Province Lands Bike Trail

The Province Lands Bike Trail is a 5.45-mile paved loop through the dunes of Provincetown, run by the National Park Service as part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Spurs lead to Race Point Beach, Herring Cove Beach and Bennett Pond. It's the hardest of the Park Service's three Cape bike trails, rated advanced-intermediate for its steep grades, sharp turns and tunnels.

It is not connected to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, which ends in South Wellfleet. You drive to Provincetown and ride it as its own outing. Why there's no link is on our trail extensions page.

Where to Start and Park

The Park Service lists four places to get on the trail:

• Province Lands Visitor Center, 171 Race Point Road (open seasonally, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
• Beech Forest parking lot, which is also the start of the 1-mile Beech Forest walking loop.
• Race Point Beach, where seasonal beach fees apply.
• Herring Cove Beach, where seasonal beach fees apply.

If you want to avoid a beach fee, start at the visitor center or Beech Forest. National Seashore beach fees run from late spring to early fall. In 2026 the Park Service listed $25 for a daily private vehicle and $60 for a season pass, with America the Beautiful passes accepted. Fee booths take cards and mobile payment only, and visitor centers don't sell passes.

The Ride

The loop passes through pine forest, open sand dunes and low cranberry bogs. Riding the loop and one or two spurs to the beaches makes a ride of roughly 6 to 8 miles. Plan on taking it slowly: the hills are short but steep, the turns are tight, and the Park Service warns that sand and standing water often cover parts of the path.

The Park Service asks riders to walk bikes through tunnels and underpasses, ride single file to the right and pass on the left after calling out. Bikes are allowed only on the designated bike trails, paved roads and fire roads, never on hiking trails or the beaches.

Good For, and Maybe Skip If

• Good for confident riders who want dunes and ocean in one ride, finishing with a swim at Race Point or Herring Cove.
• Good for a short, hard workout; the hills are the point.
• Maybe skip it with small children or a heavy cruiser: the steep grades and sharp turns are why the Park Service rates it above beginner. The Nauset Bike Trail or the flat Cape Cod Rail Trail fit better.

Dogs, E-Bikes and Other Rules

Leashed pets are allowed on the Province Lands trail only from November 1 to April 30. In season, leave dogs at home for this ride. Where pets are allowed, the leash can be no longer than 6 feet.

E-bikes with working pedals and a motor under 750 watts are allowed where regular bikes are, but riding on power alone, without pedaling, is not allowed on the bike trails. The 2026 Park Service guide also bans drones. More on Cape trail rules is on our rules page.

Combining It With Other Rides

The National Seashore's other two bike trails are farther south: the 2-mile Head of the Meadow trail in Truro and the 1.6-mile Nauset trail in Eastham, which is close to the rail trail. A day with Nauset in the morning and Province Lands in the afternoon covers both ends of the Seashore. All the Cape paths are side by side on our Cape Cod bike trails page.

Planning Notes

• Province Lands Visitor Center: (508) 487-1256, open seasonally.
• Race Point and Herring Cove have large lots; buses are not allowed there from July 4 to Labor Day.
• Emergencies: 911. National Seashore law enforcement dispatch: 617-242-5659.