This trail also acts as an artery connecting towns and several other bike trails/attractions (such as Old Colony rail trail to Chatham, and beaches/Nauset lighthouse (via National seashore Salt pond visitor center)), which worth a side trip if you want to take a break/change the pace.

As someone who doesn't get on a bike this was perfect for me...we did 27.5 miles and there were lovely trees, it would just have been nice to know we were on cape cod...there may be harder tracks closer to the beach and we didn't make it all the way up to the extra top bit which may have had that but it was a lovely change from the rest of our activities.
Everyone we passed both walking and cycling were friendly and said hello. Lovely place!

I like this trail a lot. I rode solo a few times, with my wife and daughter on other occasions. The trail is good for biking as well as for rollerblading. The surface is mainly smooth and offers its fair part of shades. We'll come back again, and again.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is one of the best developed and best marked rail trails in the state. It goes from village to village, with each village being more charming than the last. My only suggestion is that, somehow, the remaining trail stretch from Dennis to Hyannis Transportation Center should somehow be created.

Okay so the bottom line is Cap Cod has very few hills, so, climbing the gradient to see the view from the top is not really going to be the option. We started near Dennis and took off for a pleasant Sunday morning stroll along the trail. The path is tree-lined and gave nice shade on this warm day, breaks in the tree cover give way to sunlit glades and views across various cranberry bogs and reservoirs. We met some traffic in the form of joggers and cyclists (recumbents included) and in the quiet places some of the local wildlife. Our visit took us as far as the Rotary 3.3miles down the way before we turned and set off back to the start. Road crossings are present but discreetly landscaped and the mood isn't broken.

We had nice bikes provided by our lodging (The Eagle Wing Inn), and took a lovely morning ride to Welfleet from Eastham. I loved the views of ponds along the way, and would love to return to bike the rest of the trail. It's well maintained, and flat, so it's a nice, easy ride for anyone.

The intent was to get acquainted with The Cape in preparation for a weekend-long wedding that was to follow!
So we started the week checking-out all the best spots to eat and for beach walks.... which were all great!
Then the discovery of the Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT) happened... and there was no stopping us! We rode many (some overlapping!) sections of the trail over a period of 4 days. There was endless places to stop & admire scenery and have a swim & picnic.
We slept well each night and continued the next day for more adventures!
The CCRT was such a wonderful addition to our time on The Cape....one of the many things to encourage us to return soon again!

This former railroad bed is nicely asphalted and is a beautiful ride, run, or walk, mostly through oak and pine woods, but also alongside some marshes. It crosses streets frequently and we found that drivers were very courteous to those using the trail.

We biked from Brewster to Eastham, and enjoyed the view of bogs, the mostly flat and mostly off-road biking. Places to stop along the way for water, ice cream, etc. (althought not all were yet open of r the season in April)

A great place to bicycle ride. Its good for everyone & all levels!! There's lots to see along the way as well!!!

The weather looked a bit mixed one day so we opted to rent bikes and ride along the Cape Cod Rail Trail. We rented at a wonderful cycle shop in Orleans and then rode the trail to Wellfleet and back - about 22 miles in total. We jumped off the path at one point to take a ride to Coast Guard beach which was a really nice excursion. Views were gorgeous! The trail is mainly flat with a slight incline in some spots. We came across restrooms and spots to fill water bottles along the way. We had lunch at the end of the trail in Wellfleet at PB Boulangerie Bistro which was really good! There are many street crossings along the path - but it seems the locals know the drill and kindly slow down or stop to check for riders. It was a really nice way to spend the day and get some exercise!

Mostly trees, the scenery isn't changing for miles and miles. Unless you need a place for a long run, there are much better trails for biking

Easy cycling on wonderfully smooth paved paths. My only regret is that I couldn't have explored more for longer.
If your time is limited on the Cape then the section from Orleans to Coastguard Beach and Lighthouse is an interesting morning. We rented 2 Trek hybrids from the cycle store in Orleans. These were well maintained with plenty of gears. There are some undulations on this route after the National Park Centre.
This is only about 13-14 miles round trip but has wooded stretches, the National Seashore Park Centre (restrooms), salt marsh, beaches and lighthouse. Take a stroll along the beach to see the colony of Grey Seals playing or resting. We took our time along the way with many fellow cyclists whiz zing by of all ages and all types of bike. The crossings are well signed and car drivers must give way. Take a snack or packed lunch as there are few eating facilities along the way. On our travels around the Cape, we crossed the CCRT many times. I would definitely travel and explore this excellent cycleway again.

We rode ~11.5 miles from Brewster to Nauset Light Beach and back for a total of -23 miles. We rented e-bikes at Rail Trail Bike Shop, railtrailbikeshop.com, for about 4 hours for a very reasonable price.
The trail is paved & mostly flat with a few gentle slopes. It was mostly shaded by trees. It was beautiful! Use caution at the intersections. They are all well marked, and cars were willing to stop & let us cross.

I'm a big bicyclist; my wife does not ride much. We both loved our time riding rental hybrids on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. It's pretty flat, the trail is generally in good shape (there are some spots you have to watch for root impact on the pavement), it's generally very, very beautiful, and it's mostly very quiet and peaceful.

There are road crossings along the trail, and you do have to be alert at those. There are some pedestrians, but not that many. There are several locations along the trail with restrooms, and also several places you can find food. There are a number of locations you can park along the trail.

Getting a map is helpful. There are a number of places along the trail you can rent bicycles.

My friend and I went on the Rail trip yesterday. We had a fabulous time. Lunch was truly wonderful, a lot of food and served perfectly by such nice people. I cannot suggest strongly enough that you treat yourself to this wonderful rail trip. Great narrator who told us all about what we were seeing. Terrific Day!

THIS WILL AWAKEN YOUR INNER MULTI-TASKISM

Staying coastal but wanting a leisurely look at the rather nice landscape of inland CAPE COD?
Fancy a nice relaxed stop at one of those roadside bar/cafe/diner places?
Tired of those ocean beaches and could do with time on a lakeside beach instead?
Are you a housing nerd would like to see some neat rural places seemingly in the middle of nowhere?
Want to access some trail-side trekking areas?
Want to take short side trails that get you to places on the CAPE COD shore away from your holiday base?
Are you a bicycling fitness nerd would like miles of paved trail without the worry of fighting traffic?
Are you a general bicycling nerd who loves to see a full variety of machines from high-end racers, through trail-bikes, cruisers to recumbents. Heck, I even saw a penny-farthing.
Are you a general fitness nerd would like somewhere to power-walk, jog or inline skate in relative safety?
Or are you just a family type would like something different for the family to spend several hours?
I could go on, but I hope you are starting to get the idea.

TIPS
- The 25miles/40km of trail have at least 20 road crossings. A few are overpasses/underpasses but most are level crossings. I noticed drivers were taking great care – but don’t take this for granted.
- There are many places to start your ride – I began at SOUTH DENNIS close to the western end where route 134 crosses under the trail, because this had a nearby bus stop and a good bike rental joint (BARB’S BIKES**). For drivers there is a big trailside parking area. I rode east then north for about an hour, turning around at the NICKERSON STATE PARK near the northern end (unfortunately I had no time to try the trails there) and retracing my steps. But the thing is I saw many similar places to my starting point. Many choices.
- There no shortage of trackside bike rental. Go online and check it out.
- The trail was relatively flat, well sealed and well signposted – very user friendly.
- Phone users – PLEASE step of the trail. Bike tracks and telephonists are a bad mix. Parents – keep an eye on your kids. Fast guys – use your bell: it will be appreciated.

