Cape Cod: Explore the Outer Cape by Foot, Bike and Boat, Massachusetts

The Trip

Explore the outer cape in the spring before the crowds of summer arrive. The tip of Cape Cod contains a wonderful variety of natural features, is steeped in history and is a great place to recreate and explore. This glacially formed peninsula is perpetually shaped by storms, ocean currents and winds. The landscape has also been changed by development, but this is less prevalent in the areas we will visit than elsewhere on the cape. 

Spend time hiking in local conservation areas, a bird sanctuary, on the beach and in National Seashore areas. We will also enjoy the nearly flat terrain of the Cape Cod Rail Trail; biking from our lodge located just off this trail. Learn about cranberry bogs and the state of cranberry farming. Enjoy some time on a boat searching for seals both in the water and on the beaches and sand bars nearby. Other attractions include museums exhibiting the area's natural and cultural history, plus lighthouses, and a morning tour of the pilgrim monument with the afternoon free to explore quirky Provincetown.

Learn about this fast-changing coastal landscape and local efforts to protect and preserve its beauty and ecosystems. Special emphasis on habitat protection and rehabilitation of impacted sites. 

Our trip will traverse the traditional lands of the Wampanoag/Nauset Tribes. Although arrival of European settlers had significant impacts on the Wampanoag; two tribes have maintained their heritage, resulting in federal recognition of ancestry traced to early historical times.

Please note that the itinerary may vary due to weather or other considerations.

Day 1: Arrive at our lodging and check in 3-4:30 p.m. At  5 p.m. we will have a meet and greet in the main cottage where we will introduce ourselves and get to know one another a bit. Dinner will be served at approximately 6:30 p.m. Following dinner, we will have an orientation to discuss trip expectations, conservation issues (Leave No Trace), trail and biking etiquette, group hiking/biking protocols, meeting times, gear, carpooling, and the general trip itinerary. An up-to-date itinerary will be established based upon weather, trail conditions and availability of attractions.  

Day 2: Today we will be biking along the Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT). This trail is built on the remnants of the Old Colony Railroad whose tracks ran from Boston to Provincetown (a distance of over 100 miles) but we will not be riding that far! During our ride today we will see the historic site of the Marconi Wireless Station Site where on January 18, 1903, the first public two-way wireless communication between Europe and America occurred. We will also hike the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail and then bike to a different stop for another short hike.

Day 3: Today we will visit the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, tour the museum and hike the John Wing Trail. This trail traverses many different ecosystems on its 1.3 mile lollipop circuit, from upland forest to salt marsh to seashore and back (we hope to attend a program or have a guided walk at his location). The Museum features exhibits on: bees, the Wampanoag, the glacial formation of the Cape and sea level rise among others. A walking tour of historic Wellfleet or a hike in a nearby state park are possibilities to fill out our day.

Day 4: Today we will tour a working cranberry bog. The tour covers many aspects of this unusual farm method going from the winter season through summer and to the fall harvest. Other options for the day include: visit local conservation trust lands to hike, search vernal pools for frogs, salamanders and their eggs; search nearby coastal areas for ospreys, or tour the French Cable Station Museum, Marconi-RCA Wireless Museum or Atwood Museum.   

Day 5: Today we will board a boat and take to the water and attempt to locate seals that are resident in the local waters or basking on shore nearby. The time of this tour is tide dependent. Depending on time, we may visit a Mass Audubon Sanctuary, the Shark Center and/or a historic grist mill where a fish ladder has been built to restore traditional herring runs that were impacted by development.

Day 6: Today we will visit Highland Lighthouse (Cape Cod Light) to view both the light house and a Wampanoag wetu (traditional home). If the museum is open, we will take a tour and/or climb the lighthouse. From here we will travel on to Provincetown. Once in Provincetown we will ascend to the Pilgrim Monument via an inclinator to the base. This 252 foot granite structure is the tallest granite structure in the United States and was constructed to commemorate the Pilgrims landing here in 1620. If desired, you may climb the tower using the 176 stairs (plus ramps) to get up to the viewing platform. Also included is the on-site museum with exhibits on the Mayflower Pilgrims, maritime history, the Wampanoags as well as an art gallery. An optional whale watch is available from Provincetown but is at your own expense. Everyone will have free time in the afternoon to tour quirky, artsy P-town before we re-group for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.  

