Don't Miss on Cape Cod: The best places to take off on a bicycle

Bicycling on Cape Cod can be a bit like finding a pearl in an oyster. Many Cape Cod roads can be vexing, and even dangerous, on a bike. The key to finding great routes takes a bit of discovery, but worth it, whether you take off outside your door or take a bike in tow to launch a ride farther from home.

Some of the best places are car-free trails and roads: the Shining Sea Bikeway in Falmouth; the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne and Sandwich; the Cape Cod Rail Trail, which extends through seven towns; and three trails in the Cape Cod National Seashore. Bike rental shops are conveniently located near most of these.

The non-Seashore routes offer safe, relatively flat cycling with a variety of panoramas: ocean views, marshlands, cranberry bogs and deep woods. There are more hills within the Seashore.

All the trails are well-marked and are shared with walkers, their pets and even, sometimes, horses and their riders.

Because of the mixed uses, it’s wise to follow common-sense practices like staying to the right, announcing yourself before passing, and allowing others plenty of leeway when passing through. Everyone on a bicycle should be wearing a helmet.

They say it’s about the journey, but if you’ve got time or desire for destination planning, too, there are plenty of places along these trails to stop and enjoy the views, and even to spread a picnic blanket.

Shining Sea Bikeway

The trail: Named for a phrase in Falmouth native Katharine Lee Bates’ “America the Beautiful,” this trail begins in North Falmouth and runs 10.7 miles to the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority parking lot. Riding from end to end can easily take half a day with stops.

Parking: There’s a lot at the North Falmouth end (cross the railroad tracks after passing through the lights at Route 28A). There’s limited parking in Woods Hole, but lots near Falmouth center if you want to start in the middle or only bike part of the trail.

Highlights: The beach along Surf Drive, the Great Sippewissett Marsh, and the fresh baked goods at Pie in the Sky bakery in Woods Hole.

Cape Cod Canal

The trail: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains the approximately 8-mile-long canal and its car-free paths running roughly east/west on both the mainland and Cape sides of the canal. At the Bourne end, more experienced cyclists can extend their journey as far as Falmouth by following scenic Shore and County roads.

Parking: On the Cape side, there are areas off Bell Road in Bourne, under the Bourne Bridge and at the eastern end of the Sandwich Marina. On the mainland, there is parking in Buzzards Bay, the herring run in Bournedale and at Scusset Beach State Reservation.

Highlights: The entire canal is one stunning vista of boats, ships, bridges and birds. The canal paths can get very busy on nice summer weekends, so if you want a good look, pull over.

Cape Cod Rail Trail

The trail: This is the queen of the Cape’s cycling network, stretching through seven towns from South Yarmouth to South Wellfleet.

Parking: At either end, at Nickerson State Park in Brewster (for a fee in summer) and at various lots along the two-dozen miles.

Highlights: The popular path passes through woods, and by marshlands, ponds and beaches. There are also a number of places to pull off to see shops and restaurants.

Cape Cod National Seashore

The trails: There are three paved bicycle paths. The Nauset Trail, 1.6 miles, starts at the Salt Pond Visitors Center in Eastham. The Head of the Meadow Trail, 2 miles, begins at High Head Road in Truro. The Province Lands Trail, 5.5 miles, is a loop with spurs in Provincetown.

Parking: Various portions may be reached from the Salt Pond and Province Lands visitors centers, at the Beech Forest parking area, and from Herring Cove and Race Point beaches (parking fees may apply).

Highlights: Stunning views in the middle of the giant protected Seashore, and in some sections, the feeling that you’re out on your own in the middle of nowhere.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod best places to ride a bicycle: Most scenic car-free bike paths