Enjoy – this is a good one.

Really enjoyed staying in a house along the Cape Cod Rail Trail. We biked all over the place (including Eat Cake for Breakfast!) and found the trail to be a fun, smooth and enjoyable family ride.

My husband and I brought our bikes to the Cape on a recent visit to Brewster. We had easy access to the trail and could head in either direction--we did both! The trail winds inland through a varied landscape from forested areas to fields, bogs, and beside lakes. Sometimes you go through towns where there are a variety of places to stop for a bite. The trail runs 22 miles from Dennis to Well Fleet. There is a cute bike rotary in Harwich from which another spur of the train heads off toward Chatham. If you get to the end at Well Fleet, you and your bike can take a shuttle (for a fee) up to Provincetown where there are more bike trails. The trail has some elevation change, but it is not physically challenging. We had a great time.

Cape Cod Rail Trail is a beautiful bike trail where you can ride your bike for a long time with no need to worry about cars or stress. You are crossing inside the forest and lakes close to you, even with the chance to stop and swim at one of them (Seymour Pond is a great option).

Several options to purchase food and drinks while you are pedaling.

The CC trail is fantastic. But why wouldn't it be?
It's on Cape Cod!!
BTW if you get a chance, check out the biking on Martha's Vineyard too!
Again
Beautiful beyond beleif!

We've done sections of the trail a handful of times. There aren't too many road crossings and very few roots. Just a nice smooth safe place to ride. There are many places to rent bikes if you haven't brought yours. If you are able to transport your bike do it - biking around the Cape is excellent.

My wife and I rented a VRBO in Brewster MA that is one block off the Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT). We walked about two miles one-way on the CCRT heading south/west. We met many bikers on the trail, as well as several other walkers. Very well maintained. Not much foliage color change yet (as of 20 Oct 2021).

This trail ok but not very scenic between Dennis and Nickerson park. You ride past a lot of commercial property. Down by the rotary was nice and by the park. It's relatively flat and motorist stop to cross the main roads of which there are many. It wasn't overly crowded. We found restrooms few and far between. There is a cute general store to grab something to eat but no restrooms. I preferred the shining sea bikeway.

I felt this was the best activity to enjoy and immerse yourself in the raw beauty of Cape Code. We rode all the way to Orleans. It was jaw dropping beauty at every point. I felt it was the best way to truly experience nature in Cape Cod. We were visiting from Southern California which has nothing even close in comparison. It will be the highlight of my year!

This is a very nice trail to take with young'uns, because of no car danger, but it is ho hum. The actual roads in the Wellfleet/Truro area are so pretty, especially if you can ride along the ocean or the harbor or the marshes, there is no need to ride on this trail unless you have kids or other considerations that would make riding on a road unavailable. I'm a leisure bike rider, not very fast, but after one time on the rail trail, I never went back because you're pretty much just riding behind the commercial centers of the towns, and missing the spectacular scenery that is Cape Cod.

Cape Cod is my happy place! I try to come every summer. The Cape Cod Trail is one of my favorite things to do. You can bike it or walk it. Biking is my favorite. I usually rent a bike in Wellsfleet from the Little Capistrano Bike Shop and bike for as far and long as I like. In July 2017, I rented a bike for 4 hours and biked solo 11 miles to Brewster and back in about 3 hours, for a total of 22 miles. The weather was wonderful. It was a bit cloudy and cool and breezy. The trail was not crowded, and felt safe aways. It was a great afternoon excursion. If you visit the Cape, I encourage you to make time to bike or walk at least a part of the trail. In Orleans, there places to stop for lunch or a snack.

This is the best place to do bicycle in family! Tandem bike is a really good choice for young child. The trail is fresh (cause of the tree) and very easy to bike. Pounds are beautiful all the way.

Whether you walk or ride—this trail is really a treasure! It safe and away from traffic! Everyone is polite while using the trail. Another benefit!!

This beautiful bikeway is a great day out with the family. My husband and son rode the 44 miles round trip from the trail head and my daughter (12 years old) and I did about 26 miles by turning around in Orleans. The only drawback were the many stops to cross intersections on foot (so quite a few dismounts). This was the most distance that my daughter has ridden in a day - and although she was fatigued, it was very doable.

Along the way we crossed over cranberry bogs, several beach areas on lakes, saw several little stores and restaurants and bike rental shops. The terrain is mostly flat with some slight elevations - the path is well maintained. There was only one short spot where we were riding with traffic.

We stopped for ice cream and treats in Orleans at The Sparrow. Really, really great spot!

The trail is well shaded through the pine woods and their are salt water flats to see. There are a fair amount of bathrooms. It's a nice ride. I did the entire 44 miles.
There are lots of roads to cross from South Dennis to about Harwich then its better. Please keep to the right when riding and no matter what your age wear a helmet.

We got on the trail on a cloudy Sunday morning in Orleans and took it to its terminus in Wellfleet. It's a lovely trail with some nice scenery. At the terminus we crossed 6 to get a look at the bay. Crossed back to the ocean to sit there awhile. Rode south again and stopped at Arnold's for some good fried clams, raw oysters and a lobster roll.

There are many people on the trail - walkers and bicyclists. But, folks know to yield when you ask them to. Don't expect to ride too fast. Though the crowd thins out has you continue north to Wellfleet.

We took a walk with a child in a stroller on the bike trail, and it was a nice walk. If I were to do it again I would try going in the opposite direction from the way we went, because the trail seemed to end rather abruptly at a busy road and an airfield. We would have taken a longer walk if it hadn't ended this way. There were a couple of spots along the way with benches.

Rented bikes from little Capistrano bike shop, inexpensive cash business. Very helpful nice staff, good selection of bikes. Rode all the way to Bob's and back. Pretty flat , scenic ride.

I've ridden this trail many times and have always enjoyed it. This year, I road on the extension to Chatham, called the Old Colony Rail Trail. Although there are some pretty sections, it is not nearly as nice as the main rail trail that goes to the north. There are more grade crossing and more on-road sections. Nonetheless, both trails are excellent.

Walk and ride this year round. Wonderful place. Only thing that would make it better-courteous other riders.

We went about 45 minutes and returned. There were 4 of us. My wife, myself and a grandson and a nephew. The boys were 11and 13. We were out for two hours and paid a total of $53.00 for everything! Lots if fun.

i’ve never had so many rude people on a bike trail. my son fell and someone yelled at him “get out of the way”, he had plenty of room but he decided to yell at my kid when he was down. but there were another lady too who made policing the bike path her job, yelling at any person who she perceived as taking up too much room.

Clearly marked mileage every tenth of a mile. Watch for cars at road crossings even though they should stop for you. Path is nicely paved and wide enough to accommodate bikers and runners/ walkers. Several businesses are close to the CCRT.
Enjoy and be safe.

Beautiful and scenic trail that lets you stop at many quaint towns and nature areas along the way. Paved and mostly flat, the trail was easy enough for our 6 year old and still fun and interesting for the adults and tweens. Stop at the Sparrow Cafe for treats for the kids.

We did the Brewster to Yarmouth part about 11 miles one way. It was easy with some slight inclines. Along the way right before Seymour lake there is the Pleasant Lake General Store to get drinks and ice cream.
The lakes along the way are very pretty and great pit stop locations.
We rented our bikes (excellent )from Brewster Cycle Center and they were very nice . At closing you can still use there bikes until trail closes and just lock them up when you get back. Free parking behind their building.

