H Hotel · Line 2: Getting There
Signal notes
- DCR lists free parking for trail users at eight trailheads from South Yarmouth to South Wellfleet.
- The trail has a 15 mph speed limit and is open dawn to dusk.
- A section between Samoset Road and Locust Road in Eastham is closed October 14 to November 30, 2026, for maintenance.
Key takeaways
- About 25 paved miles through the Mid, Lower and Outer Cape, managed by Nickerson State Park staff.
- Free parking at eight trailheads; Nickerson charges for its lot.
- 15 mph limit, keep right, signal before passing, stop at stop signs.
- Helmets are required by law for riders 16 and under.
The Cape Cod Rail Trail follows an old railroad line across the Cape, which is why it is so gentle: long straight runs through scrub pine and past ponds, with road crossings marked by stop signs. It is run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation from Nickerson State Park in Brewster. DCR’s own pages describe it as a 25-mile trail in one place and a 26-mile paved trail in another, so plan on roughly 25 miles end to end.
Where to start
DCR lists free parking for trail users at these points, from west to east:
- Trailhead at Stations Avenue, South Yarmouth
- Trailhead at Route 134, South Dennis
- Headwaters Drive, Harwich
- Route 137, Brewster
- Orleans Center
- Salt Pond Visitor Center of the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham, half a mile from where Locust Road meets the trail
- National Seashore Marconi area
- Trailhead at LeCount Hollow Road, South Wellfleet
There is also a trail access lot at Nickerson State Park. Unlike the free lots, it charges from Memorial Day through October 31: $5 for a car with Massachusetts plates and $20 for out-of-state plates. Inside Nickerson, an 8-mile park bike path links the campground to the main trail, which is handy if you are camping there; see Camping on Cape Cod: State Park Sites, Yurts and the Booking Rules That Trip People Up.
The trail rules
DCR publishes a short etiquette list for the trail. It is worth reading because summer traffic includes small children, runners, rollerbladers and riders on rented bikes who have not been on two wheels in years.
| Rule | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Travel at a 15 mph speed limit | Fast road riders should save training efforts for quieter hours or other roads |
| Keep right unless passing | Ride single file when others are approaching |
| Give a clear and audible signal before passing | A bell or a spoken on your left, and pass only when it is safe |
| Stop at all stop signs | The trail crosses roads; drivers may not expect bikes |
| Open dawn to dusk | DCR says riding with appropriate lights outside those hours is at your own risk |
| Carry in, carry out | Take all trash with you |
| Respect private property | Homes and yards back onto parts of the trail |
Alcohol is not allowed. Dogs are allowed on the trail, and DCR lists it as wheelchair accessible, with accessible bike paths and hand-cycles available. The trail is also used for running, walking, horseback riding and, in winter, cross-country skiing.
Helmets and e-bikes
Massachusetts law, Chapter 85, Section 11B of the General Laws, requires anyone 16 or younger riding or carried as a passenger on a bicycle on a public way or bicycle path to wear a helmet. DCR recommends helmets for all riders. A separate section, 11D, requires stores that rent bikes to make helmets available, so ask for one when you rent.
Under state law an electric bicycle is one with working pedals and a motor of 750 watts or less that meets the class 1 or class 2 definition, and it is not treated as a motor vehicle. A motorized bicycle with a gas engine is a different category and may not be ridden on public ways by anyone under 16 or without a driver’s license or learner’s permit.
The 2026 Eastham closure
DCR issued an advisory on October 8, 2026: from Wednesday, October 14, through Monday, November 30, 2026, the section between Samoset Road and Locust Road in Eastham is closed for routine maintenance. The rest of the trail stays open. If you plan a fall ride in Eastham, check DCR’s advisory page for changes before you go.
Tip: The Salt Pond Visitor Center lot is half a mile from Locust Road, one end of the closed section. During the closure, look at the trail map before you set out so your ride starts and ends on the same side of the work.
Planning a ride
Most people ride an out-and-back section rather than the whole trail. A few combinations work well:
- Families: start at Nickerson or Route 137 in Brewster and ride toward Orleans Center, where you can stop before turning back.
- National Seashore day: park at the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham, where restrooms are open year-round, and ride north toward the Marconi area.
- Full length: about 25 miles each way. Arrange a pickup or use the regional buses, which offer flag-down service where it is safe; see Cape Cod Without a Car: The CapeFLYER Train, Fare-Free Buses and Ferries That Connect.
Bringing bikes to the Cape
The summer CapeFLYER train carries bikes free in a dedicated bike car. On the island ferries, a bike costs $5.25 each way to Martha’s Vineyard and $8.50 to Nantucket. Fares and shuttle limits are in Ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket: 2026 Fares, Car Reservations and Parking.
Ticks along the edges
The trail itself is paved, but the grass and brush along it are tick habitat. The Department of Public Health advises sticking to the center of trails, checking yourself, children and pets once a day, and removing any attached tick promptly with fine-point tweezers.
Other paved rides nearby
The Army Corps of Engineers maintains paved service roads on both banks of the Cape Cod Canal, 7 miles on the north side and 6.5 miles on the south, open to cyclists and walkers. Within the National Seashore, the Nauset and Province Lands bike trails are open to bikes, though the park bars pets on them from May 1 through October 31. More on the canal is in Crossing the Cape Cod Canal: The Sagamore and Bourne Bridges and the Replacement Plan.