Cape Cod Rail Trail

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a paved path on an old train line. It runs about 26 miles from South Yarmouth to Wellfleet, past ponds, cranberry bogs, Nickerson State Park and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Length
26 mi
rail trail
Surface
Paved
the whole way
Get on at
8 places
on the map

From Station Avenue trailhead to LeCount Hollow Road trailhead

Parking at 7 of the 8 places to get on · See where

Notice: Trail closed for routine maintenance, between Samoset Road and Locust Road in Eastham, until Nov 30, 2026
Directions to the trail

Where to get on

Numbers match the list; P has parking.

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  1. Station Avenue trailhead, South Yarmouth

    Western start of the open trail. A town path goes on west past Peter Homer Park. The new Phase 3 extension toward Barnstable is still being built.

    Free trailhead lot (DCR). The Town of Yarmouth says it has 97 spaces.
    Directions

  2. Route 134 trailhead, South Dennis

    Bike rentals and stores close by.

    Free trailhead lot on Route 134 (DCR).
    Directions

  3. Harwich bike rotary (Old Colony Rail Trail junction)

    A small bike-only traffic circle. The Old Colony Rail Trail branch starts here and goes about 6 to 8 miles to Chatham.

    Directions

  4. Long Pond Road (Route 137), Brewster

    A market and bike shops are a short walk away.

    Free trail parking at Route 137 (DCR).
    Directions

  5. Nickerson State Park, Brewster

    The trail runs along the park. Nickerson has about 8 miles of its own bike paths, plus ponds and camping. Restrooms and water here.

    Parking fee Memorial Day to October 31: $5 for Massachusetts residents, $20 for others (DCR).
    Directions

  6. Orleans Center (Main Street and Old Colony Way)

    Cafe, shops and bike shops right by the trail. A water fountain is here.

    CCRTA H2O bus (from Hyannis) and FLEX bus (Harwich to Provincetown) both serve Orleans. Exact stop not checked.
    Free trail parking in Orleans Center (DCR).
    Directions

  7. Locust Road, Eastham (to Salt Pond Visitor Center)

    Closed now: the trail between Samoset Road and Locust Road is shut for maintenance until November 30, 2026. From here the Nauset Bike Trail goes to the visitor center and Coast Guard Beach.

    Free parking at the Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond Visitor Center, half a mile from this crossing (DCR).
    Directions

  8. LeCount Hollow Road trailhead, South Wellfleet

    Main northern trailhead. The path goes on about 0.8 mile more to Wellfleet Hollow State Campground. A bakery and bike rental are close by.

    Free DCR trailhead lot.
    Directions

Getting there

By transit
There is no train to the trail. Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) buses serve the trail towns. The H2O bus runs from Hyannis to Orleans along Route 28 through Yarmouth, Dennis and Harwich. The FLEX bus runs from Harwich through Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet to Provincetown. Both serve Orleans. Buses carry up to 3 bikes. The fall and winter schedule runs September 8, 2026 to January 22, 2027, Monday to Saturday.
Parking
DCR lists free trail parking at Station Avenue (South Yarmouth), Route 134 (South Dennis), Headwaters Drive (Harwich), Route 137 (Brewster), Orleans Center, the Salt Pond Visitor Center and Marconi area of the National Seashore, and LeCount Hollow Road (South Wellfleet).
More

Nickerson State Park charges a parking fee from Memorial Day to October 31. Do not use the new Higgins Crowell Road lot in Yarmouth yet. It is part of the extension still under construction.

About the Cape Cod Rail Trail

Surface
Paved (asphalt) the whole way. The Old Colony Rail Trail branch to Chatham is also paved.
Rules
Open sunrise to sunset. Dogs allowed. Speed limit 15 mph. Stop at all stop signs. Helmets are required by law for riders 16 and under. No alcohol. Horseback riding and cross-country skiing are allowed (DCR). The DCR trail page does not mention e-bikes.
Restrooms
DCR says there are restrooms but does not list where. Nickerson State Park has restrooms by the trail. The Salt Pond Visitor Center (National Seashore) is half a mile off the trail in Eastham. Bicycle New England lists a restroom at the LeCount Hollow trailhead.
Water
Nickerson State Park and Orleans Center (water fountain by the trail).
Food
Pleasant Lake General Store in Harwich is on the trail. Orleans Center has a cafe and places to eat beside the trail. Stores near the Route 134 trailhead in Dennis and a bakery near the LeCount Hollow trailhead in Wellfleet. Hours change by season.
Who looks after it
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). MassDOT is building the Phase 3 extension in Yarmouth and Barnstable with the towns.
Also called
CCRT, Cape Cod bike trail, Cape Cod Rail Trail bike path, Claire Saltonstall Bikeway (Cape section)

Notices

Work and changes along the trail, with the way around where there is one.

  • Trail closed for routine maintenance

    Between Samoset Road and Locust Road in Eastham

    Until Nov 30, 2026.

    Source

More about the trail

Where these facts come fromChecked Oct 21, 2026