This is one of the best parts of the cape. Many plan their whole visit around the trail for the lovely scenery and the relaxing opportunity to avoid cape traffic that seems to grow worse each summer. It is easily- accessed from many locations and connects with other, local trails. Bike rentals are located near access points or you can park your car and offload your own bike. A tip for those who might not have biked for a while is to try renting an adult tricycle or electric bike. You should not miss out on this experience. It could be the highlight of a trip to the cape.

Gorgeous and flat, the CCRT is a paved trail that stretches 22 miles from Dennis to PTown. This would be a great trail for even young kids, as the trail is flat and fairly wide. Very scenic and quiet. A nice change from he beach.

I ride bikes regularly. This 20+ mile path is basically flat, well paved and maintained, and goes all the way from the mid cape to the upper outer cape (think Wellfleet). Goes past lakes, Nickerson state park, cranberry bogs, through towns and past the national seashore. Lots of varied terrain and near businesses, restaurants, and other stops enabling you to ride as "hard" or easy as you want to.

I have come to the Cape simply to ride the trail multiple times and I have never been disappointed. This is worthy of your time for the day.

The Cape Cod rail trail is a true gem for this area. The rail trail is appropriate for all levels. A family could use it for an easy ride from town to town, or experienced riders could use it for a long run from end to end. The trail is in excellent condition, well marked throughout, and offers plenty of spots to detour into a town for shopping, eating, or sight seeing. Many of the bike rental locations are conveniently located for easy on/off from the trail. Family bike rides on the trail are a favorite part of our Cape Cod vacations.

The 5 miles each way between Dennis entrance and the first lunch stop (a nice deli) in Orleans was just the right distance. My 9 year old was riding a 20" bmx bike without gears and this was far enough. The stop at the Orleans deli (forgot the name) offered nice homemade burritos and sandwiches. The trail was shaded much of the way, mostly flat or mild grades. There were views of ponds, swamps, meadows, and the street crossings were safe. Cars yielded politely and they had good signs asking them to yield. The "trail" is well paced and suitable to any tire. I rode a single speed cruiser comfortably. With gears and road tires riding longer would be very doable for most riders. The kids and I had fun. The Tripadvisor address was perfect. Also we noted two bike rental places in Dennis, but we had our own bikes. Parking lot was large and secure.

This is a great, flat bike path. You can take it either way and either end up in Bourne or Sandwich. We ate lunch in Sandwich and biked back to Bourne.

For most of its length the CCRT is fairly level, though there are some relatively short steeper sections. I have ridden the trail from South Dennis to Provincetown many times, though you should be aware that the actual rail trail is discontinuous in spots--no big deal. You can also ride one way and take the Regional Transit Bus back to where you started. The buses have bike racks and they are cheap.

4 of us (2 adults plus 12 and 13 yo) spent the morning on the CCRT between Nickerson and Wellfleet. Such an amazing experience. My husband and kids are seasoned riders, but I am not. I had so much fun. The facilities along the trail are appreciated. Stopped for lunch at Bobs in Wellfleet. We have planned to hit the other half as well as the Chatham extension later this week. Highly recommended.

Went on a day trip to east Falmouth Mass., to the Cape Cod Fairgrounds. It was a nice day when we arrived we all bought tickets for the scallop dinner, they also had a chicken dinner too. They both came with French fries ,coleslaw, and a can of soda. The scallops were some of the best I had ever had, really good. After that we walked around to see all the vendors selling different arts and crafts and more vendors selling ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, lobster rolls, and a few other things. There were also two different stages with bands playing on both as they were far apart. A very enjoyable day trip, Try it next year you will like it. !!!

We've done every piece of this over the years, it's one of our favorites. Love adding the detour to Marconi Beach at Wellfleet end and add a plunge if water's warm enough (or we're hot enough)!

Did all 62 miles once with Chatham leg added. Different, a little rough, but we worked up to it!

We towed our 2 kids in 1 bike trailer behind 1 adult bike (2 adults, 2 kids out on the trail). We started in Orleans & biked to the northern end of the trail & back. The path was wide enough to accommodate such trailers. We had no problem towing it because the path was just about all flat except for crossing over route 6 on a bridge & going under through a tunnel. It helped to have 1 adult check the path ahead of the bike & trailer when going through the tunnel and when the trail crossed the streets. We noticed that most cars do yield to pedestrians on the path attempting to cross a street but we experienced 2 or 3 drivers that sped up in order to stop us from crossing in front of them. We didn't understand the rush because we were 2 bikes & a trailer so the drivers would only have to stop for about 5 seconds. So if you have small kids on their own bikes beware. We stopped for pizza, pastries, and coffee halfway through our ride in Wellfleet (bike through the parking lot at the northern end and you'll see a restaurant across the street on the left). The path goes in & out of shade during mid-day. We encountered polite bikers on the path who would let us know if they were coming up behind us & passing. We avoided the spur trail to the Salt Pond visitors center because we thought it would have been too hilly to manage with the trailer. We rode the same route 2 days in a row because we had such a great experience the first day that we didn't bother to explore the southern portion of the trail. Although the bike shops do rent trailers we bought one for the trip. We had enough space in our vehicle & we found one last-minute on Craigslist for slightly more than a 3 day rental would have cost us.

This is a nice rail trail converted to a walking/bicycling trail. We did a few miles of it in Eastham. It is pleasant and flat. Not too scenic but at least you can get some shade.

The rail trail is mostly level,so it makes for easy biking, walking, or, in my wheelchaired/Segwayed case, ride along. There are areas of shade and longer stretches of full sun, so days with highs in the 70’s are easier on those who wilt in summer heat. You can ride sections of the trails….or go the distance. Nice scenery, albeit tame. Loads of quiet broken only by the sound of cyclists calling “On your left!” As they speed by. About half of the people going the opposite direction will wave or smile to people they pass. Those like me in a wheelchair attract a surprising number of people going in the same direction who proactively invite a brief conversation about the weather.

If you bike you have to do this trail. Paved, extremely scenic, majority of it flat makes this a must do for bikers. A handful of places to eat and a couple of bike shops if you need a repair. Best place to start and park is off Route 134. Drive slowly because it is easy to miss. Trail is 22 miles one way but you can do your own distance and just back track. Enjoy, my wife and I did.

The rail trail is a paved bike path on an old railroad line. It has an easy grade and meanders along bogs and ponds. There are lots of places that rent bikes or if you have your own places to park to unload. Once on the trail, there are plenty of places eat along the way. Great for all ages!

Rode the trail from Yarmouth to Harwich and then took the Old Colony line towards Chatham. Trail was in excellent shape and was a very pleasant ride. Lots of great scenery and plenty of maps to check progress. Many different places to park - we parked at the Yarmouth trail head and there was plenty of room albeit it was a Thursday afternoon. Definitely a great ride and one which I look forward to doing again. My only criticism is the lack of consistent mileage markers along the CCRT.