Day 7: After breakfast we say our goodbyes and depart from our lodgings by 10 a.m. to head home or on to other destinations.

Getting There

Cape Cod is accessible by car and bus. The nearest airports are Boston/Logan (98 miles to our lodging) or Providence, R.I. (109 miles to our lodging). Amtrak also services Boston and Providence.

The Peter Pan Bus line provides daily bus service between North Eastham, MA and Boston, including Boston’s Logan Airport, and from Providence, RI, New York City, and many other places along the northeastern seaboard.  Call Peter Pan/Bonanza Bus Line at 888.751.8800 or 401.751.8800 or check them out online (www.peterpan.bus.com).

If you plan on driving, once you arrive at the head of the Cape, expect about a 45-minute ride along Route 6 -- the Cape’s main traffic artery. Once on the Cape, the route to our lodge is direct and easy to follow. During the spring, the Cape is less busy, so avoiding heavy traffic should not be difficult.

Depending on everyone’s comfort level, participants will carpool or drive their own vehicles to trip locations. You are welcome to and encouraged to bring your own bicycles for familiarity and comfort (and to be able to enjoy the rail trail adjacent to our lodging on your off time).

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying at a small family-owned lodge in Eastham, MA. Our lodging includes a cottage (which has a kitchen for meal prep and a living room space for our joint meals) with a bathroom and bedrooms. Motel-style accommodations (which include coffee makers, microwaves, and refrigerators) will accommodate many members of our group as well.

Our days will begin with a warm breakfast, all the fixings for a bag lunch. Upon our return from daily activities, we will also prepare and eat our dinner here. Sierra Club trip meal-preparation is a shared responsibility, with different participants taking turns helping to manage the commissary and meal preparation and clean-up. We in the Outings group like to think of meals as an important part of the trip adventure. We will also dine at area restaurants on at least two evenings.

If, however, some foods or ingredients are too adventurous for you due to dietary restrictions or concerns, indicate them on the trip submission form. The leader will contact you about food options and you are encouraged to bring favorite snacks or energy foods.

The following items are at your own expense: bicycle rental, whale watch cruise, single supplement (if available).

Trip Difficulty

This trip is moderate. Our bike ride will be approximately 12 miles, on a nearly flat rail trail. Bike rentals are not included, but bike rental shops are nearby and e-bikes are available. We will be hiking on trails of varying length (up to 4 miles) with varied surfaces including: sandy seashore, pine needle covered forest and/or paved. Daily hiking distances will vary. We will have a boat tour which may be bumpy or wet depending on sea conditions. We will tour museums and have an afternoon free to walk about in Provincetown. The ability to hike, walk and stand for several hours at a time is essential.

Equipment and Clothing

If you are bringing your own bicycle, be sure to also bring your helmet. Local regulations require helmet use on all roads and also on the rail trail. If renting a bike, the rental place will provide a helmet, lock and basket. We will be hiking away from our bikes for a portion of the day so a lock will also be useful. Footwear with closed toes or shoes with toe protection are needed. A detailed list of clothing and other equipment recommendations will be provided to all approved participants.

References

Books:

• Rinaldo, Karen & Doyle, Kevin,  In the Wake of the Mayflower – The First Encounter

• Schneider, Paul, The Enduring Shore: A History of Cape Cod

• Thoreau, Henry David, Cape Cod

• Beston, Henry, the Outermost House: A Year of Life on the Great Beach of Cape Cod

• Schwind, Phil, Cape Cod Fisherman

Movie:

• 2016 - The Finest Hours

Websites:

• Indigenous people of Cape Cod "OUR"STORY: 400 Years of Wampanoag History - Plymouth 400, Inc. (plymouth400inc.org)

• Cape Cod Museum Of Natural History Cape Cod Museum of Natural History | Brewster, MA (ccmnh.org)

• Provincetown Monument & Museum Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum (pilgrim-monument.org)

Conservation