Cape Cod Rail Trail
Where to Start, Park and Ride
25 to 26 paved, mostly flat miles from South Yarmouth to South Wellfleet. Free to ride, free to park at eight DCR lots.
A Free 25 to 26-Mile Bike Path on an Old Rail Bed
The Cape Cod Rail Trail runs from Station Avenue in South Yarmouth to just past LeCount Hollow Road in South Wellfleet, through Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet.It's paved end to end and open sunrise to sunset. Massachusetts DCR runs it from the Nickerson State Park office in Brewster.
Almost nobody rides all of it. The usual plan is to pick one of DCR's free lots, ride 5 to 10 miles out, and turn around. So the real questions are which lot, and which direction. The two sections below answer both.
Trailhead Lots From West to East
The free lots DCR lists for trail users, plus the one paid lot. On DCR's map, mile marker 0 is in South Dennis and the numbers count down into Yarmouth.
Starting in the middle, at Route 137 in Brewster or in Orleans Center, lets you ride either way. Directions and summer crowds for each lot are on the parking page.
Four Rides by Time and Distance
Out-and-back routes worked out from the mile markers on DCR's map, rounded.
Short: Brewster to Nickerson
About 2 miles each way from the Route 137 lot to Nickerson State Park, where 8 more miles of paved park paths run through woods and past kettle ponds. Nickerson's paths →
Half day: Brewster to Orleans
About 5 miles each way from Route 137, past Nickerson, into downtown Orleans for lunch, then back. Roughly 10 miles in all. Town-to-town miles →
Add the beach: Eastham
From Locust Road, ride half a mile to the Salt Pond Visitor Center, then the 1.6-mile Nauset Bike Trail to Coast Guard Beach. Nauset Bike Trail →
Branch off: Harwich to Chatham
At the Harwich bike rotary, the Old Colony Rail Trail turns south for 8 miles to Chatham center. Old Colony Rail Trail →
What Each Town's Stretch Is Like
- Yarmouth and Dennis: the western start at Station Avenue, a bike bridge over the Bass River, and the old trailhead on Route 134 in South Dennis.
- Harwich: the bike rotary where the Old Colony Rail Trail branches off to Chatham, and the Headwaters Drive lot.
- Brewster: the Route 137 lot, ponds beside the trail, and Nickerson State Park with its own bike paths.
- Orleans: the trail's one short stretch on local roads, then downtown Orleans with shops and food.
- Eastham: salt marsh views, and Locust Road to the Salt Pond Visitor Center and the Nauset Bike Trail.
- Wellfleet: the Marconi area, the LeCount Hollow trailhead, and the trail's end at Wellfleet Hollow State Campground.
The trail opened in 1981 as a 19-mile path from Dennis to Eastham and has grown at both ends since; the story is on about the trail.
Map, Rentals and Other Cape Paths
The four pages riders open most before a trip.
Official Trail Map
DCR's free one-page map with mile markers, lots, restrooms and the connecting trails, and how to read it.
The DCR PDF →
Bike Rentals by Town
Shops beside the trail in Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster and Orleans rent bikes, e-bikes and trailers.
Rental Shops →
Every Parking Lot
Directions to each DCR lot, how busy they get in summer, and the Nickerson fee season.
Lot Details →
Other Cape Bike Paths
The Shining Sea Bikeway in Falmouth, the Canal service roads and the National Seashore trails, side by side.
Compare Them →Five Things to Know Before You Ride
- Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily, in every season. Hours and fees
- Speed: 15 mph limit; pass only when it's safe. Trail rules
- Helmets: Required by Massachusetts law for riders 16 and under. Helmet and e-bike rules
- Dogs: Welcome on a leash; pick up after them. Dog rules
- Cost: Riding is free; only the Nickerson lot charges ($5 / $20). Fees and seasons
Questions about a section or a closure go to DCR at the Nickerson State Park office, 3488 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, (508) 896-3491. Quick answers to the rest are on the rail trail FAQ.