Lovely flat trail which can be accessed at various points.
We biked from dennisport to orleans
We took a detour and biked through Nickerson park which can be accessed on the trail
The trail is flat and very easy to bike. In Orleans we locked our bikes and walked through town saw galleries and ate delicious sweets at The Sparrow

The curator at the Edward Gory House recommended this trail. It is a good trail for a beginner - flat, paved, well-marked, and separated from the street traffic. We started in Dennis, which is industrial but had charm. After about 15 minutes of pedaling in Dennis, we passed by a few cranberry bogs, wooded areas and finally Pleasant Lake before we turned back. There is a very good pizzeria/deli/general store (Pizza Shark) at this point. In April, the road was not busy but we encountered families, and fellow walkers, joggers and cyclists, which created a friendly atmosphere.

Definitely do the dinner train - awesome. I live on the Cape so this is not just a tourist attraction. I LOVED IT. It was elegant from the beginning, white table cloths and flowers. The food was delicious. Fish and meat choice. The beef was perfect, as was the salmon. This is a five course meal over 3 hours, including crossing the CC Canal. I have already made reservations to do the lunch train.

If you like to bike, walk, run, or swim this is a no brainer for anyone visiting Cape Cod. The trail winds through some of the most beautiful conservation land on Cape Cod. There are public beaches on crystal clear fresh water ponds and access to the Cape Cod National Seashore as well. Their are hiking trails through the woods. It goes through Orleans, Wellfleet, and on an attached spur, lovely Chatham. Young or old will like this trail. You can rent a bike for the day or walk it or take a jog without worrying about motor vehicles. Start in Harwich and ride to Orleans or Wellfleet for a days outing. You can also go to Chatham from there but the ride is less interesting to Chatham. Chatham is definitely a place you don't want to miss so if you have a couple of days, go in both directions.
This is a paved trail from Dennis all the way to Wellfleet. While it ends in Wellfleet, hop on Ocean Drive and soar above the Atlantic Ocean for some breath taking views. Head into Wellfleet past a great fresh water pond and have lunch in town.
If you go to Chatham, ride the "Chatham loop" past Chatham light. It's off the trail but well marked.
In Orleans, go to Rock Harbor, again just off the trail. There is a beautiful Abby right on the harbor and a nice beach. Watch out for cars, it can be busy in the summer.
If you worry about junior and his traffic sense, just stay on the trail, it's beautiful and safe! Lots to see and do.

Now here--in all the tourist rip-offs- is a great thing! It is free--use your legs or wheels to tour past bogs, pond, woods, etc. and enjoy the Cape!!

Beautiful trail. Well marked and maintained! We rented bikes at Brewster Bikes and rode about 15 miles. Great experience for our family

It can get crowded midday on a weekend when we went but otherwise it is a great project and a well maintained and safe stretch of great cycling tar with beautiful
Scenery. Take a picnic to the beach.

Underwhelming to say the least. We rode for about 40 minutes from Dennis and didn't see much in the way of scenery. At one point there was such a horrible stench that we had to hold our noses while riding.
I would definitely do the Shining Sea Bike Path instead, that had beautiful views of the ocean.

My wife, 10-year-old son, and myself took a leisurely ride from Orleans center just into Wellfleet. It was a Saturday so I was worried about crowds, but it was fine. The pavement was smooth and free of clutter, and it was shaded much of the time. Probably not the place for a serious bike ride, at least in the middle of the day, but for enjoying the quiet at 10 MPH, it was very nice.

We jumped on the trail at about the 8 mile mark and rode past Nickerson state park, through Orleans and into Eastham...about a 20 mile mile round trip. The scenery was beautiful and the ride fairly relaxing. The trail is a bit crowded but easily navigated with plenty of opportunity for passing if needed. Overall it was a really nice day trip!

After not biking for many years, my husband and I have recently started riding again and we love the CCRT. It's safe, easy riding with beautiful scenery and ample places to stop for breaks.

If you’re in the area don’t miss this trail. Well marked and maintained. Very enjoyable ride. We on,y did from Dennis to Orleans so round trip 30 miles. Mostly flat and shady!

We stayed at Ocean Edge Resort and accessed the trail at their Villages Property. 2 mile ride to Nickerson State Park for more challenging Trails for the more adventurous. The Rail trail is paved, wide, and flat with many signs for food, rest rooms, and sights. Well maintained and lots of shade. Highly recommend for biking, running, or walking.

Train to Christmastown with the kids. They had so much fun. Served homemade cookies and hot chocolate to the kids. Santa came on the train and took pictures.

Great family activity. Brings you right to the ocean with wonderful views. Tons of fun bike riding. Also able to walk or hike if you wish.

Many access points, well marked, paved, good trail maps and support along the way. I was surprised at the bike shops offing help. Very scenic, gentle slope if any slope at all. Lots of places to stop along or just off the trail.

Want to see seals and possibly sharks while on a bike trail? The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a must when visiting cape cod! A wonderful way to explore the Cape, breathe in the salt air, capture some unique wildlife and perspective. The Trail is often shaded from the sun, and occupied enough that if you ever need help there is plenty of people willing to assist.Favorite part was reaching Wellfleet, beautiful surf and dunes. Here we often see the beautiful black harbor seals playing and feeding in the surf. Great white sharks can at times be seen patrolling close to shore, so do not swim if the seals are in the water to be on the safe side.Also enjoyed watching the cormorants drying their wings along the wires..overlooking the tidal marshes.There are restrooms and restaurants along the trails, or pack a picnic lunch..Bring water. We rent bikes with baskets for ease and comfort, and the electric bikes are a life saver for long treks. For best nature and smooth seas to view seals, early morning and sunset are best!

We like to Park our car at the trailhead in Wellfleet. Our favorite section of the bike path is from Wellfleet to Orleans. Very scenic, all off road, away from cars, nice and level. Nice ice cream place Orleans to rest and get refreshments before heading back to Wellfleet or to continue further down the rail trail.

We rode much of the length of this trail over 2 days. It runs mostly through forested parts of the cape and skirts the city centers with their traffic. Area between Harwich and Brewster goes by ponds with swimming available. Well marked and signed. Restroom availability is fairly good.

There are numerous bike shops and sandwich places available and signs point to side routes for the city centers.

We join the trail in Eastham. We head east/north toward Arnold's, Ben and Jerry's and the Friendly Fisherman, (all excellent BTW!) or west/south toward Rock Harbor and Orleans. These are flat rides, easy for our whole family, safe, beautiful vistas, and yummy treats. Couldn't ask for more!

We have ridden the entire trail, much of it multiple times. On this occasion we began at Nickerson State park and rode to Yarmouth. The scenery is generally good. There are some road crossings which all have crosswalks and most have flashing lights. I have to say that most people here are very good about stopping. The trail gets fairly busy but most people follow the rules. Like anywhere there are some who think they own the trail and ride like idiots. The trail is fairly level which makes it good for families.

Although its a long ride, it is mostly flat and the scenary is just stunning. You pass such gorgeous views that you just have to stop and take pictures. I would thoroughly recommend to this anyone.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail was a great ride - primarily flat with shade. There are plenty of stops along the way, if you want to grab a bite or catch a drink.

No ups and downs, perfect for family bike trail. We did a 8 mile bike trail from Cape cod National seashore to Orleans,& came across lakes & forest, for me biking here was fun.

Needed practice steering my electric wheelchair, so I started near the Hot Chocolate Sparrow and rode 4 miles or so to Governor Pence Road before turning back. The trail had a few bikers whizzing by at speed, but mostly it was just me and an occasional couple out for a walk. Perfect for my needs, and it’s a relatively tame but delightful stretch of the outdoors.

Bike rental was great … trail amazing… but me and my son got lice from the helmets! BEWARE!! Bring your own! Really gross. If they can't provide clean helmets then they should not provide them.

