Epic views, wolf oaks and more. There's a new hiking trail system in North Truro.

Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times
·4 min read

NORTH TRURO — I woke up to the strange sound of my mailbox calling out to me. It only does that when something important has arrived, because it takes a lot of energy to flap the front flap like a largemouth bass and yell "ERIC!" with that odd metallic voice.

I galloped down to the end of the street, gave an affectionate pat to the mailbox and fed it a grocery store circular. Then I retrieved the envelope in question: indeed, this was big stuff!

Yup, I was holding the summer 2023 edition of the Truro Conservation Trust newsletter. And I was gobsmacked by the story on page 3, with a blazing headline that urged me to "VISIT HIGH HEAD CONSERVATION AREA TODAY."

An awesome bench anchors a Cape Cod Bay vista at the High Head Conservation Area in North Truro.
An awesome bench anchors a Cape Cod Bay vista at the High Head Conservation Area in North Truro.

They had me at conservation, but there was much, much more: "We're ready for your visit. Enjoy 1.5 miles of well-marked public walking trails. Experience the quiet of a beach forest with its unique flora, or from the coastal heathland, take in the panoramic views of Cape Cod Bay, Province Lands and East Harbor."

A brand-new trail system with epic views? For Cape hiking fans, this is like free ice cream or finding a Narragansett tall boy in the back of the fridge. I cancelled all other plans, including my address to the United Nations on "How To Solve Everything," and whistled for the Curious Prius.

Part of the splendid new trail system at the High Head Conservation Area in North Truro.
Part of the splendid new trail system at the High Head Conservation Area in North Truro.

Soon we were sailing toward North Truro and looking for a landing spot. Trails in the High Head Conservation Area can be accessed from two parking areas. One is a rest area on Route 6, on the westbound side, just about where you get that first awesome view of Provincetown when you're driving into town.

But I chose the other parking area on Shore Road (Route 6A), just south of the Top Mast Resort. I hadn't driven along Shore Road in quite a while, and it was fun to see the hustle and bustle of the retro hotels and little cottages next to the beach. For a minute, the Prius turned into a 1950s convertible and we cruised the strip.

A trail map of the High Head Conservation Area in North Truro.
A trail map of the High Head Conservation Area in North Truro.

We came to rest in a spacious lot with a nice kiosk and an excellent map of the trails. There was a quick climb to higher terrain, past heathland and into an oak/pine forest. Then I arrived at the wolf oak, one of the most amazing trees I have ever seen on Cape Cod, with huge branches jutting in all directions.

Of course, I had no idea what a wolf oak was. Thankfully, a delightful article on the American Forests website told me that: "Wolf trees are like the forest’s town square for animals. With their larger diameter, horizontal limbs, furrowed and sloughing bark, cavities and hollows, they offer more structural complexity than tall, straight, typical forest trees. Structural features don’t generally appear on eastern deciduous trees under 100 years old."

A wolf oak tree at the High Head Conservation Area in North Truro.
A wolf oak tree at the High Head Conservation Area in North Truro.

I had come for the views but was smitten by the oak. There was a beautiful teak bench near the tree, one of six along the trail system, so I sat right down and tried to channel my inner Hank Thoreau. Sure, I thought mostly about SpongeBob and the Red Sox bullpen, but some sort of enlightenment might have seeped in.

Just up the trail was one of the best vistas on Cape Cod. On a high point, facing the Cape tip, you could see from Cape Cod Bay to the Province Lands and beyond. Even Route 6 looked glamorous, a ribbon of destiny stretching toward the horizon. Another splendid bench was placed perfectly, and it seems a sure bet that sunsets from here would be mind-blowing.

A grand view of Cape Cod Bay, Provincetown, East Harbor and the Province Lands from the High Head Conservation Area in North Truro.
A grand view of Cape Cod Bay, Provincetown, East Harbor and the Province Lands from the High Head Conservation Area in North Truro.

I spun through the rest of the trail system, bouncing between forest, heathland and more awesome views. And more great benches! The conservation area, co-owned by the state and the town of Truro, seemed bigger than the 48 acres listed. And the Truro Conservation Trust did a great job with the trails, which really take advantage of the terrain and views.

Usually when I head to Provincetown, it's for merriment or grocery shopping. Well, mostly grocery shopping. I zoom up and zoom back, not really paying attention to what's next to the highway. But now there's an awesome little hike right by the side of the road. I might never make it to the big city!

Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @capecast.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Hiking Cape Cod just got better: New Truro trails offer great views