Looking for great Cape Cod hikes in Eastham? Try these trails

Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times
·3 min read

The town of Eastham stretches from the mighty Atlantic Ocean to Cape Cod Bay, and there are some intriguing hikes, including several awesome Cape Cod National Seashore trails. Good resources for hikers include the Seashore's online trail guide and handy town maps of conservation areas. Depending on your preference, there are quiet forest walks or seaside hikes that deliver big vistas.

As you start planning your Eastham adventures, make sure to take ticks into consideration. You may want to look into treating your clothing with permethrin, an insecticide that keeps ticks from clinging to your apparel. The spray form is available at many Cape hardware stores. Several clothing companies (including Insect Shield and L.L. Bean) sell clothing that is pre-treated with permethrin — the protection lasts for about 70 washes. As always, sunscreen and water should be part of your tool kit.

So lace up the hiking shoes and let's take a look at some of the top trails in Eastham:

Aschetino Property/South Eastham Conservation Area

Which way would you go? A trail sign in the South Eastham Conservation Area.
Which way would you go? A trail sign in the South Eastham Conservation Area.

This is a quiet and lovely journey through the forest, which is speckled with some wicked large and old trees. Conveniently, the approximately 1.5-mile Aschetino Property/South Eastham Conservation Area trail system links up to the Cape Cod Rail Trail in a couple of locations, so you can add length to the hike or even walk into Orleans for lunch. You can also easily amble over to the Putnam Farm Conservation Area in Orleans for a nice change of pace. A small parking area is available at the end of Peach Orchard Lane in Eastham.

A sign along the Eastham Glacial Pond Trail System.
A sign along the Eastham Glacial Pond Trail System.

Eastham Glacial Pond Trail System

The lovely Eastham Glacial Pond Trail System is located on the bayside of Route 6 that ties together several conservation areas in town, including Wiley Park, the Nickerson Property and Cottontail Acres. My best estimate is that there are roughly 2.5 miles of trails with several loops, and you could make it a pretty long hike by starting at one end, walking to the other and returning. You'll spin by several lovely ponds, including Great Pond, Bridge Pond, Widow Harding Pond and Herring Pond. Parking is available in a sizable pull-off area just south of Bridge Pond Drive. In the off-season, you can park at Wiley Park without needing a sticker.

Along the Nauset Marsh Trail in Eastham.
Along the Nauset Marsh Trail in Eastham.

Nauset Marsh Trail

If I had to pick one trail that would be perfect for newcomers to Cape Cod and longtime residents, it would be the Cape Cod National Seashore's Nauset Marsh Trail in Eastham. There is a ton of parking at the Salt Pond Visitor Center (50 Nauset Road, Eastham), and excellent restroom facilities. You should also check out the visitor center, where there are movies, a cool little museum, a nifty store and helpful rangers who can answer your questions about the Cape.

The trail is a 1.3-mile loop, and there is an additional 1.5-mile spur that takes you down to Coast Guard Beach. The views of Salt Pond and Nauset Marsh are sublime. Most of the terrain is level, with a few log steps, so it's pretty easy going.

Heading out for a walk at the Fort Hill Trail in Eastham.
Heading out for a walk at the Fort Hill Trail in Eastham.

Fort Hill Trail

If you are a fan of sweeping vistas, the Seashore's Fort Hill Trail in Eastham is right up your alley. The epic view of Nauset Marsh and the mighty Atlantic beyond is a landscape painter's dream, and you'll often see folks set up with their easels atop Fort Hill. A parking area is located at 70 Fort Hill Road, across from the beautiful Captain Penniman House, a Seashore property that is well worth a look-see.

A 1-mile loop trail takes you across open fields and hooks up with the Red Maple Swamp Trail, with a recently refurbished boardwalk that is a hoot to traverse. This is also a great spot for birders, and the trail runs out to Hemenway Landing to the north, where you might see some fun boating action.

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: Great Cape Cod hikes in Eastham: Ocean views and quiet woods