We've done much of the Wellfleet to Dennis piece. Many of those areas are open sun and when its hot and humid, that's very uncomfortable. Try riding out of Orleans from Snows toward Dennis. It is almost all shade. We clocked 11.5 miles on this path.

The bike trails (Rail to Trail) are superb as the whaling museum was. We started in Brewster and ended up in Nantucket. Area is history rich and interesting. Our tour company, IBT..(International Biking Tours) was awful...the only bad thing about the whole triip..

The CCRT offers fun rides wherever you join the trail. I saw lots of wildlife, swans, muskrat, etc. There were not a lot of people on the trail at this time of the year, but I imagine that in season it must be crowded.

This bike trail goes for many miles. It goes through woods, along lakes, and under highways. There are cute shops at places along the way to stop for refreshments. It's accessible at several points where parking is set aside, as well as from hotels such as the Four Points by Sheraton where we stayed in Eastham.

We spent a morning in the section spanning Eastham, Orleans, and Brewster before it got too hot. We are casual bicyclists, but there were people of all abilities using it. It could be wider in places, and there are some bumps in the road, Nevertheless our overall experience was very pleasant.

I rented my bike at the western terminus of the trail, and set out towards Wellfleet. It seemed like I was at the bike rotary in no time, and in just under two hours I was at the northern end. Timing was good, as I was ready for lunch and took advantage of a most excellent French bistro about 50 meters away; as well, I did a short jaunt to the ocean to watch some surfers before returning. The trail was busier in the afternoon than in the morning, but not so busy that it was like an urban rush hour in any way. One thing I appreciated were the clearly-marked road crossings. Car/Truck drivers were always courteous and accommodating to allowing cyclists to cross. Pedestrians kept to the right, and always noted their appreciation when I observed the local custom of calling out as I approached them from behind to pass.
I added the Chatham branch as well, but found that it petered out past the airport, and I was obliged to share roads with afternoon drivers who were more interested in themselves than the safety of either cyclists or pedestrians in the Chatham "business area". I hastily made my exit, and returned to South Dennis without incident. All in all, 102 km in exactly 6h including stops for lunch, ocean views, and snacks, much of this thanks to the excellent condition of the trail.

We were 20 bikers and rode our bikes from Brewster to Salt Pond Visitor's Center. We walked around the Salt Pond which was very enjoyable; along the trail you pass other salt ponds as well. We also took a side trail down to the beach from the visitor's center; it was hilly but very manageable. Lovely paved trail; great biking and everyone enjoyed the ride. When we return to Cape Cod we hope to bike the other direction from Brewster. The side trail we took brought us to a beautiful beach [Coast Guard Beach] and we had lunch there. We rode our bikes back to Brewster; a 26-mile bike ride - great.

I biked 52 miles on the Cape Cod Bike Trail this weekend. It was the best ride of the season so far. The trail is wide, well paved, clearly marked, safe in intersections, and very long. It was perfect for training for a long ride (like I'm doing) or for a short, leisurely ride. Excellent, fantastic, and fabulous!!!

I brought my own bike, parked in Harmouth and peddled for hours, when i realized my car was 15 miles away i turned around. With a bike with no gears and peddling in the wind it became a 5 hr trip. I did enjoy stopping in Orleans. Beware of the drivers who wont stop at those crosswalks!

My wife and I are in our late 60's, and enjoy day long bicycling adventures. This one so far is the best. Reasonably flat, picturesque scenery, fair amount of documented bathroom and water stops, just study the map before heading out and plan accordingly. The final leg of the trail was opened when we rode, so the one way length is now 27 miles (54 round trip). Next year will add the Old Colony Rail Trail spur (8 miles) so I can ride 70 miles on my 70th birthday!

Most tourists want to see the Cape by either car or walking around and sometimes by boat. Do yourself a favor spend some time on a long bike ride that not only allows you and your partner or family some quality time but also build up an appetite to go to one of the many venues around the area. See the sites that really matter from a slowed pace so as to not miss anything. Also try the Cape Cod Railway to see a scenic view from a train ride with or without Dinner or Breakfast.

I hope that helps!

My husband and 17 year old twin boys biked the trail and we really enjoyed it. We hopped on at Eastham and rode to Wellfleet where the trail ended and back to Eastham. My family stopped riding and I kept pedaling further into Eastham. There are plans to continue the trail from Wellfleet to Truro which we look forward to riding on our next trip to the Cape. I loved it and was in my glory!

The Cape Cod Bike Trail is very similar to the Greenway in Minneapolis as it has been converted from an old railroad line to a paved bike path. There is access to the trail from the Atlantic Oaks Camground in Eastham. A wonderful experience.

We did a multi stop holiday (NY, Cape Cod & Boston)
The rail run is a great day out to cycle along this historic rail way, you can pick it up & drop off at many stops.

We stopped for lunch, ice creams sight seeing etc, flat quiet ride, suitable for all the family. (just check you are OK with the seats on the rental bike, they can become a bit uncomfortable towards the end.

Can't recommend renting a bike if you don't have one with you and riding this trail. Takes you through some great locations. A really awesome ride.

The CCRT is a don't miss if you are visiting the cape. We rented bikes in Dennis right off the trail and were on our way! it is very well maintained, easy to navigate and an beautiful enjoyable ride. I am not an avid bike rider but found this very doable. There are several road crossings, all well marked and the cars stop for bikers. I think depending on what time of year you go makes a difference on the scenery but it was nice and shaded with a good breeze which was great! Plus we love the First Crush Winery's turbo wine slushies, a must have in my opinion, and the winery is literally right off the trail (marked with a sign and a balloon!). Stopped for a little drink and snack and back on our way! loved it.

We drove to Brewster and rented bikes. Pick up a bike trail map for places to rent. Husband is not much of a biker so we rented and figured we would ride as far as we could. Trail was so beautiful, and not too hard, a few inclines which were easy to bike, or could be walked. Trail is paved and biking quite doable. We went all the way to Salt Pond Visitors Center. About 10 miles. Excited by how enjoyable the ride was we decided to bike down to Coast Guard Beach. More challenging, unpaved road with more hills. Beach was a pleasure! Then we headed back. Hubby was exhausted, but loved it. (about 24 miles total) We would still recommend biking this trail, but keep in mind how far you can go, and take water! You will pass through some towns so there are always stops and places to get food/snacks, like ice cream.

We have ridden the rail trail several times and loved it. We have brought our own bikes, but we have also rented from the place in south Dennis on 134 that is placed at the trailhead. The trail is very well maintained and even offers several restrooms along the way. One of the best things about this trail is how many places there are to eat off the trail so you don't have to pack food if you want to ride with a light load. Bring plenty of water!

There are multiple starting points. We like to start in Eastham and ride out to Marconi beach. You will pedal through different types of scenery, cranberry bogs, woods ,lakes. It is a very enjoyable and flat ride.

This is a great place to spend a day. Its easy and enjoyable cycling and there are amazing places to stop off for lunch or a snack on route . We loved this and took the trail all the way to nauset beach from Brewster and had a perfect day

This is a paved rail trail. Families bike. Runners run. Cyclists cycle. Walkers walk. It is a shaded area. Very peaceful.and it's free!

Very nice bike path, well made, secure. The landscapes are beautiful. In several places, there are small cavities to stop either to picnic or even eat a burger! We really liked it.

