Rules & Regulations

On the Cape Cod Rail Trail, DCR sets a 15 mph speed limit, asks everyone to keep right and stop at all stop signs, and bans alcohol and littering. Dogs are allowed. Massachusetts law requires helmets for riders 16 and under. Signal before you pass, and pass only when it's safe.

The trail is shared by cyclists, in-line skaters, walkers, runners and horseback riders, so most of the rules are about getting along. They come from DCR's trail etiquette list.

DCR's Trail Etiquette, in Plain Terms

• Be courteous to other trail users.
• Keep right unless you're passing.
• Stop at every stop sign.
• Give a clear, audible signal before passing (a bell or "on your left"), and pass only when it's safe.
• Keep to 15 mph or less.
• Wear a helmet. It's the law for riders 16 and under, and DCR recommends it for everyone.
• Respect the private property beside the trail.
• Carry in and carry out all trash and belongings.
• The trail is open dawn to dusk; if you ride outside those hours with proper lights, it's at your own risk.

Are Dogs Allowed on the Cape Cod Rail Trail?

Yes. DCR lists the rail trail as dog-friendly. DCR's guidance for nearby Nickerson State Park is a leash no longer than 10 feet, with waste picked up and taken out of the park, and that's a sensible rule on a busy, narrow trail too. Keep your dog on the right and close when bikes pass.

Rules change once you leave the rail trail. Dogs aren't allowed on the beach at Nickerson. On the National Seashore's bike trails, dogs are allowed on Head of the Meadow all year, but on the Nauset and Province Lands trails only from November 1 to April 30, on a 6-foot leash.

Are E-Bikes Allowed?

DCR's rail trail page doesn't state an e-bike rule. Rental shops along the trail rent e-bikes for use on it (see bike rentals), and the 15 mph limit applies to every rider. For the current state policy, ask DCR at (508) 896-3491.

On the National Seashore's bike trails, the Park Service allows e-bikes with working pedals and a motor under 750 watts, but riding on motor power alone, without pedaling, is limited to roads open to cars. On the Cape Cod Canal service roads, the Army Corps posts its own list of permitted motorized vehicles.

Who Else Uses the Trail

• In-line skaters: DCR lists roller blades with bikes.
• Walkers and runners: keep right and listen for bells.
• Horseback riders: DCR lists horseback riding as an activity. Give horses plenty of room and pass slowly after speaking to the rider.
• Cross-country skiers in winter.
• Riders with disabilities: DCR lists the trail as wheelchair accessible, with accessible bike paths and hand-cycles available.

Road Crossings

The trail crosses many local roads at grade, and a few busy ones by bridge or tunnel. The National Park Service describes it as relatively flat but with busy intersections and several tunnels. In Orleans there's one short stretch on local roads where the trail crosses over Route 6. On its own trails the Park Service asks riders to walk bikes through tunnels and underpasses, a good habit here when they're crowded. Distances to each town are on our mileage page.

Things That Aren't Allowed

• Alcohol.
• Littering.
• Riding faster than 15 mph.
• Trespassing onto private property beside the trail.
• On the National Seashore: bikes on hiking trails or beaches, and drones.

Official Rules

DCR's etiquette list and restrictions are on its Cape Cod Rail Trail page. The trail is run from the Nickerson State Park office, 3488 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, (508) 896-3491. In an emergency, call 911.