Easy mainly level bike track with lots of spots to stop for a break or to look at the natural surroundings.

This trail is paved and in great condition. There is a lot of vegetation so there is plenty of shade even on hot sunny days. The route is never very far from the road so it is easy to grab lunch or supplies if needed. At the same time the trail is far enough off the main road so you don’t hear the traffic going by. There are no steep hills so the trail is great for bikers of all levels. There are a number of road crossings but they all have cross walks and most have flashing lights to warn drivers about approaching bikers. I really can’t say enough about this trail, and I would return to this area just to ride.

A gem of Cape Cod with so many beautiful places to visit along the way!! A nature lovers delight and a great family adventure

I am a huge fan and try to ride this trail a few times per year. It is awesome in it's beauty. It passes cranberry bogs,lakes, forest sections and the bay harbor at Orleans. It has some inclines but no steep hills. Normally I ride from Route 134 Dennis to Rock Harbor Orleans and back which is about 29 miles. The Trail is about 6-7 ft wide in most sections and has safely marked intersections and even has that unique Massachusetts feature - the rotary (allbeit without Massachusetts drivers!).
You can continue on the trail from Orleans to Marconi Beach in Eastham. They are trying to extend the trail to run from the Cape Cod Canal to Provincetown and have already expanded the trail into Yarmouth but not quite thru Hyannis or to Provincetown as yet. For visitors, I recommend starting at Rte 134 for two reasons ; rte 134 has ample free parking and a fully equipped bike shop secondly the main highway route 6 narrows to one lane each way beyond rte 134 and traffic gets jammed up on weekends and summer times.

The Cape is unique and historical. It is sandy and sunny and expensive. But I sstill love Cape Cod. Yes!

Nice, long paved trail. It runs 19 miles from Wellfleet to Harwich, then makes a “T” going 3 more miles to Dennis to the right, and ~5 more miles to Chatham to the left. Leave time for lunch at Chatham Fish and Chips just around the corner from the trail end. You ride through salt marshes, past pond beaches, and past plenty of places to get ice cream. 😊

We biked 22 miles of this trail, it's just about all flat, the town names are on the Tarmac as you are peddling every 1 5th of a mile or something like that anyway, plenty of places to stop to eat and drink, so no need to carry your own, you can do as much or as little as you like, we saw snakes, and wild turkeys and the highlight was the tortoise we saw as well, very nice way to spend a day, plenty of shade along the way too.

Rented some bikes (right off the trail) and took a few hour ride from Wellfleet to Nickerson State Park and back. Parking right at the start of the trail.
Very level. Easy ride. A few ponds along the way.
We enjoyed it.
There are restaurants along the way in Eastham and Orleans.

Staying at Nickerson State Park is easy to access the biking rail trail. Sections of the camp ground 1-3 give easy access and less than 1/2 mile bike ride from your camp site to the trail. You can take a ride into Orleans for coffee and ice cream right on the trail, even dinner. Headed towards Dennis offers other options as well. By staying in the camp ground no parking worries, just access the bike trail from your camp site. Camp sight sections in the back of the park may be too long of a ride for some younger bike riders. There are port potties along the rail trail.

Went for a nice quick ride on a Thursday morning from Brewster to Dennis and back (16.2 mi.), there weren't too many people, but it also wasn't empty. The scenery is beautiful with views of cranberry bogs and nearby lakes. This is a family friendly trail with various stopping points along the way, minimal inclines but not completely flat.

Maybe I haven't been on enough bike trails, but this was the first trail I'd been on that had a bike round-about! thought that was pretty neat.

Very smooth, paved trail. Shady with a nice breeze, even on a very hot morning. Crosses the roads periodically but very well marked with lit crossings and (most!) cars were great at stopping for cyclists. Highly recommend!!

Have done Wellfleet to Brewster. Love the ride from Eastham's Salt Pond Center to Coast Guard Beach. Also from there to Orleans Center for lunch along the way, or in Orleans. Stop in Snow's (off the trail in Orleans) for a good old five and dime type of store - a rare good ole department store and NOT a big bos.

Cape Cod Rail Trail

Cape Cod

Get maps to learn more

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Check maps for difficulty of the various routes. appropriate for family biking. Do search and then download pdf maps.

Biking this beautiful trail is everything they say about it - fun and easy.
But riders should be aware that there’s poison ivy along parts of the path. The edge of the path is carefully mowed but 3’ in from the path’s surface there is often lots of that nasty, shiny, three-leafed vine.

Please Note: I’m still glad they don’t try to control it with Round Up - it’s better that riders just be careful - especially kids and foreign visitors.

Otherwise, the path was a joy to ride. Bring a long shelved shirt if you’re biking autumn. It can be chilly in the shady areas.

Very well maintained, well marked. From our hotel, the Cove in Orleans, we rode west to the start and back on one day & from Orleans to Wellfleet the next. An easy side trip took us to the "dunes and drop" of Marconi beach. We devoted another day to the Chatham spur. We walked the retail section and lunched at a deli in town, then drove out to Oceanview Drive for more overlooks of the Atlantic, deserted beaches and steep dunes.

Immaculately kept train, gentle hills. A number of kids selling lemonade by the side. Lots of families and kids. Surroundings are lovely; sometimes riding through forest, other times suburbia. The Chatham end involves a lot of riding on streets. Drivers are incredibly courteous, allowing bikers precedence at intersections. Barbara's Bike & Blade is at the Denis terminus (get there from Rte 6, exit to Rte 134, right after Patriot Mall - great service and a variety of bikes; helmets are free and required by MA law for any one under 16 years of age.

On our way back to our hotel we passed a parking lot for the Cape Cod Rail Trail and decided to stop for a walk.Great paved level path for easy walking. A relaxing way to end our day.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a great place for families to bike. There are a few hills but most of the trail is easy biking for everyone. There are really nice views and you can bike from many different spots. You can bike for quite a distance. There are places a long the trail where you can buy lunch or snacks.

We heard that cycling was one of the 'must do' activities in Cape Cod and this was very true. We hired some bikes and as a family (2 adults and 2 teenagers!) cycled from Brewster to Wellfleet and back. Although we found this distance a challenge (13 miles there and 13 back), the paths are well maintained and the terrain is very flat. There were no cars and even when you had to cross a road, you had the right of way. The trail was through beautiful woodlands. A really pleasant activity that is typical of Cape Cod.

Best part of our trip was biking from Dennis to Chatham - ate at Squires, then rode to Brewster a total of 30 miles. Ran 22 miles on trail as well one day. Beautiful scenery, little snack shop on way to Brewster, smooth asphalt, crosswalks marked and cars stop. 2 bike shops along trail both open. Lots of cranberry bogs, water views, bridges, tunnels, adjacent intersecting dirt trails as well.

The cape cod rail trail is a paved bike path that goes 22 miles from Dennis to Wellfleet. It is very well
Maintained has many scenic views of the kettle ponds that dot the mid Cape. The ride is not terribly challenging and there are few big hills. There are many places to stop for food or drinks. It is very popular and can get a little crowded. Today we started in Nickerson State Park and ride up to Wellfleet where we took a did trip to the Marconi Beach. It's fun to be able to ride your bike to the beach. This trail is very similar in design and degree of difficulty to the Farmington River trail in Connecticut

Great rides. There’s even a bicycle roundabout. Fun mix of Lycra-clad pelotons, scouts with backpacks, families with wobbly kids starting out.

Tip— take a map if you ride beyond the trail head from Wellfleet up to Provincetown. Signage there is crummy.

Several times I have done the CCRT starting in Brewster as it gives you options of heading towards Wellfleet (approx 20 mi.) or towards Dennis. Pavement in great condition, not too many hills. All types of riders and walkers. I would suggest weekdays if you can as it does get crowded in places.

If you are going to the cape - you really need to bring your bikes or rent for the day. There are many rental places along the rail trail. Stop in any store and look by the entrance for the cape cod guide books. One will have the rail trail map. We usually jump on by rt 6 and you will pass places to eat, have ice cream, etc. My cousin rides up to Arnolds for Lobster rolls and then rides back. The trail goes for miles so you can spend an hour or a day on the trail - depending on who's with you and their abilities.

Great biking trail for all levels. I rented a road bike, my wife rented a power assist bike so that she could do the entire trail.

We have ridden bikes here two years and it is always a lot of fun. We rent bikes at the Dennis Cycle Center which is close to the start of the trail.
It is a lot of fun everyone enjoys it!

Much has changed on the rail trail, over time...fewer road crossings means easier cycling. Still such a beautiful place to visit.

Loved renting bikes and riding for miles with the family. We started in Brewster and rode to Orleans for lunch. It worked out perfectly. We rented from Brewster Bikes- they were super helpful and nice. Took a long time helping 8 yo find a bike he felt comfortable on. We hopped on the trail right near their shop. Most of the path is shaded with trees on both sides. Nothing too scenic except one salt marsh as we rode through Nickerson State park but we enjoyed the miles of paved trail.

There is no scenery to see. When we got to the end it was just a car park with nothing to see or do there!

One of the top tourist draws to the Cape, and rightly so. This paved, dedicated pedestrian trail currently runs from Wellfleet to Dennis, with a spur leading to Chatham. Re-surfaced around 2010, most is in excellent condition. Road crossings are well defined, one of the busier stretches near Long Pond having solar-powered caution lights. With the exception of a few bridges to cross roadways, this is a mostly level ride with a few very mild grades. Many trailhead parking lots and easy trail access to eateries and picnic spots. Because it is Massachusetts, you will find a rotary in the middle of the woods. Several adjacent bike shops for those repairs or accessories. Beware - speed cyclists will be frustrated by pedestrians and slower recreational riders. A true gem!

You can start at any point on this trail and enjoy the ride. There are not any big hills or really sharp turns so children can feel safe. Just be careful when crossing main roads. The law states you should stop and walk your bikes through intersections. It is a good idea to do that unless you can clearly see and hear both ways. Depending on where on the trail you are, there are places to get a drink or stop and eat with ice cream available in the summer months. The trail now extends 6 miles West from the previous starting point in Dennis off Route 134.

A wonderful way to travel around the Cape and avoid all the heavy traffic on Route 6. The trail is well signed and maintained. There are signs everywhere that help you get from the Rail Trail to various town centers. We saw locals committing, vacationers getting from place to place, walkers, runners, avid cyclists, all sorts of folks! We really appreciated being able to hop right on the trail from Nickerson State Park. Pick your distance and pedal on!

I've been on the Cape Code Rail Trail twice, but both times were between Dennis and Brewster, so I've only seen half of the trail. This last time we parked in Dennis at the start of the trail and biked to Brewster. When we got to Brewster there was a sign pointing to Brewster center and were able to within a few minutes off of the trail, stop at JT Seafood Restaurant to get an ice cream. The ride had great shade, was mainly flat and took you through pine trees, views of cranberry bogs, a horse farm, and several salt water ponds. At ne of the ponds folks were swimming and the water was very calm and comfortable. So, if you need to cool off keep this in mind!

This is a lovely cycle path/walking path with only gentle gradients.It has a beautiful smooth surface and is a nice way to spend a few hours, see some nature and get some exercise.

One evening rode four miles from motel to Wellfleet end and out to beaches. Next day RT Wellfleet to rotary, 34 miles. Very little grade, well maintained trail, lots of restaurants and bike shops to stop along the way. Mileage well marked. Love this trail!

Our family did this ride today and it was very enjoyable. The paved, flat surface is wide enough for 3 riders, and easy for all of us (especially me who did not ride in a year). Most of the route is shaded, and other riders were friendly with no aggressive packs. We also took a side ride on the Nauset trail to the beach and again, easy ride with a great surface.

Be sure to stop along the trail at Orleans - two very nice bike shops there to handle any needs (Orleans Cycle has nice CCRT bike shirts), plus Hot Chocolate Sparrow is a hidden gem with with ice cream, fudge, and a variety of good coffees to rev you up for those final miles!

Quintessential Cape Cod experience that is fun for the whole family. Travel a long or short ride on this mostly flat safe path. There are plenty of locations to stop off and enjoy when you want to rest. Remember that is not a race to get through, relax and enjoy your surroundings.

We rode the CCRT today and loved it! It was very flat and the trail is well paved. It’s shady and not hot and well maintained and clean. It’s used by a lot of people but all were respectful and used good trail etiquette. We were only going to ride 5 miles and ended up riding 25 miles it was so great. We rented bikes at the trail head at the Dennis Bike Shop. They had locks and helmets and baskets if you want them. There are restrooms, small stores and restaurants along the way if you want to stop. It connects a lot of Cape Cod towns. We fell in love with this place today and wish they had something like this where we live!

My wife and I went to the cape for the expressed purpose of bike riding. The rail trail was terrific.It was well laid out wonderfully cared for and quite long. There were bike stores all along the way.There were places to stop and eat. Road crossings were well marked and cars were fairly religious about stopping..We road every inch of the path and found it delightful. This will be an anuual trip.

Had a great time biking this trail enjoying all the surroundings. An easy ride for a non-biker like me.

This trail, starting in South Dennis and heading to Chatham or Brewster, depending on where you exit the bike-only rotary, rolls through shady glens and along beautiful lakes. It is wide enough to never feel crowded, even though lots of people use it, and nearly all motorists actually stop at the bike crossings. Too bad they don't post stop signs for the cars, like they do for bikes, at least in the tourist months, to make sure all motorists stop. All in all, a ideal way to spend a morning. Lots of parking at the South Dennis lot, but it was nearly full by 11 a.m., when we were leaving.

Nice, mostly flat bike trail. There are places to rent bikes along the trail. Easy to navigate with a map.

My wife and I really enjoyed the ride. Beautiful, not too crowded. Scenery is outstanding. Highly recommended.

My husband and I are avid cyclists, although I'm not as experienced as he is. We entered the trail at Dennis and rode our bikes to the Chatham Beach. I can't say enough good things about this trail. It's relatively flat all the way with just a couple of very manageable hills. The trail is very well maintained and absolutely gorgeous. The only difficult part was riding down Main Street in Chatham, because of the traffic. Otherwise, our trek was wonderful. Overall, we rode 40 km from Dennis to Chatham and back. It made for a really nice ride. I would do it again.

Get place for all ages of biking... Wonderful scenery!! Easy to access, great place for photography and a late afternoon ride

Biked from Orleans Center to Marconi beach on the CC Natrional Seashore.10 miles each way. Watch for Nauset Street well before then to go to Nauset Beach for a shorter ride. Beware of the cold waters but you might see a seal swimming about. In the summer you might experience black flies which are aggressive.
Bike path is pretty smooth and there are a couple of places on the path that you can have a bite to eat, something to drink or a potty break. One place with great seafood, ice cream,mini golf and clean bathrooms is Arnolds in Eastham(cash only) . There are also posted signs at some cross streets where there is bike repair.
If you need to rent Orleans has two shops across from each other. Orleans Bike and Idle Time on 26 Main Street right next to the bike trail. Credit cards only accepted. You must have rentals back by 4:30. For a bike with basket and helmet it was $21 with tax.
As a side note further down at 57 Main St is Friend's Marketplace a family grocer which is a great place to buy anything to take on your adventure.
If you bike the opposite way to Dennis the start of the path you will go through Nickerson State Park in Brewster.

Biked this trail from Wellfleet to Three Sisters Lighthouses and back, it was an easy pleasant ride and places you can stop for ice cream or a meal.

This is such a great idea. It's a well paved bike path that is accessible to almost anyone. I wish there were more of them.

It would be impossible to cycle safely on many parts of the Cape without the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Riding along route 6 is too dangerous and there are few options in most areas. If you're an avid cycler and ride fast, you have to choose your window carefully. By 10 a.m. on nice, weekend days the trail is crowded with all types of riders and walkers. It's still slightly better than riding along Route 6 even when it's crowded. I often go from Chatham to Provincetown and back - a 90 mile route - and enjoy every second. Alternatively one can ride from Chatham toward the canal and back (roughly 60 miles round trip). You won't find any hills on the CCRT but there are lots of places to get a cold drink or sandwich. I highly recommend it!

The trail is 22 miles end to end and very flat with only a few slight inclines. its a very nice trail. Just know that there are no views of the shore from the trail. Hot Chocolate Sparrow has great baked goods at roughly the 13 mile mark in Orleans.

Wow... what a beautiful trail. I was there in June with my family. I had varying levels of experienced riders and we did great. For anyone comfortable on a bike, this is a terrific scenic, relaxing and enjoyable ride.

Pleasant vistas, relaxing ride along ponds, herring runs, cranberry bogs.
You can't beat the price. Both parking and the trail are FREE!

This rail trail is perfect for everyone. The trail is relatively flat, it's very well shaded and you can go for as long a ride or as short a ride as you'd like. You'll go past cranberry bogs and really charming places along the way.

An amazing trail for walking biking or exercising your dog! We rented bikes and rode 5 miles where we ate lunch then we hit a conveniently located winery that was ON the trail on our way back !!! It was relaxing and fun with plenty of stops spread out to add enjoyment to the ride!! An inexpensive day that was surprisingly fun!!!

Please rename it the Cape Cod ROOT Trail. From Orleans to Lecount Hollow .. there must be 500 root bumps. Many are 2 to 4 inches. Be careful.
You might sprain your wrist. Or bring a mountain bike.
Worst bike path for root bumps out of over 15 in my experience.

My wife and I biked almost the whole thing round trip, and it is well marked, paved, flat.
Highly recommend!! If you want to do the whole thing, start early! We rent bikes at the Dennis Cycle Shop they are super friendly!!
Cheers!

We had a hard time finding a 'trail head' and once it was found (by the fire station), we took off. We thought we were on the Chatham Bike Trail which supposedly sort of circles the city. Imagine our surprise when we saw "Welcome to Hartwich". Our little 5 mile bike ride ended up being closer to 12-14 miles. So....yes, the Cape Code Rail Trail is a great little find and goes through some woods, etc. Upon our return to our vehicle, we looked at the map again and decided to drive the "Chatham Bike Trail'. You'd have to be suicidal to ride a bike on that road!!! Stick to the Rail Trail.

This Rail Trail should be in every town in America for all to enjoy. As it winds through the beautiful seaside town on the Cape, it offers you little spits to stop and enjoy some of the local foods and goodies. A must for all to enjoy.

22 mile run each way, all paved, relatively flat, varied scenery. Although we did not need a ssistance, there were numerous bike shops if needed.

Would love to have something like this in the UK. Long safe track to cycle and along the way, hit beaches, freshwater lakes, towns, beautiful houses, bars. Just get on your bike and you will have an amazing day with breathtaking scenery. Would be on it every day if I lived there.

My husband and my two teenage boys rode a few miles from Orleans to Nickerson State Forest. It is a great ride, flat and easy. There are a few places to stop on the way for bathroom breaks or an ice cream. Great exercise and fun!

Mostly flat, easy riding. Many places to stop along the way. A great way to tour the area and accessible for all ages and abilities.

I did a 30 mile ride including a side trip to Coast Guard Beach. It's spacious and well maintained, and goes through forests, marsh areas, a few towns (including Orleans Center) and a state park. The section I rode (mile marker 7 to 20) did not have any sea vistas but it wasn't hard to get off the path to see them - there are signs at crossroads which mention local attractions, including beaches, town centers, and bike shops. There are several restaurants and places to grab a drink along the path, but bring your own water just the same. Note that after 10 am on weekends or summer days a lot of families use the path.

We took an early morning ride and found the path most delightful. There were not many other bikers on the path at this time of day which was nice. It was an easy ride with some alternating slopes. The scenery boasts nice water views and greenery and the asphalt was well maintained. We look forward to riding this path again.

We used the bike trail twice during our past vacation. We always go when we are on the cape. My children have been going with us since they were little. The trail is flat and has many places to park along the route. Perfect for a family ride.

Although it is very well-maintained and has many services right off the trail, I was disappointed at the lack of (water) scenery along the trail. I actually found it a little boring. The trail was crowded with families and some biking groups. If it's a choice between this trail and the Shining Sea Bikeway (Falmouth-Woods Hole), it's a no-brainer- Shining Sea is far more interesting and beautiful.

Had a great time riding this paved trail. Rented bikes from rail trail bike shop using our go Boston card. We biked to crosby landing beach and then on the way back ate at Cobies. Only wish our boys were bigger so we could have gone to coast guard beach. Also wish I had brought my road bike. :(, next time.

We rented bikes from the rail trail bike shop in Brewster. Bikes were in good shape but wish they had tempurpedic seats! The ride was beautiful, so much fun. Made the 24 mile round trip ride to the beach park. Stopped for Lobster rolls & ice cream. Perfect fall day.

One of my favorite activities on Cape Cod - the Rail Trail. Had never been on the Chatham spoke before. Nice and flat. No ocean views but some views of quaint New England towns

Rent bikes at Dennis Cycle Center! You can park there and hop right on the trail! They charge you at the end of your ride! No worries! Lots of fun, safe and many places to stop and shop, rest or enjoy the view!

I think this is the best maintained and laid out cycle way I have ever seen. It is safe, and well managed. Over about 40kms, it winds its way through lovely villages and it provides a really good way of exploring places and cafes along the way. Signage at the junctions is not great in places so it can occasionally be tricky to figure out where to go but this is a small complaint. pack your swimming gear!

The best way to see Cape Cod is by bicycle. I like to ride the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a multi-use path, starting from Nickerson State Park in Brewster (take Exit 9, 10 or 11 off the Mid-Cape Highway a.k.a. Route 6, to Brewster). I use a book just released called Best Bike Rides: Cape Cod and The Islands (FalconGuides) for interesting routes all over the Cape, and for side routes off the Cape Cod Rail Trail. The Old Colony Rail Trail connects to the CCRT in Harwich at the bike rotary, and takes you into Chatham. It's a great, safe trail for families with small children. Just remember "Rule 4: Stay to the right so that others may pass".